Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-07-23
LETTER FROM MONTREAL.
Special Correspondence.
MONTREAL, July IL, 1877.

tuu lTlou OdIuVllO OdVuCuIdlos VI 0uOoO
the Jesuit Church is one of the finest.
All the decorations are In fresco of SUBJ
dued 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 in
natural 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
a marked contrast. Underneath the
church is large theatre where entertain
ments are given by the students of the
Jesuit College, new idea to an Amer
lean, at least. The French Cathedral
of NOtre Dame, a fac-simile on a smaller
scale of Notre Dame de Paris, is de-
cided opposite to the jesuit Church in
point of interior decorations. The first
view is overpoweringly gorgeous. Here
the vaulted ceiling of brilliant blue and
gold is upheld by green, scarlet and blue
pillars in clusters of three. The chancel
window is most beautiful. The high
altar, however, as well as the numerous
shrines on the sides are gaudy in the
extreme on inspection, although dazzling
at first sight with the Oriental coloring.
The dress of the Priests in Canada is
different from any we have 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 a
plain long coat, and tall hat completes
the custom" as the fashion writers say.
After 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
mahogany carving scattered about the
church. The exterior is of two kinds of
stone, the building itself of light grey,
the trimmings of buff. In the same en-
closure 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
invariably stone, which comes from the
quarries near the city. This is used en-.
tirely 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 az
important as in climate farther south
The new Windsor Hotel is approaching
completion. 1t will be very fine wher
it is finished and will supply neet
greatly felt at present. In passing ;
marble-cutter's one day saw statue
strongly resembling the Goddess of Lib
erty. l felt some curiosity in the sub
ject, for Liberty" has no business il
the Queens dominions. By inquiry
found it to be virtually our Goddess, in
tended to surmount monument to b
erected by the heirs of the late Jane
Lick of San Francisco in his native town
Fredericksburg, Pa. Designs for thi
monument were sent from all parts O
the Union as we'll as from Europe an,
from Canada, the choice being awarde
to the Canadian sculptor, who now ha
it in process of execution. An interest
ing ceremony which l had the pleasur
of witnessing was laying of the corner
stone of the Deaf-Mute Asylum the ger
erous gift of Montreal asylum, MI
James MacKay. The situation
, delightful, little out of the city o
high ground, commanding ine prospec
| of mountain, town, and river. with Viz
r toria Bridge, (mOre than two miles
, lengthy in the distance. Mount Reya
r or "The Mountain" as it is called, is IL
pride of the residents. Within sho
: time it has been laid out as publ
e park with drives circllng to the very to-
e from which magnificent view is obtail
e ed. No one should leave Montreal wit
: out running the rapids of "Lachine,"
n the first discoveries called it, believir
d they had found China. With the Indi;
l. pilot at the wheel the little steam
/. plunges into the seething waters, appa
y emily headed straight for an immen
IS rock, partly visible above the mass
e foam; but just as collision seems i
i evitable the boat makes a short turn al
e dashes by, leaving the rock hair-bread
i to one side. The ride is exciting, al
i to those having no fear, delightful
N the extreme; timid people, however,
lie recommend to stay on shore.
r TRAVELLER.