The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-23
CIfILnREN GALORE.
Marvellous Farime. ofthe French Canadian.
Their Moxrr.ent Into New ENGLAND,

ten0enJ OIL EDUCATION Tor tho province WAS tHe
twenty sixth child OF the same father and
mother. l was at golden wedding near
Sorel last month. at which seventeen children
belonging to the old folks constituted the
piece de resistance. Nine Of them came from
New England. two from Chicago. and one
from Manitoba. Mr.. ]. NJ. Lemoine. a
French Canadian writer. tells OF habi-
tant near this city who. accompanied by
twenty.six OF his brothers and sisters went to
the church to have his thirtieth child chris
tened. There were about 10000 French Cana
dams In New France when 1t was coded to
Britain 100 years ago. Emigration from
France practically ceased at that time. and the
efforts lately made by tho Dominion Govern
ment to revive 1t have been unavailing. Yet
the 10000 have Increased to two millions and
more. OF whom one-third are In the United
States. These figures alone go far to substan-
tate the boast of French Canadians that they
are the most prolific race on the earth.
Jesuit who travels among the French Ca
madam colonies in tho States says the average
French Canadian family in the factory towns
OF Now England is not as large ms the average
family on the banks OF the st. Lawrence. He
attributes the difference to the fact that in
many cases the young vito continues to work
in the mill: it is to her interest and that OF her
husband to earn the weekly wage as long as
she can. and n swarm OF children would only
be In the way. On the other hand. the mortnl ity
among French Canadian children in New Eng
land is below the rate in French Canada. where
sanitary soience is in its swadding clothes
ana a inc OLD prejudice ng2insht SaSein q IN
teen French Canadians and fifteen Americans.
most of them Irish: Americans. were taken at
haphazard and weighed. The, French aver
eas anf IN h" and
French Canadian woman weighs from nVe 10
ton pounds less than English -speaking women.
But, as a rule. the French women possess u
more robust constitution. and are not SO liable
to nervous Complaints or to those derange-
mon enough to see French Canadian girl Of
IA married. and to find her buXom grand
The usual explanation OF the amazing fecun-
dity OF these people is that the clergy encour:,
age early marriages for moral and political
the number Of French Canadian voters within
the Dominion In order to exalt their OWE
power. Without doubt the priests do encour;;
consld erations weigh with them. BY the Con
stitution Of Canada the representation o. Of the
ment is fixed for all time at si1ty;flve
In the other shfss
Quebec there is none 1t would be absurd
therefore FOR, a cure to advocate early mar
Canadian delegation at Ottawa, while the Leg
FRENCH th1tt he need not wish to make i more
since the foundation OF the oony By ham
plain. when prem NUNS were given Tor largo
primarily to the care displayed by the founders
In selecting the first settlers:
The males were chosen from the farming
and fishing classes and from the army All
tile early writer's speak Of the extraordinary
physical vigor OF the men. A voyage across
dertaking. and when the journey was over it
was no child's play to go into the bush and
hew ous home amid wolves and wild Ind;
exclude weakline.. who, might become
ed SgsdeP they and could R nS
Perche. Beauce. and tho Pays d'Aunis The
seigneurs themselves were retired army OIL
OF adventure The girls shippeed out as wives
Paris was turned away. Every girl had to
produce a certificate from her parish priest.
and u her conduct on board ship vas not
Most OF them belonged to tho peasant class.
but some were the daughters Of broken-down
ernor OF Nancy-a tall brunette. who appears to
borne si% ioaFtssn eh q. T6e th!sqiiass
q list of the settlers In want of wives. and ar
ranged the pairing the, moment, the ship ar
was sure to find another husband. At Mon
treal a widow was married to her second be-
fore tho frs. had been put under ground but
thought she ought to have remained single for
at least two months. between 1927 and lG41
Dame in this city. and the registers show that
The feudal tenure established in 1873. did
tenant had his eighty or ninety acres OF bush.
with the option OF getting a similar tract for
Is an abundance OF land to he had for the ask
ing, with virgin soil yielding heavy crops.
and plenty Of gene 9. and ash. the birth rrie Is
to subdivide his holding among his children,
rs required by the existing French law; it is
les mi ght have been the eS;ceptI o rather
hHn the r bs ths bat T. was the mere
acres. and some rom being censitaires or
tenants rose to seigniorial rank and had ten
ried on process Of natural selection by kill
ing off the weak. The climate. by the way. has
snESt ty Sst s sssn
would grow mider as the country was settled
10. but u comparison OF his records with those
ake n The s The people ' led m w csanr
heir land. hunting. travelling IN canoes. and
endes to 'en M mat the oep om t fss
2 time new blood was brought in.
Four reompanles Of {, the famous carg;
aansa1Sy ssttea in and 1aH married. dets girls
d the country. Inc OlllceTh became selSneurS.
Ind being aristocrats, introduced a certain |
mount OF polish which did the rough and |
Jaw colonists no harm. At later day many |
u Wolte's men. notably his HiGhlanders. took
we're assimiated by the conquered race ina
'ery short time. There are numerous Frasers |
below Quebec who cannot speak English. The !
lrst ,Scotchman who, entered the colony was |
ABRAHAM Martin. pilot. who obtained CON !
session Of land known to history as the Plains
y Abraham. He seems to have drifted from
'endence,n few United Empire Loyalsts mr.:
lived and after the war Of 1872 two hundred
nen Of Swiss regiment. who had fought on
he British side settled here.
such In brief was The making OF the French
canadian race, and it has no reason to he
Ishamed OF Its origin \ few settlers, but
,nly =, few married indian women, The
warthy man. so swarthy that tho American
'istor Jpmps TO the conclusion that no must
AVE Indian blood in his veins: but that is
'ot the case There is Indian blood among
.mong the French Canadians along Gasp6
cast. but throughout Quebec the rare Is al
most as pure as 1t was three hundred years
go Nor p i true that the French Canadians
ave been introduced in connection with in