Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-17
CANADIAN SOCIETY.
Our Northern Neighbors Put Down
as Extremely Social"

Lady JephSon, in the New Review
i The social amusements of Canada are
peculiar and delightful. Fails and din
ner parties are the same all the world
over, but here exist attractions seldom
/ to be found in other countries. In win
! ter, skating, toboganning, sliding,
moonlight tramps on snoWshoes,
picncs to frozen falls and moose and
cariboo hunting In summer, canoeing,
| fishing, boating riding, driving, dane
ing and camping out in parties. Can
adams are extremely social and are
averse from solitude in every shape.
Even when the early visit to salt
water is paid they battle in company,
and live from morning till night on
each others VerandaS. Privacy is q
state little priced in the Dominion.
Canadian country houses answer rather
to the description of Villas than places. y
The general run are two stored and
are built with wide yerandas, which
| shade the living rooms in the hot,
fierce summers, and are oyerSrOWn
with beautiful creepers. These houses
are shaded with trees, and are sur
rounded with strawberries, lawns and
pleasant gardens. In Quebec the style
! of domestic architecture is distinctly
/ French, and I'll over the Dominion
mansard roofs are much in vogue.
What is known in the states as colon,
ial architecture" does not exist north Of
the American frontier Country house
life as it is understood III England
is little known IN Canada, but there
is a reason for it, inaSmuch as the
houses arc not large enough for house
parties. and in the months of June,
July and August all the world goes to
the seaside or the shores OF the St
Lawrence. Entertaining is largely
done in winter, Montreal, OttOWa and
Toronto being the gayest among Cam
adian cities. Quebec INDUCES itself III
occasional balls, many kettledrums,
skating and driving parties. A Can
adam girl drives alone with man,
tobOggans and sIeighs with him, and
that ogre the chaperon is little OBJ
truded save as the caretaker of
party. not of individuals. Canadian
girls have a very good notion of tax
ing care of themselves, and know how
to ensure respect. Certainly no more
modest and pure minded women are to
be found anywhere than in Canada,
and this in spite of more latitude
given as regards the intercourse Of men
and women. With none of the prudery
that exists in France and Italy, there
is an absolute propriety, and divorces
and undfgnifed conduct in married
life are almost unknown. Before
marriage the Canadian girl is allowed
her swing, and she dances, skates,
f1irts and enjoys life to the full. After
marriage she settles down to the hum
drum details of daily life and the
mama cement of a small income with
contentment, caring and living fo1
little beyond her husband children
and household.
Canadian women are excellent
housekeepers as far as practical
knowledge of cookery goes and Of the
details of housekeeping. They cannot
equal EngliShWOmen in administrative
abilities, but, their households being so
much smaller as a rule, they have not
the same need Of these talents. Too
often they are inclined to do work out
of their spheres, rather than trouble
themselves to train their servants
properly There is no doubt that early
marriages and pressure of domestic
cares weigh too heavily with the Can
adam women Their complete aD-
sorption in household matters, however
trustworthy, is deplorable in its re-
suits. Gifted with great natural IN
telligence and talents, they seldom at
tempt to keep up their accomplishments
or improve their minds after marriage.
Music and languages and social talents