The Republican journal., 1892-01-14

siege VI 100 ~ non zero. Z otH uN-
cato. English ignorance of the colonies
was then, and later, colossal.
This harbour so rich in memories. pos
sesses natural characteristics which are
peculiar to itself and after while bring
with them feeling of rest and isolation
from the great world which frets and
fumes away beyond it, and has brought
none of it's activity to its now relatively
deserted shores. 1t is a striking feature
of LOuishourg, as of the coast generally
of Cape Breton, that the landscape ever
and anon assumes sad aspect, arising
from the constant mist and fog that OBJ
scure the sun, and give darker shadows to
the gloomy spruce that fringes the shores
of the island. A similar feeling of sad
ness passes over the spirit when we con-
template the great prairies of the north
west which, by their wide expanse and
titful shadows. recall the mighty ocean
that beats against the rockbound coast of
Cape Breton. Louisbourg. indeed. is a
place. W set Nal tlt III us NdIlct dS'ttlS.
The very atmospheric changes, SO sudden
at times. seem somehow adapted to the
varying moods of life. One day is all
bright and the waters of the park sparkle
in the sunshine. the gulls and sea-hirds
take lofty flights in the pure atmosphere,
the patches of stllnted spruce assume a
Al
play above the ruined ramparts of the old
town. to which the eye ever turns in re-
membrance of the past. Then in mo-
ment the wind veers round, and as we
look to the southeast we can just see
above the horizon a low bank of grew
shadow which moves forward and soon
enshadows the islands at the entrance,
and the lighthouse on its rocky height,
in cloud of mist, which increases steadi-
ly in volume until at last the point of land
on which the old fortress once stood is no
longer visible to the eye. Then. a few
hours later, the wind changes once more
and a cool breeze comes from the north
west, and the fog is driven out to sea
again. and the harbour is revealed in all
its solitary beauty. Or perhaps the wind
with great velocity ON the rocks and islets
that bar the ocean from the port which.
despite the tempest outside, seems re-
markedly unrtitt1ed and affords secure
anchorage to the boats and schooncrs that
are now its sole occupants instead of the
old fleets of stately ships that once
whitened its waters in days of old
On the rocky northeastern promontory.
between which and some small islands is
the entrance of the Harbour. stands the
light house, d tall wooden building with a
fixed light--a tireary home in the storms
of winter and the fogs of spring. A dark
grey tower of stone would better harmon
ize with the dull colours of sky and ocean
that generally prevail in this sad country
| than the white structure from which the
signal is flashed To the passing ship More
than one hundred and fifty years have
passed away since the French built the
first lighthouse on the same spot and
with the exception of 1886, when the Ian
tern was accislt ntally destroyed by lire the
light has burned unremttingly among the
rocks OF this prominent point of Cape
Breton. Some few PAGES eastward of the
light house a mound OF tYyo represents
the site OF the battery which in Pepper
rell's and Wolfe times did SO much exc
cution on the works On Goat Island. where
the French had a formidable battery now
a mass of rock and earth. where Old. can
non balls and pieces Of artillery are turn
ed III, by the waves is they roll during the
elllinoclial gales on its rugged shores
For many yeals after the destruction of
the Qualifications and the town. and beI,re
the resistl,ss action Of the ocean had BIZ
led deep beneath the sand the remains of
the vessels that Chevalier DIucour tie
Governor of the fortress sunk in 115S at
the entrance of the port to prevent the
approach bl I>t1StH @tli letl- tiic llSilt L
men OF Louisbourg often alleged they
could see the cannon of the ships lying
among the rocks and seaweed us their
little craft lay becalmed when the wind
went down and the water presented al
unrutfled surface which revealed their Sc
crets many fathoms below But such
stories are no longer heard in the old
port, and the most imaginative eye cannot
penetrate the depths of the sea where gal
liant ships were sacrificed in vain
The present village of Louishourg is a
collection of white houses scattered on the
western side Of the port, about Is mile or
more from the site of the old town. and
calls for no special remark except that
it has large canning factory which was
managed perhaps is so still-by man
from Maine. In this prosaic way the old
Baronet s State still links itself with the
place where Peppelrell won national fame
and honours- Old Father Moody of York.
who carried an axe to destroy the images
in the Louishourg chapels, would be sadly
disappointed a-days to see fine Ro-
man Catholic Church occupying a con-