Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-08-29
The Plains of Abraham.

The Plains of Abraham.
A writer from Quebec, Canada, says :
If brevity is the soul of wit, it is also
the soul of elOquence. Could
surpass in eloquence these
brief inscriptions On the monument
which marks the spot where Wolfe fell
Ia simple column, just surmounted by
the soldiers helmet and swOrd), are
these words:
Here died Wolfe, victorious, Sept.
18th, 1862"
And on the cliff at the foot of which
met his death is the incrip-
ton:
=" Here Montgomery fell, Dec. 3lst,
I775."
1t happened one day that we were go
ing to stay in the house and write letters
and so on; but about IL o'clock we hap
pened to think we will go out and walk
two or three blocks, just to see how the
city is looking. The two or three blocks
took the direction of the suburbs, and
there it was found to be so charming,
with pretty villas. flowery grounds, and
wide views, that the way stretched lit
tie and little farther, till we got to the
toll gate which is mile from town, and
is on the plains of Abraham. We were
glad enough to find ourselves there.
These plains, now, though not very
greatly built upon as yet, are laid out in
streets, and right in the centre stands
an immense new Jail, of massive stone,
with extra heavy iron-barred windows !:
not cheerful neigbor. You turn from
the street into by-yard that leads
down into the fields, pass little refresh
ment house called the Wolfe Inn, and
few other very humble houses, and come
to the monument to Wolfe; and while
you are think king that here brave spirit
took flight, you hear slight prancing !;
you look around to find an environment
of dozen young Arabs, each holding
out hand in which are few pebbles,
that he expects you to buy as memen-
toes. But they leave the field when you
tell them mildly, but firmly, that you
are not intending to add 10 your stock
of souvenirs, and with restored cOmpO-
sure you can fall back and try to picture
to yourself the rush and turmoil of con-
tending armies. The ground occupied
by the French army is pretty well built
up, but the position occupied by the
English centre is a large clover field.
We would like to walk across it, but it
is occupied at present by herd of cows
and it is rather nervous undertaking
to cross field full of cows, all having
stubby horns crooking in different direc-
tions. So We give that up as Derilous
and go round pass the Jail
for look at the Martello towers. There
are four of these, built out here for the
fnrther protection of the city !; massive
round towers, which are great orna
ment to the landscape. Of the four,
two are Oh these plains. 1t is good
distance from the road back to them,
but the well-trodden foot-path shows the
many that come. They are slightly
ruinous F.; a little grass springing here
and there-iust enough to give soft
ening effect to the strong outline
with their menacing aspect still further
accentuate the historic memories of the
spot.
From the tower nearest the river
foot-path runs along in the direction of
the town. Of course, it leads some
where, so we follow it, and it is well
that we do; for it brings us to a flight
of steps leading down to the lower
Tower. Ii is about two hundred feet
down there. This flight takes us down
To where the town has narrowed to a
single street running along by the foot
of the cliff. 1t was along this street
that Montgomery advanced with his
band of seven hundred men, when he
came to the barricade whence the can
non was fired that killed him and dis
perSed his troops. We come soon to a
place where there is a watering trough,
and man on horseback letting his
horse drink. The water comes trickling
down a deep gully it has worn in the
cliff, and, looking up to trace the course
of the water, our gaze meets on the side
of the cliff, quite high up, a black tablet
with the words in large gilt letters:
"Here Montgomery fell"
The thought that this was the scene
of heroic action comes SO unexpect-
edly that we involuntary pay the trib-
ute of deep and true emotion to the
of the brave man.
Up in st. Louis street there is little
old house inhabited at present by a
dealer in Indian work and views of
Quebec. The dormer windows have
two or three broken panes of glass, and
the whole house shows it to have been
subjected to the wear and tear of years.
On the front of it is painted this inScrip-
ton:
''The body of Gen. Montgomery, U.
5. A., was laid out in this house, 3lst
Dec, 1775."
This is the most historic street in the
city scarcely a house but has some
history connected with it. But of the
two most interesting houses nothing is
known. These belong to the real old
LAYS. They are small, one-storied, have
steep roofs with dOrmer windows, huge
chimneys, and immensely thick walls,
with small doors and windows. They
are perfect study, and couldn't be
spared on any account whatever, al
though a livery stable keeper does
rather kill the romance by hanging his
sign out in front.
Before leaving the subject of the
heroes, let us note the granite
shaft that stands just back from the
Terrace, to the joint memory of Wolfe
and Montcalm. 1t is perfect pleasure
20 see the two names so joined. 1t
shows a spirit of right true brotherly
owe.