Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-06
CHRISTMAS IN CANADA
Graphic Letter from a Southern Journal
ist Visiting the Capital of the
Dominion.
Special Correspondent Pua1Io LEpoEn.

opcNldl correspondent IlhLlu LLDGEN.I
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, Dec.
%, l879.-Christmas in a strange land
yet among the warm-hearted. good
people Of Canada, is by no means
destitute Of the social enjoyment and
good cheer that characterize this great
festival in our own Sunny South. To
a Southerner Canadian life has many
strange features; in everything there
is an elegant simplicity, an earn
est feeling and an ingenious
courtesy that make its novelty not
only acceptable and pleasing, but also
delightful and fascinating. My visit
here has been one of unusual pleasure,
and | will ever cherish happy memo.
ries of this Dominion capital.
CHRISTMAS AT OTTAWA
came gently, differently from what it
does in the United States. In fact,
old Christmas has no usher
here, nor is his presence
announced by ringing bells, booming
cannon, and fire crackers. The Cana
dian has no use for the heathenish
a%rtitice of noise, confusion and pyrio
nonsense. The small boy is not SO
glorious here as he is in our country.
The day is rather like a quiet Sab
bath. The churches hold service, and
attract a goodly attendance. Instead
Of the American eagle hurrah,
there is the family reunion,
the richly crowned board,
and the social enjoyment which are
not so well exemplifed in the fcstiyi-
ties of our home Christmas.
THE CITY OF OTTAWA
has a population of about twenty-four
thousand, and a more thrifty com
munity is not to be found. In fact
the true excellence Of Canadian char.
acter is found among the people of
Ottawa. They are full Of pluck, good
.old-fashion pluck, possess great
energy and by reason Of climate
are much more active than our people.
find here an individuality of charac-
ter and a type of manhood unequalled
elsewhere in the domain Of England.
There is but little superciliousness
no yanity and no meaningless ambition
among these people. In their business
they are systematic, end hence relia-
BILE. In manner they remind memuch
OF our Southern people. They arc
at any rate least like the Yam.
kee, between whom there can
not be much congeniality. | might
write much about the Canadians, for
they have those virtues Of heart and
attributes Of mind in the portraiture
OF which the journalist finds a pleasing
duty. | shall give in subsequent let.
ters something more Of these people.
whose city, the capital Of the Do.
minion, has one Of the most beau.
tiful locations | have ever seen.
The buildings are general,
Of stone and brick, and in a massiy,
style. Many Of the business house,
are as handsome in design and as el.
egant IN structure as can be ,ound /,
any city oftwiee the size of Ottawa
The stone used for buildings. street
and other purposes is found In IN,
vicinity Of the city, the site of which
though grander by far, is not unlik,
that Of Nashville. The street,
are wide and run at right angles
Inc residences are constructed In n
to be warm and comfortable in m.
coolest weather, say fifty degrees be-
low zero; The method Of heating I
admirable. and doubtless about a
near perfection as any system vel dc
ylsed. The snow is only about Gfteo
inches in depth. This is not a besv
snow for OTTAWA. and ros,
mat 1t does not inconvenience any on
! nor incommode people in their bns;
I ness and social duties. In NV nov
letter l will speak of the sleigGs III
ice the public buildings and tbe soi
OF canada; | forget TO state thatsalfa
Michigan has one ear Restitution on'
is about hors de'combat. "'
NJ. lop. ~JoHNsroN.