New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-29
AMONG THE FRENCH CANADIANS.


PLEASANT JOURNEY THROUGH DENSE FORESTS
THE FRENCH SETTLERS MPAssIvE AND UN-
DEMONsTRATIvE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
RIvIERE DU LoUP, Nov. 29.-Lower Canada with
It's French mustard is sandwiched between slices
OF English bread Nova Scotia and New-Bruns-
Wick on side and Ontario on the
other. Here millions of French Cana
dams, unprOgressive. religions and industrious.
They have never been assimilated with adjacent
PROVINCES. 1t is region where priests are all pow
erful, and notaries oficious in France and
where even English and Scotch settlers SO thor
oughly Galliczed that tithes and church i'm
posts are collected in villages. 1t is peoped
by a race different in language and religion, and
with little in common with the Maritime Provinces
to the south, with their commercial instincst and
ultra-Brtish sentiment, or with Ontario, with its
Scotch Presbyteriansm and Irish Professionalism.
The Govcrnor-Gencral, with his Scotch blood,
has been brought into contact to-day with
French Canada. As he rose at 8. and took
short walk with the Princess on the platform at
Metapedia, where the train had remained during
the night, he the threshold of new
province. the ground was covered with snow, and
the Canadian woods were olive-green underneath
leaden sky. Tho Valley of MetapedIa was skirted
by high hllsides white with snow, and the
village with ITS quaint houses and church, was
boldly outlined like a silhouette When the CORE
spondents cal, which had been at CampbeltOn since
midnight, coupled TO the train, the journey
was resumed. The road led nearly hum
dred miles through dense forest to st.
Favie on the st. Lawrence, 200 miles
below Quebec Here a halt was made at
the station, at which few hundred peasants and
fishermen had gathered. The Princess must have
smiled as she peeped out Of the window at this curl
Gus group; not cheer was heard. Women with
tanned faces and queer costumes stood with impas-
sve. almost stolid faces If the passage Fan English
Princess through tho hamlet was most ordinary
event. The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and Cabinet got
on the train and were presented to the Princess,
evncing throughout the self-possession of native
born Frenchmen.
At Rlmoskl. the next station, on the banks Of the
river a salnte was fired, and the Marquis and
Princess were conducted to a reception-room, where
an address was delivered in French. The Marquis.
as well as the Princess speak that language fuenty,
and he replied accordingly in French his accent be-
ing remarkably good. French ragout was made
of the National anthem which was rendered by the
band in broken and jcrky manner, as though
chopped mp fine. The French love OF color
was noticeable in the odd costumes of the
peasants-the women displaying bright red rib
bons, and the men wearing long blue Jackets, with
green sashes. The crowd was somewhat demon
stratve. but an unfortunate incident chilled en-
thuslasm Provincial officials had gone to St. Flavle
IN n special car which they supposed would be
connected with the royal train. 1t was left behind,
and through nadvertence they were not invited to
continue their journey to Point Lewis. They got
of at the next station, and evidently fancied they
had been snubbed. Ii is even said that they
received hint that their presence not wanted.
The Governor, however, remained on the tram by
request.