The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-02-09
A Trip to Quebec.

Fer Yankee who had never been there
before the old city of Quebec presented a
contrast that was unique in the extreme
when compared to New England cities and
villages. Monday evening, January Goth,
found us comfortably quartered at the
Queens Hotel, Montreal, a new hosiery
well kept, with American cooking, clean,
soft beds and gentlemanly service, near the
| Grand Trunk and Canadian Pacific depOts.
During the night terrific snow storm set
in and Tuesday morning it looked dubious
about reaching Quebec 1.-THE seat of the first
winter carnival then in progresS) in any
kind of season that day, but knowing that
the enterprsing g. p. Il. never did things
by halves, we embarked from the DaIhouSie
station, across the city at $40 a. m. Two
| mammoth engines were required for power,
and preceded by an immense rotary snow
| pillow we started through binding storm
of snow for the Canadian Capital. OF the
country between the two cities we can say
nothing as we could not see the length of
the train, the air being full of large white
flakes blown hither and thither, but strang
est of all we pulled into Quebec at 3.45 p.
M, only three quarters of an hour late
The Grand Trunk train leaving Montreal
at the same time, was over Is hours late
into Lewis, just across the river. 1t was the
worst storm of the season. On our arrival
we were driven to the Victoria Hotel,
where we were welcomed by the manager,
Mr.. Thomas E. Shallow, formerly of Hotel
Burlington, Burlington, VT, who gave us
fine quarters, and whose kindness and at
tentlon during our stay was all that could
be desired The Victoria is centrally To-
Gated, newly furnished throughout and has
large airy rooms, steam heat, and equipped
with electric lights. The table is first class
and best of all, in these times, the charges
are reasonable.
Wednesday dawned clear as a crystal.
We were not slow in procuring the regula-
ffsNYna IE
seated sleigh, very "low posted" drawn by
a high, lantern jawed horse, with a polite
Frenchman for driver, and by the way,
speaking OF natlOnaliteS we are told that
the French outnumbered all others there in
the ratio of eight to one, in total popula-
ton Of about 10000.
Quebec is indeed quaint old town. The
inhabitants seem to be peaceable, content
ed and happy. Every one wears furs, be-
ing obliged to on account of the rigorous
climate. At this time Of year snow, ice
and sharp cutting wind, that seems to
penetrate to ones very marrow, is every
where outside. In addition to the natives,
people from nearly everywhere had come
in to enjoy the Carnival. We saw Lord
and Lady Aberdeen John Jacob Astor and
party of New York, the ice palace in front
of the Parliament buildings, the monument
erected to MOntcalm and Wolfe; drove out
to the historic Plains of Abraham: looked
on to the grand harbor from the Dufferin
Terrace, most magnificent view; visited
the skating Kinks, armory, cathedrals;
walked through the new and gorgeous
Hotel Frontenac, just erected and managed
by the Canadian Pacific people. Wednes-
day evening the city was alive with Snow
Shoe, COasting and Skating Clubs. Sher-
brooke alone sending one thousand in cos
tune. Most of the large stores exhibited
solid pillars of clear ice surmounted by fig
ures of different designs, such as deer, bear,
nnnS
There were scores of Indian hutS, where
maple sugar was sold, the ''sugaring off,
being done on the spot. We noticed four
statues in Ice, of heroic size, in the public
square, the work being most artistic. The
stores on StJoseph street were very attrac-
tive, the fur emporium of }. b. La Liberte
on that thOrOughfare, which our party Wis
tied, said TO be the finest in its line of any on
this continent, was certainly the best the
writer had ever visited.
Among the STATES (men) who were
there in great numbers we noticed H. ].
COlvin, agent G. p. r., Boston: Geo. w,
StOrer, Asst Pass. Agt. c. q NJ. r. r., Bos-
ton; Col. III. w. Hall, Col. l. G. Grant, AL
derman SeversOn, Ex-Ald. Z. j. Booth.
Nj. j. Berry, l.. j. Smith, w. II. Lane, w.
Il. Craven and several members of the Bur
llngtOn COaStlng Club, who were out for a
good time and without doubt had it, as
evidenced by the splendid four-hOrse outfit
that the party chartered for the dag, dis
playing both American and British cOlors,
and otherwise painting the town in a hue
appropriate to the occasion.
The Burlington boys, as well as Oursei YES
are under lasting obligations to many of
the leading citizens of Quebec for the
kindness and consideration shown us dur
ing our stay, and TO Messrs. J. ID. Cameron
and Ernest Benson we owe especial thanks
for their untiring zeal and devotion to our
PLEASURE and comfort during our sojouIn
IN their CITY. III. Z. p,