Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-10-21

THE MANNTRs AND CUSTOMS or THE
FRENCH on NAMES NORTHERN BORDER
The Mads~aska settlements comprise a
strip Of country lying along the ST. John
river, beginning AT Hamlin. half dozen
miles from Grand Falls. y. b., and extend
ing in a north-wes;erly direction fifty miles
up the ri,er. There are eleven towns or
organized plantations with an aggregate
population Of something like 800. Of which
three quarters or more IS of French descent
The exiles from Acadia, immorialized in
e, angeline," were the first settlers Of this
valley. which. though in a higher latitude
than Quebec. and oppressed by long and se-
we're winters, Of which some wonderful sro-
ries are told. l. one Of the most fertile and
beautiful IN New England The original
settlers and the Canadians who have Joined
them occupy a wide strip of inter, ale land
along the banks Of the ST. John Travellers
have often described the manners Of this
simple people. They are as unlike the y an
KEGS fifty miles 10 the south Of them as can
well be imagined. They have no genius for
accumulation. no desire for improvement
They were born without ambition. and en-
JOY life correspondingly. The Lord got
along well enough before We were born"
they say. land he will after We are gone
A New England man would call them shift
less. Their farm is of the most primitive
order. There has been no change in the
style Of their buildings for a century. and
manufactures they have none. Yet they are
industrious in their way. Their wants are
few and easily supplied. A few months
work al numbering in winter provides what
ready money they see during the year. The
traders handle less money than anywhere
else IN the country. Barter is the rule not
the exception. They are happy people,
and the strains Of fiddle, such as can FIRE.
quently be heard by the traveller. will al
any time keep dozen of them ia contented
idleaess for hall day. They are religious,
not To say superstitious. All are ardent
Catholics. and the churches which they have
erected are in striking contrast to the pre-
,ailing architecture. A convent and school
on the New Brunswick side Of the river are
noted throughout the whole section. and the
latter is well patronized by parents all the
way from Grand Falls to Quebec. Ii is
sight to see the throngs making their way
toward church Of q Sunday morning. Some
on foot, some on horseback. some in car
riages which carried fashionable people half
a century ago. some in gigs Of the rudest
home manufacture, here q half dozen in q
wagon. there a larger party in hay-raek.
They will start. many Of them, three or four
hours before mass, and drive all distances
from one 10 a dozen miles. The feast DAYS
of the church are celebrated as nowhere
else in New England. After mass the priest
gives notice of any coming occurrences
likely to be of interest to his flock, such as
the fact that trader will be at a designated
place on a given day TO buy cattle, for the
people, il should be remembered. have no
newspapers, and could no, read them If they
had. After mass, too, when an election ap-
proaches. the candidates for Office are al
lowed and expected to harangue the people
from the steps Of the church. One Sunday
last year the writer saw the hat knocked
from the head Of a young Portlander who
was standing not in the church nor the yes-
tbule, but some feet from the door and in
tending no disrespect.
An hour later, mass being over, an elo-
quent native was addressing his fellow citi-
Iens on his claims to an election as repre-
sentative from the very same spot And
this brings us to the matter Of elections
The French vote has Neen practically solid
for the Democratic party. James {. Madi-
gan, who died last year could control every
man of them. In national issues little in
terest is felt. The speeches which are made
deal chiefly with local and county matters.
A representative to the Legislature who
wants a reelection is held TO a strict ac-
count for every act or vote Of his which
could have any bearing upon the welfare of
the people.
A political convention is worth going far
to see. The writer of this attended one
last year. Ii vas for the nomination of q
representative to the Legislature from the
lower Madawaska district. Il was held in
the open air ON Saturday forenoon. on Q
beautiful green spot in front Of . dwelling
house half dozen miles above Van Buren,.
People began 70 60 BY IL kinda of eoavey.