Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-24
HlisftIlarreous.
Over the Border.


political Capital, city of yesterday !;
Montreal, the Commercial metropolis,
whose busy wbarves attest the ex-
tent of her foreign trade; Toronto, the
intellectual and literary capital, and Que
bee, the historical center. Quebec con-
stantly reminds one of the Old World. 1t
seems living leaf torn from the pages of
the pasta child of the Medieval ages
exiled to our western shores. living her
own quiet 18th century life, all the details
OF which blend SPONTANEOUSLY as to make
the visitor feel that he has fallen into
strange acquaintance with French provin-
cial life of more than century ago. The
growth and importance of Quebec, incom.
parabIy beautiful in situation, are effect
ually handicapped by its location. The
rugged Laurentian hills almost incapable
Of tiIlage crowd down to within short
distance of the river from. both above and
below the city. thus declaring it from be-
ing the outlet of any considerable agricul-
tural area, and the closing of navigation
through the long winter of nearly six
months 10 another barrier TO its growth.
Thus il happened that while Quebec for
long years enjoyed the prestige OF being
the capital city, Montreal from its beauti-
hui l0stlldT pftSillDiI DttdiilV tHC
heart of Canada.
The leading characteristics of the French
Canadian are his superstitious devotion to
the Church and his phenomenal frugality
of his domestic life. The priest is virtual
ly a sovereign in his parish, In the pro-
gressive religious movement and discus
sions OF our time. these simple folk not
only take no part, but Indignantly con-
denim them, and the youth. who Drawing
the advice OF parents and priests, immi-
crates to God-forsaken America is given
up with tears as "A lost soul. The priest
blesses the grain. rebukes the destructive
insects and worms, and tends of storm and
sickness. Every one leads charmed
life under the protection of some guar
dian saint. and in most houses the cate
chism is the only book to be seen. Sunday
is the great day of the week, and affords
a fine opportunity to study the French
Canadian character. Every body goes to
church From all the adjacent country
the peasantry in their homespun CARDS
throng to mass, and vehicles of every cOR-
ceivabIe description crowd the vacant
space in front of the church. Service
over, an hour is spent in genial greetings
and friendly local chat. The scene is
quaint in the extreme. Men, women, and
children in coarse, uncouth dress jostle,
and hustle among each other; no bright
ribbons or smart bonnets; all is dull in
color and severely practical in effect; not
even an attempt is made on the part OF
the women mt more than the absolute
necessities of attire. The absence of in
tellectual activity is painfully apparent in
the narrow lives of these true children of
the soil. but gentle goodness. kindly
sympathy, and truthfulness shine out in
almost every face. The amount of money
expended lay many large families is so
astoundinglv small as almost to challenge
credulity. The women weave, spin. bake.
brew, sew. and scrub. without a murmur
of complaint. At peasants house. where
they kindly made me welcome for night.
bountiful bowl of bean soup constituted
our supper. Into this every one dipped
his or her wooden spoon until the contents
Of the dish were exhausted. All imple-
mcnts of work are of domestic manufac-
ture and exceedingly rude; no machinery
lightens labor. In the old grooves of near
~ two centuries anterior these simple folk
live in peaceful contentment upon their
little farms-narrow, meager strips of
q
landed proprietors. and this too. while the
Dominion of Canada is rs large rs the
whole of Europe and the population but
five millions If the destinies of the Do
minion where controlled by the French
element. probably one hundred years
hence the country would be about where
is is now, but the French Canadians con-
siitute but small portion of the pop
ulation, and are mainly confined to the
province of Quebec.
The chief trade of Canada is with the
United States, Great Britain. and the West
Indies. laundering and fishing are the
leading industries. The cultivation OF
wheat corn and flax. and the manufacture
of maple sugar are also largely engaged
in. Leaving the castled sleeps of Que bee
whose magnificent views of the proud and
picturesque st. Lawrence far below shall
linger long in my memory, with parting
glance at the Plains of Abraham. the f.
nous battle field of France and England
where in knghtly spirit single moment
marks the tombs of the two heroes
Wolfe and Neutrality-suspicious. immortal
names are inseperably linked together
Montreal became my objective point
Montreal will not suffer by comparison
with any of the cities of the United States
The wide well-built streets, magnificent
churches. and commanding public build
ings strike the most casual observer. Ly
ing upon the northern bank of the st
Lawrence. whose clear blue waters reflec
its varied ediflces of French and English
architecture, Montreal can boast of truly
beautiful site. Many canals and railroad,
bring down the products of the West. anC
being at the head of ocean navigation, the
city viii no doubt not only continue tn,
commercial metropolis of the Dominion
but constantly grow in wealth and influ
ence. The busy busting at her wharve
in early spring. when the harbor bristle'
with industrious shipping, and crafts o
every build are on the wing, makes a con
spicuous contrast with the business stag
nation OF midwinter. Montreal is man,
miles to the south of Quebec, and Will,
the climate is much colder than our own
it is considered delightful by the inhabi
| tauts,
From Montreal made flying trip te
| Ottawa The Parliament buildings frs
catch the eye of the tourist-three Goth,
editices browning the highest cliff on the
| river of that name, their towers and spire.
overlooking the city. the river and tn,
vast forest stretching northward to Hind