The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-02-09

ment, and of the coats and ladies cloaks
there was a wonderful diversity. We
euqulred of the conductor if these pas
sengeTs lived far from the stations neces-
stating the use of so many fur wraps,
and received the reply that they were
not far away people;' but that fashion
governed these things as much as any
thing, If the clothing worn in Canada
had the finish and elegance of style
prevalent this side of the line, where the
same amount of money is involved the
appearance of the people would be much
improved. This remark applies equally
to the vehicles used. We did not see a
symmetrically built sleigh. One half of
the timbers used would make the cutters
far more attractive in appearance. The
idea of thigh" and Glow" pervades the
hacks" the drivers seats being isOla-
ted from the occupants and in most
cases separated with a high board of
petition wall. These, however, serve as
tenders to break the force of the wind
and as such contribute much to the com
fort of the passengers. Bear skins
abound as robes.
We were fortunate in learning that
the Albion House, Montreal, was now
kept by D. S. Danforth. a former main
line Central Vermont Conductor, and
towards that hostelrie we fastened for
dinner. The excellent table fare fully
discussed and the city of Montreal next
in order we found an Irishman named
Fitzgerald C'whO could talk United
States') through the kindness of Land
lords Kline & Danforth. In seeing"
the city this gave us the "inside track,
and saved us several dollars. Our hack.
man was well informed, accommodating
and proved to be an encyclopedia.
Among the places of interest visited we
recall the Notre Dame Cathedral, the
Court house, new Postoffice, new City
Hall, Bank of Montreal, Bonsecours
Market, McGill College, English Cathe-
dral, the new st Peters church, Jesuit
church, the Victoria Bridge, and last
but not least, the drive up the mountain
and the famed toboggan slides thereon.
The Victoria bridge, one and three.quar
GERS miles long, we had before inspected
by riding then three times through it,
and now we saw it ION this our return
trip from said mountain, elevation 700
feet,) together with the city of Montreal
spread out in panoramic view at our
and repaid the very cold ride endured
before the spectacle burst upon our
view.
The famed Notre Dame Cathedral
will of itself repay visit to the Capitol
city p. Q. The two turreted spires rIs-
ing $50 feet above the foundation, the
massive pile of buildings, all combining
to form one symmetrical whole so that
relatively these spires do not with their
$50 feet altitude appear as tall as that
upon the Second Congregational church
q75 fee) at home. The vast auditorium
cababe of seating more than &c, 900 peo-
pie; the various shrnes before which
knelt scores of worshippers upon this
Thursday; the sanctuary with its elab-
crate ornamentation of carved statuary;
the rich, beautiful high altar; all the APP
pointments appealing to the senses in
manner known only to those who have
experienced the influence of this display
of high art. The church seemed desert
ed and yet there were more than one
hundred people in sight. The side affairs
and shrines are beautiful and seemed to
attract the devotees; but one was kneel
ing in front of the principal altar, The
elevator was not running 80 we did not
ascend the towers. The new st. Peters
is an exact reproduction of its Roman
model. In all the churches of the Ro-
man communion the open doors. the
number of people engaged in private de.
votions, all contributed evidence of an
active church life. We did not gain Ell
trance to the English Cathedral. Fully
expecting TO find its doUrs open we
strobe up the wide stone steps and
grasped the door knob. We tried the
side door in response to our guides sug-
gestion only to find that we had set the
alarm in the tOwe: going. The writer
quietly remarked that this was no more
than he expected. The extreme Ev n.
gelicalism which protests by closed
doors six days week and worships on
the Sabbath, one day in seven,is Just the
churchmanship to be eminently exclu-
sive and respectable. The guide said
the doors were seldom open week days
even in summer, This, one of the see
cities of the English church in its cathe.
dral usage should retire from its Protes
tantism and open its church doors to
such as are more Catholicly minded.
The mountain" with its associations
should receive an entire article, but
oBoSS ohb NihiO uOto w q
saw several parties of snOw-shoers out
upon tour. Their manner of walking
upon the soft surface of "the white
driven snow" would be revelation to
our Yankee boys. Riding down either
one of the three public toboggan chutes
on the top of the mountain ia finely de-
scribed by the story of the Chinaman,
who said that it consisted of: "W.h.s.s
and then walkee back mile" in this
case it would be nearer three miles than
one, Dressed for the occasion, tobog-
gaming from Mount Royal, is the sport
at its zenith of grandeur. The imita-
lions we have seen this side of the Do
minion are feeble copies indeed.
This visit to the Canadian metropolis
taken into consideration, the Grand
Lodge l. o. o. f, session of 1888 at
Island Pond, was an enjoyable one for
the party of trO who went; as much so
as for those who stayed at home.
II. L STILLSoN.