New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-09-07
JOrrINGs FROM CANADA.
Especial Correspondence of the Republican. !
MONTREAL, August IL, 1873

| Chat rest to the mind which is the sponta
| neous result of travelling. During the jour
ney from New Orleans to this city OF
churches (for it deserves that name even
more than Brooklyn does, stopping a few
days at Niagara, passing down the royal st.
Lawrence. through the Thousand Isles, and
running the rapids, one sees a variety OF
scenery and diversity Of character and en-
joy0 sutficiency of fresh experience 10
scattea Co the winds all present remem-
bfance Of the cares and vexations of his Or
dinary life. But when, in addition TO this.
he Journeys, as we have done, up the sub
lime Sasuenay, whose gloomy granite
shores have never been reclaimed from
J their priNeval mountainous grandeur by
Che tevelins hand of human enterprise,
when he strains his upward gaze toward
the covering summit of Cape Eternity, or
sympathizes in the exultanS exclamation
which gave its0name to Ha Ha bay, he finds
himself so baptised with abe spirit of ever
lasting nature that mere circumstances
dwindle for che sime into comparative III
significance.
One pleasant feature Of Che trip up she
Saguenay is che stay made by che steam
boats at che various stopping places along
ghe goute, thus atfording time Cor the pas
passengers to go ashore end %isit
the Canadian villages, so different
in all respects from those of our
own country. That of Chicauteimi, at tAe
head OF steam and ship navigation, is the
centre of an extensive lumber trade, and is
made interesting to the lovers of antiquity
by rude old Catholic church, the original
the wooden covering with which it is over
laid that it can not be seen. In the belfry
is mysterious bell. bearing an inscription
in some unknown toDgue-or at least in one
which has never been translated within the
memory of the oldest inhabitant, so says
the old sexton who has charge of the
church. At present, however, this venera-
bic bell is reduced to silence, the entrance
to the belfry being closed up. The sexton,
who speaks sort of Canadian French,
seems not very we'll informed as to the
hows and whens and why's of the matter,
oil nc Cdu IcIi doOul tuc Iuuc tcluplc, Ill du-
dition to the above, being that it is nearly
three hundred years old, and that it is still
used. The latter fact is sufficiently shown
by the light burning day and night, which
hangs from the centre of the low ceiling.
Besides landing at Chicauteimi, we went
ashore at Murray bay and at TadausaGs AT
Aotlt places We hired caleches AID rode
about 80 gee good view of ene Gountrgs
By!tns-bye Che state Of advancing siviliza-
Zion from Chicauteimi to Montreal may be
measured Dg Che gradual changes IN the
sehicIes used for ordinary riding. At the
former the chef means of conveyance is a
coarse, rough vehicle called springboard.
AS we descend toward the South the caleche
supersedes the springboard. 1t also is rude
enough, but is quite an improvement on
cts more primitive predecessor being a
rather rough, low-backed box see on two
wheels. with tolerable springs intended 20
eo2qey two passengers besides Che driver.
Thjs aiyivaqo usually g Canadian urges his
poaly' SS9 a pgefSy brisk 8ates end tne queer
little SenclV hobs up and down she hills
and Slaies with q rapidity sathc9 alarming
Sc &be anaccustomedo At Quebes regular
carriages saak9 sheir appearance but
Gaieches esre seen, while az Montreal they
disappear aStogethefs ana strong yet ele-
gans carriages o. tho various kinds used
oin she StsSesS" BUG gayeg iB color aga Che
gnleO
10 one syBe GAS never Before seen ?.
walled C;fys Quebec from Whatever point
0s appSeachs forms an imposing spectacle
ATS posiGh0as or ratbeS Chat OF the upper
preeiptoas gocSs the formidable fortress
%hieis protects Sc iro2p INVASION Ground
which EeIustep the memories o. glorious
dee&so csc glitter OF it's metallic roofs, the
many heaven. pointing spires whose teach
ings should make the existence of any cita-
del needless, all inspire admiration and in
teres3e On entering the city from the river,
S9at 5IStie opportunity is afforded to obtain
Q correct notion of the Lower Town, as car
riages make their way by. an abrupt turn
and 6 steep ascent Immediately into the
Upper Town; no longer through one of the
gates, however, as these have been all re-
moved except onee St Johns gate. The
city looks like what 1t is, an old place. Its
weather beaten, time-touched houses and
wooden houses show the reluctance of its
their fathers, as do likewise the use of the
rickety caleches mentioned above.
If the weather is favorable, against which
the chances, judging from our experience
and the reports of those we met, are ten to
one, tbs tourist will find many points OF in
terest in and around Quebec besides the
citadel and Durham terrace, the Roman
Catholic Cathedral, the public garden, con-
ia lining the monument erected in honor of
Wolf and Montcalm, and the falls of Mont
but no matter what the weather,
no one can visit the ancient city without
being taken to see these. The streets, with
some exceptions, are narrow and irregular,
and one feels, in rambling through them
as il a totally different spirit must pervade
those brought up in the antique looking
houses on either side from that which ami
mates the busting denizens Of the green
ard white cottages; the brand new man
sions and the yerandaed villas of our ever
towns and cities Yet, listen to a
group O2 men talking poiiGcso end it
v38 egqeag gnas S.umass nature is
pret2S snVcb the same undeg sh0 aomi
naliS 9noaarcnioaS sway OF sc Georges
cross qhaS So 80 under the pIaceyqjdden
freedom OF Che stars and striDes, The
same excitement over electIOAao enes same
spirit COS saction9 the same accusations Of
and eytnrtior ara;na+ pnhI;,