The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-12-09
miscellaneous.
EVANGELINE.
NE original Story Of LOngfsllOW'S Beautiful
Poem.
New York Evening Post.l

The story of Evangeline is familiar to
all readers, but very few are acquainted
with the history of the Acadian people,
Nova Scotia was discovered by her
men from Brittany in l405, In 1903 an
expedition under the patronage of Hen
rv w. sailed for the New World. The
leader was Protestant gentleman, bv
name De Monts. Therefore the country
had been called New France, but in the
patents of this expedition the part lying
east of the Penobscot, embracing the
present Provinces of Nova Scotia, New
Brunswick and a part of Maine was
named Acadia.
The long contest of England and
France was bitter one. These fair
fields formed the battle grounds, and in
alternate victory and defeat the fortunes
of war moved on, Gradually the terri
tory of Acadia became cirCumsCribed to
the central part Of Nova Scotia, inhabit-
ed by the descendants Of Normans
These had taken but little interest in the
great wars that had surged around them.
The Indian, who was the enemy of
England, was their friend outlawed by
the English, with a price set upon his
Ecalp he found friendship smong the
Acadians. They could not forget their
old home beyond the sea, nor readily
transfer their love to the alien Nation
many times they were commanded, not
unfrequently were they entreaied, but
never dreaming that they would be mo.
Tested, they refused to take the oath of
allegiance to England. At length, by
order of the Government, transports
were ordered from Boston to repair to
the various ports and convey away the
entire Acadian people. The instructions
were severe; the officers were to use
force If necessary to get the people on
board the transports, and if any escaped
to the woods their houses and barns
we're to be burned.
No intimation OF the great calamity
was given TO the people. The crops
gathered in the field and barn, when up |
the basin to the mouth of the Gaspereau |
the transports sailed. The order of the |
King commanded all the people to as.
semble within the parish church, where |
to ediCt of banishmenG was read. An |
old writer describes the scene of anguish,
as, leaving behind their peaceful fields,
now lighted with their burning homes,
the young men, one hundred and sixty
in number, through long line of weep.
ing parents and friends, were driven to
the ships. The blessings of the gray
haired priest, the weeping of children,
the moaning mothers followed them
win the reluctant steps, praying, weep
ing and singing hVmns. This detaCh.
ment was followed by the seniors, who
passed through the same scene of sorrow
and distress. In this manner was the
whole male population of the region put
on board five transports stationed in the
river, each vessel being guarded by six
non-Commissioned officers and eighty
privates. AS soon as the other vessel
arrived the wives and children followed,
and the people were trans ported away
from Nova Scotia. The total number
sent away from the province was 0O0.
In this district, which bnrdered Nina
Basin, there were 92o; 235 houses and
273 barns were destroyed, besides eleven
mills.
Even to this day many of the old
characteristics of this people remain
In the region west of Grand Pre-, in the
Clare county there are many of ACa.
dians. The village prie0t is still the
monarch of the village receiving all !
their condolences the med dum of com !
muniCation from the outer world, max.
ing and keeping their wills, and being
their friend and father. Toe parish
church upon Sundays gathers them all, a
and when the simple service is finished, +
winding homeward through the roads, :
just as Of old, the ACsdlan youths and l
maidens whisper their sweet Confden. :
ces and tell eaoh other the old, old story t
that was first told when Adam woOed a
Eve in the groves of Eden. a
The simple life of the Acadian seems a
lily suited to the days in which he lives 4
and it has been that perhaps, the senti. Q
ments of the poet had, in the village of a
Grand Pr drawn the features Of an idle /
people, bat to-day, after the lapse of i
years, just the same lies the little village 9
as when in the olden times y
In the ACadian land, on the shores ofthe basin &
OF Minas, b
Distant secluded, still, the little village of Grand
Pre-, n
Lay in The secluded valley; Il
And in those villages where the de, ii
scendants Of banIshed people live, in Il
the customs the simple primitive life of t,
the people, we may reCast the old days Il
Of Evangeline's people, when v
Neither locks had they to their doors, nor bars s.
10 their windows, u
But their dwellings we're open az day and the
hearts OF their owners.
Wandering over the old fields, watch .,
nR shadows as they chase each other "
'ver the slopes Of the distant mountain ~
'eeing the wild fields of the Grand Pre- u
beneath our feet, it is not difficult to "
DriDg back the old life of the Acadian "
'illsRe, to see the priest on his round OF W "
mercy, and watch the smoke rising VI
boVe the thatched cottage Of the peas. ="
ntry. We see nothing in the features VI VI
# the people who till these fair acres to "a
emind US of the old colouists who built "a
he rampars against the sea and fiched VI
hese fair fields from the waves; the W
hurCh has gone, it's ashes have fed the ama m
oil; the forge of Basil is silent, the site u'
pom which it rested is but an imaginary W
ne, and yet, though ~
aught but traditions remain Of the beautiful ch
village Of Grand Pre-, os
hough waste ace the pleasant farms, and the hy
farmers forever departed, 49,
till the outlines of the picture are the h
anne, the river which flows onward IL Sl
ne one by whose banks Gabriel wooed
no fair Evangeline, the distant noun.
ain is the prospect on which the eyes Of
ne lovers rested, and the waters of fair I
Ifna,a wtkfak Ill l. Al tha