New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-28
FROM MONTREAL TO QUEBEC.
MEN OF SCIENCE SIGHT SEEING.
A PICTURESQUE RIDE TO QUAINT OLD TOWN
HOW THE WISE MEN WERE ENTERTAINED IN
QUEREC AND OTTAWA.
IBr TELEGRAPH To THE TRTBUSE.l

IBr TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUSEl
| MONTREAL, Aug. 27-In the gray dawn of Saur-
day morning 800 men of science, and others-mostly
others-arose from their mattresses on tho cabin
fioor or climbed down from their
berths to survey tho shores of the
st. Lawrence. by the courtesy of the RicheIieu and
Ontario Navigation Company they had embarked
here the evening before the steamer Canada for a
pilgrimage to the ancient capital of the Province,
leaving behind them the enterprise and
eageness of the present IN search of
the romance and pahos of splendid
past What the pilgrims saw when they had
rubbed their eyes open wero high banks on either
side of q broad river, green to the waters edge.
Through occasional depressions in the bluffs
/ glimpscs could be caught of fertile farming
, lands stretching away for miles to the
right and left with broad fields of oats and barley
not yet ripe and ready for the reaper. Here and
there at the mouth of some tributary stream
were great piles of lumber 1oated down
from far away forests for the timber
along the st. Lawrence was swept away years ago.
and more woodland can be IN journey through
any of our older States than can be found IN this
part of the Dominion The Villages they steamed
by were of one pattern-a massive stone
church with one two sharp spires and
line of low houses extending from
it up and down the river along the single street,
giving one the uncomfortable impression that the
temporal prosperity of the church had been gained
at the expense of that of the worshippers.
But the pilgrims had little time to
moralize, for those of them who were
not down endeayoring to gam admission to the
the breakfast-room were soon aware of tho smoke
OF "A city hanging about cliff, and all mt once the
the grim fortress on its crag outlined against
the cold morning sky. When the Canada
was made fast to the wharf under the gray
walls Of the Citadel a dapper official announced
His Worship the Mayor, who came on board to well
come the pilgrims and at once the party climbed
to Dufferin Terrace. Upon this spacious prone
made, in front of the monument which celebrates
the devotion and death of Wolfe and Montcam, the
Mayor delivered a formal address of welcome in the
Free CHI Canadian dialect of the English language.
and at its conclusion announced that Colonel Irwin,
the commandant, had kindly consented as special
favor 10 admit the city's guests TO
the Citadel through the sally-port from the Gacis.
Again the pilgrims prepared to climb. some mount
ing the steps known as Breakneck Stars, and
Others making less arduous ascent up long slope
of soft turf.
LII a short time the men of science and their wives
were reclining on the grass-grov parapet or lean
ing against the great guns. while the local COM
mitteemen were pointing out to them
the points of interest in one of the
famous landscapes of the world. Lord
Lorne had folded his tents IN the morning and
quietly stolen away but the royal standard float
ing above the battle grounds gave notice that the
Princess remained in the Castle, and it Is to be
feared that some of the pilgrims would have pre-
fcrred n glimpse of one who represented
the Imperial power of Great Britain to the glores
of the prospect spread before them reaching
.~ftf.
of thr old town and down tie shining
path Of the river to the blue peaks of the
Laurent ian Mountains III the distant horizon But
the vision was not VOuchS1fcd TO them ana they
asrd ont of the Citadel ia long procession, through
fortress gate and down from terrace 10 terrace on
the walls which still fence IN tine ancient city.
INTO the old Jesuit Church, one of the
headquarters of the grand scheme of Foreign
Missions; thorough Laval University with its
amazing picture gallery hlIed with work OF f very
down to the steamer again where
the hoSpItahIe city had spread q lunch,
all the afternoon on the tao,e.
Then they were steamed around the harbor
w' IN. P MHGr and tbe o1S Governor p orr a"rai
and Science, to he delight Of all the orators who
RESPONDED few Of the pilgrims preferred the city
to the toasts, aud they remained Oh shore 10 drink
in more of the flavor ot the ancient capital OF an
emplrc when once extended from the -.
Lawrence 10 the mouth OF the Mississippi
Some of their idols were shattered when they
learned that the quaint Old houses which they had
been rcyerIng rs MEDIEVAL structures were in real
ltv disgraceiully modern, tor the city has been
swept over by tire and rebuilt several times.
They were cOns0led however. VIXEN they visited
the new Parliament House and saw evidences OF
that practical craftsmanship which made
the late Mr.. weed famous. They
felt strangely drawn toward lawmakers
who were expert in jobs as ambitious as Our own
River and Harhor bill and when they learned that
there were members of the Provincial Parliament
who could scarcely read, but who could be
trusted to vote solid for the old flag
and an appropriation every time, the pilgrims We're
deyoutly thankful that tie days of feudai violence
were past ana that this ii free country like our
While onc-haf of the American Association was
thu, enjoying Quebec the other half was advancing
science in Ottawa, and interesting themselves in
the growth Of the vigorous young capital OF the
Dominion. 1hcv conducted TO the Falls
through some of the great lumber mills through
the admirable Government buildings and grounds.
and were entertained generally with the same Law
ish hospitality. There speeches. too, by the
local dIgniaries and by Drs Carpenter and
Rae of London. and by Professors Gray and
DaW son representing the association This section
was safely back IN Montreal by O'clock, Sun
day morning, while the Quebec branch ar
rived in somewhat dIapIdated condition
three hours later by rail. having mad ample eX-
perence that the wooden benches i'll second-cass
cars grew no softer toward morning after nlne