Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-09-24

ST. CLAIRSVILLE OHIO.
thursday MORNING. Sept. "a. 1874,
From our own Correspondent
MONTREAL.
QUEBEC, Aug. 2, 1874.

When the steamer upon which we
had come down to st. Lawrance reach
ed Montreal, we steamed into one of the
locks of the canal, around the Lachine
rapids, and were locked up to the level
of the street bordering on the canal.
We quickly took our places in an cm-
nihus carrying passengers to st. Law
rance Hall, far-famed hosiery, where
tat agent of the hotel informed us that
III. r. H, the Prince of Wales, and II.
:. H., the Grand Duke Alexis, had
stoppe during their sojourn in the city.
This agent came on the steamer at
Brockyille, and from that point down,
acted as Cicerone for the tourists. He
had a good presence, a fine voice and
not unpleasant manner, and seemed
perfectly familiar with every place of
interest along the route.
Before we had passed the first of the
rapids, the passengers addressed him
familiarly as est. Lawrence" and were
free to ask all manner of questions.
He took the names Of those desiring
hotel accommodations and telegraphed
for rooms for them, and was now en-
gagged in plotting them and their bag
gage to proper conveyances for the hotel
he so ably represented.
all at once, and so suddenly that we
were alarmed and had vague notion
that all the horses at the wharf were
running away, our driver cracked his
whip and dashed madly up the steep
street towards the hotel. We found
comfortable quarters provided for US,
to which we were directed by gentle
manly, pleasant hammered, clerks. The
clerks were exceptionally clever, which
is SO rare thing in our experience
that concluded to make note of it. 1
sometimes think / would like to write
q chapter on hotels, if 1 could find
some man of sin to assist me in writing
up the clerks. At supper we were
struck by the English appearance of
everything. Alta table near us couple
of guests were abusing waiter because
the cups in which their tea was brought
were not of proper shape. Their NUT
ton chop, whiskers and cockney dialect
left no doubt as to their nationality.
The waiter was very patient and had
the manner of one used to such things.
In the evening we took short walk
along st. James-st. 1t is the finest
street in the city and boasts some mag
nificent business blocks.
We returned to our rooms early and
slept the sleep of the just. When we
woke next morning the bells of
the numerous churches and cathe-
dras were beginning their Sunday
clangor and devout worshipers were
hasting to high mass at the great Parish
church of Notre Dame. We went to
the Parish church of Notre Dame,
where they were celebrating high mass
and remained a short time. 1t is
structure, 26O feet long and
140 feet broad and capable of seating
10000 people. The front on the Place
des Armes is flanked by two towers 900
feet high. In the left tower there is
peal of bells, and in the right large
bell said to weigh 10000 pounds. There
is stair way in one of the towers,
where you are permitted to ascend to
the top on payment of small fee. The
Place des Armes upon which the Cathe-
drai fronts is a public square enclosing
a fountain, and adorned with trees and
flowers. The square was thronged by
habitants in Sunday dress, who leunged
On the rustic benches or loi:ered along
the walks and drank from the fountain.
At the Place des Armes we called
carriage and drove out the st. Law
rance Main-st. and around the noun
tain, from which the city takes its
name. On the way we passed the
Hotel Dieu, a cloister and hospital-a
large building, surrounded by a beauti-
full dome. After passing through toll
gate, We took the right-hand road,
passing round the mountain and re-
turning on Sherbrook- st. where the fine
residences of the notables are. From
some points along the road fine view
IS had of the back island, and the white
1amlets that dot its low green expanse.
Many of the houses along the road are
Did and quaint, with dormer windows
profusely decorated with flowers and
plants. The little dollhouse by which
we passed on our way back was per-
Iect bouquet of bright colored gerani-
inns, and its little garden was ablsze
with hollyhocks aud nasturtiums. The
drive is fine one, and think we saw
It at its best. 1t was the bloom of mid
the trees and grass wore their
richest green. A fine shower the day
before had freshened their verdure and
frightened the tints Of the gorgeous
flowers that are lovely feature of
lanscapes. The day was fair
and just warm enough to awake half
formed wish to loiter in the shade of
the white limbed birches along the
way and drink at the cool springs that
come trickling down the mountainside.
Perhaps there is no fairer drive in Cam
ada, but we think we can enjoy one
that far surpasses 1t in the suburbs Of
our own queen city. Descending from
the mountain we had fine view of
Victoria bridge, the village of La
Prarie and Lachine Rapids. Victoria
bridge spans the st. Lawrance river be-
low the Rapids above named. We
passed under it on our way to Montreal.
1t is a tubular iron structure, resting on