Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-07-20

when they cover the outside of their houses a.
they frequently do, with birch bark, held on hy
strips of wood shaped like sths which ia exceed.
ceedingly effective in keeping out the cold The
double windows remain on, the summer is IN
short it would hardly paw TO remove them. The
cottages of these peasants may he very humble
squallor aud poverty may he uninv tied but famil-
lar guests at the board, hut the French Catholic
church IN every one Of these parishes is an ele-
giant and costly structure, and the numerous
priests Hitting about in black, fat and sleek
looking individuals These deluded, priest-tdden
people, from whom is withheld the hopefulne.s and
freedom which the Gospel brings, are ia the
bsnds OF slavery to supersttious rites and cere.
monies, beng TO all appearances predeslined to
perpetual bondage. Their morals are not of the
highest tone their favorte beverage gin. of the
POOREST henzne quality, while they cultivate to.
bacco entirely for home consumption The sea.
son Is so brief in Canada, up here in the close vi
clnny OF Labrador-the winter beginning the
hrst OF November ana ending the first of NAV
with snow falling from four to six feet deep on
..Hle evel-that agricultural productions are limit
ed. Wheat hourishes, potatoes and onions
are raised, but one half of the small farmers
must have scrub race for a bare aud scantv sub
slstence' lhev dress very plainly, are clean and
tidy, especi lily the female portion They sneak
French universally, but are struggling hard to ar
quIre u smatteIing of English. Even now they
can easily distinguish their specie from the nine
ty-two cent dollar. These are a fair sample of
the common French people throughout the Do.
minion; they are drag on civilization as their
advance 10 a better condition seems to be retard
ed, if not indefinitely postponed. Among them
OF course, are the estates of the wealthy. We
heard resident remark about a certain farmer
who stood head and shoulders above all in hi,
neghborhood, that "he made from $500 to 500
year that being reputed Il large income.
The steamer goes to Chcoutimi, where are
great natural advantages for pleasure seeking. II.
well as the prosecution of the lumber business.
In this place there three thousand familie,
who depend for their support upon the extensive
numbering operations OF Messrs. Price Brother.
The mills are now running at full speed. This j.
truly quaint, old fashioned town. But of all
the grand and magnificent scenery on the river
that at Points Eternity and Trinity furnish III,
acme. You have looked with wonder and rap.
ture upon the weird panorama stretched out be-
fore You As you have advanced, until YOU come 10
this point, when all that has been passed Seems
tame in comparison. These two hold and rocky
points sta0d as giim sentiEels at the entrance Of
Eternity Bay. On one of the three steps of Trim
ity, a. you approach 1t. are plainly shown the Tea
lures of giant face, more clearly defined if pos
sible, than those of the "Old Man of the Noun
tain" in the Francouia range. The water here
is nearly mile and half IN depth, and As our
steamer swung into the bay, TO within few hun.
bred feet OF Point Trinity, the mountain on
our right, rising perpendicularlv from the water
to the height of 1900 feet, shut out the sun
though it was but three O'Clock in the afternoon
and we were among the shadows. The mpre.
siveness of the scene WAS 30 intense a. to become
party involuntarily and reverently sang,
Rock of Ages. thus wor.hipping the Creator
amid His grandest works. Wipe from our memo
rIes every scene but that, and that alone will re-
paw for the thousand miles of travel.
During the evenings the boat the party in-
dulged IN speech ing. music and merrlmeni.
The fine voice of Mrs Newcomoe was brought
into requsition, while Miss Lizzie Vickery sang
with tine effect several songs accompanying her
self the piano. Speeches were made by
Messrs Warren, Holman, Stickney, Thur-ton,
Gilman and Emery. DR.. Warren read humorous
poem on Passing the Custom House" Miss Ma
bel Ewell arranged the charaies, while gentle
man iroen Cleveland Ohio, a Mr. Bebee, contrib
uted to the entertainment by reading several
pieces of the Bret Harte style. Later came the
friendly greeting from Mr.. Ewel of the Portland
Transcript, who was unable to he present. As our
party touched at the wharf at QIebec, they bid An
affec,ionate farewell to the good steamer Sague.
nay, its mastery commander, its sumptuous fare
and attentive walters.
1t Sunday morning st o'clock, when we
reached the quaint old city OF Quebec, on our re-
turn trip, aud were drawn up the steep hills,
sleeper by far than any in Augusta to the frst-css,
hotels the ST. Louis and Russell House, winch
were TO he our homes during stay of three
days in the city. Our first thought pass
through the strange looking streets, lined with
granite stores. the doors of which
cred with grained shutters, is of breakfast. After
breakfast, a lunch Is served ut noon, and dinner
follows at 6, and supper to all who desire it, be-
tween and 10 This is the true English style.
The most of the company attend divine service ut
the French CathedI al, il being one of the old, st
churches in Canada II was built in l6i7, de-
stroyed hv fire during the siege of Quebec, in
1859, and rebuilt on the same walls. II was
sgan re. built in 1874. 1t has been raised by tue
Pope of Rome TO the eminent dignity of Minor
Bssica, which has not been conferred on any
other church 10 America The structure is vf
solid granite; the interior gay and rich with the
ttappings of Roman worship and the and
valuable painting. by the old masters Of arr tina,
of "Our Savior on the Cross, by Van Dyke.
being the most conspicuous and worth a long
Journey to see The Church will seat comfortably
1000, but every pew is leased, and you must stand
in the wide uncarpete sisles till the pewholders
seated before b. in , waited upon. The maj,
part of the worship Is the service of song, the
choir of men and bows being led by the finest
baritone singer we ever heard. and whom we al
forwards recognized As a member of Parliament
An earnest, eloquent preacher discussed in
French on the duty of entire conservation TO
Christ In this church is the ylitteting throne Of
the Bishop who resides in Quebec, and whose
diocese includes the whole OF North America. In
a room adjoining are shown with great pride the
piieslv robes and jewels that belonged 10 bishops
and priests who have passed away. robes of gold
brocades ornamented with diamonds and rubies.
We next enter the English cathedral, where the
SCI vice of the church of England Is progressing.
being very similar to that of the Episcopal church
in the States. The church itself is massive and
grand, though PLAN, no attempt az display being
made. The inmates of the several be nevOent in
situations under the patronage OF the church, are
present 10 uniform dress. young minister
breaches Gospel sermon on the withered fly
tree while the service of a mixed choir Is accom-
panied by the notes OF the grand old organ. We
should Judge that many wealthy families worship
here, bv the APPEARANCE of the elegant carriages
drawn up at the door, with liveiied footmen and
drivers in powdered w<gs. Mass with all its
solemnties is observed at an uptown church in
the afternoon, and in the evening the largest
Irish Catholic church in the city (S. Patricks) is
visited 1t has lately been newly painted, and
may now he reckoncd among the places that no
stranger should fail 10 visit. Just now, Father
Hennins of New York. very eloquent pre- acher.
is giving a series of sermons on the distinctive
doctrines of the church The preachers in these
Catholic churches use no "writIDg books, but
preach directly al the people and 10 them, hold ny
their attention from first to last. This is city of
churches, and institutions and schools of training
in some way connected with or dependent upon
the churches for patronage and support. There
are Protestant churches, but the prevailing re-
ligion is Roman Catholicism. In this city oil be-
tween so 900 and 20 900 souls there are but about
$4,000 English sp' aking people. You will find
the French and Irish generally worshpping at
the Catholic shrine.
distinguished honor awaited our party in the
afternoon, in the form of reception rendered
them nv Lord Dufferin Governor General nj