The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-07-27
Gonesponaenre
CANADA LETTER.


MONTREAL, July 10, 1877.
DEAR EDITOR; Like Brooklyn, Mon,
treal might well be called a @city oi
churches" To stranger this peculiarity
is most striking. At every turn one is
confronted with churches Of different
denominations: the Scotch kirk, the
American Presbyterian. the established
church Of England, as well as French
and Irish Cathedrals. Of these the
Jesuit church is one Of the finest. All
the decorations are in fresco Of subdued
monotone tints. Many scenes in the life
Of Christ are represented and the figures
are generally Of life size. AS one stands
at the entrance door the effect Of the
grained Gothic arches, with the perfect
proportions and the pictures il neutral
coloring, is very pleasing. At the side
aisles are the confessionals, where the
easy chair Of the priest and the wooden
stool Of the penitent present marked
contrast. Underneath the church is a
large theatre where entertainments
are given by the students Of the Jesuit
College, new idea TO an American; at
least.
The French Cathedral ofNotre Dame,
fac-simile on smaller scale of Notre
Dame de Paris, is a decided opposite to
the Jesuit Church in point of interior
decorations. The first view is overpow
eringly gorgeous Here the vaulted
ceiling of brilliant blue and gold, is up
held by green, scarlet and blue pillars, in
clusters Of three The chancel window
is most beautiful. The high altar, how
ever, as well as the numerous shrines on
the sides, are gaudy in the extreme OH
inspection, although dazzling at first
sight with the oriental coloring.
The dress of the Priests, in Canada, is
different from any seen in the States.
They wear black skirt, which trails, in
the house; but for convenience, in the
street, this is looped up quite short in
! the back. Over this is worn plain long
coat, and tall hat completes the COS
tune y as the fashion writers say.
After the Notre Dame, the English
Cathedral seems almost destitute of
ornament. The windows, however, are
very handsome, and the Bishops chair
Of Mahogany. with emblematic designs
carved upon it, is interesting. There is
more or less Of this mahogany carving
scattered about the church. The exter-
ior is of two kinds of stone, the building
itself of Eight grey, the trimmings of
buff. In the same enclosure are the
residences Of the Dean and Rector, both
built of stone like the church.
The Protestant Churches are most of
them handsome, and show various STYLES
of architecture; the material is invari
ably stone which comes from the quar-
ries near the city. This is used entirely
in house building, too, giving a most
solid and substantial appearance. In
summer the outside windows are taken
off the houses and venetian blinds of
brightest green replace them, for the
summer, although brief, is fierce in its
heat, and protection from the sun is as
in climate further South
The new. Windsor Hotel is approach
ing completion. 1t will be very fine
when it is finished, and will supply a
need greatly felt at present In passing
a marble cutters, one day, saw a statue
strongly resembling the Goddess of Lib
erty. Ifeltsome curiosity on the subject
for Liberty" has no business in the
Queens dominions. By inquiry, / found
it TO be yeritably our Goddess in
intended 10 surmount monument TO
be erected by the heirs Of the late Jas
Lick, Of San Francisco, in his native
town, Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania
Designs for this monument were sent
from all paris of the Union, as well as
from Europe and from Canada, the
choice being awarded TO the Canadian
sculptor who now has it in process of
execution.
An interesting ceremony, which had
the pleasure of Witnessing, was the lay
ing of the corner stone of the Deaf Mute
Asylum-the generous gift ola Montreal
gentleman, Mr. James Mackay. The
situation is delightful, little out of the
city, on high ground, commanding fine
prospect of mountain, town and river,
with Victoria Bridge, (more than two
miles in lengthy in the distance. Mount
Royal, or The Mountain" as il is called,
is the pride of the residents. Within a
short time it has been laid out as public
park, with drives circling to the very
top, from which a magnificent view is
obtained
No one should leave Montreal without
running the rapids of "Lachinne," as the
first DISCOVERIES called it, believing they
had found China. With the Indian
pilot at the wheel, the little steamer
plunges into the seething waters, partly
visible above the mass of foam; but just
as collision seems inevitable the boat
makes a short turn and dashes by, leav-
ing the rock a hair breadth to one
side. The ride is exciting, and to those
having no fear, delightful in the extreme;
timid people, however, | recommend to
stay on shore. TRAVELLER.