Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-01-18

carriers, who carry people around under loads
OF luxurious furs in the public sleghs, cannot
drive two blocks without coming upon some
Tort, or arch, or statue, or pyramid, or palace
built OF ice.snow or evergreens These ingen-
ious Frenchmen have n way OF cutting,
blocks Of snow and then playing water upon
them In freezing weather, so that each block
becomes silver plated with ice Then they
build the most beautiful things out Of these
blocks. They do the same thing with ice
The great st: Lawrence, as mighty as Long
Island Soundin appearance, Is river of
upon lis surface each block glitters with II
greenish hue like an emerald They find it
easy enough to sprinkle palaces and forts
around the city, but that Is too easy. They
have talented man named JOHN, and he
has soldered tho blocks of ice together with
freezing water and carved this material into
the most beautiful statues.
But nearly everything here is strange IN
one way or another. The visitor could not
easily conceive II place SO utterly unlike New
York. One might travel to Europe and half
way through II without finding more thor
oughly foreign place. The gray granite
houses all have double windows. and in be.
tween the double glass the people store their
snowshoes and lacrosse bats and hockey
sticks to keep them from becoming too dry.
The whole business of the street is done on
runners and to soc the slelghs is worth the
journey. The great ma iority are tub sleds on
broad wood runners. They are blue or red
or black. and In every case are heaped with
fur robes. The passengers are drowned in
turs. There Is an extra robe on the drivers
seat. and another at the back of the sleigh, to
produce 4 fine effect. Tho driver
himself is sure to be us furry as
bear from his head to his knees,
and each one is certain to wear fur gloves.
All the people wear caps of mink or Persian
lamb or otter skin. and the girls or boys
look very much alike in the crowds The
poorest men are swaddled in huge fur coats
SO big that there Is only room for one man
in seat in Il railway car. Priests in fur caps
and black skirts are to be- seen in compunlrs
and squads. while nuns Of many orders and
picturesque dresses are almost as numerous.
Soldiers quartered at the garrison and show
ing Il bit Of red On their fur caps
and red trimmings Oh their coats
aud tronse.s wander about the city as
they do in the cities of Europe. The
officers. who are tremendous sweils.
are also in frequent evidence carrying little
toy canes. Because OF the general custom Of
wearing fur caps, the men seldom uncover in
saluting ladies. but give military wave OF
the hand instcaL. Now and then member
Of the Tandem Club drives about the streets.
This aristocrati, club has II score or more Of
gentlemen drivers who make Il notable sen-
saton when they parade. They drive sleds
that are something like dogcarts havin. seats
back to back. The nun and his wife or
sweetheart sit on the front seat. and the foot
man in something like Il half genadier cap
rides behind. Mixing with the crowds every
where are other club members In brilliant
uniforms.
1t would surprise the average reader to
know upon how very little money the Quebec
people are managing their big spree. It
never would do TO tell the exact sum. hut it
Is II fact that Montreal never spent less than
twice and a half as many dollars as are at the
disposal Of these people. And yet visitor
does not have to be here half Il day before he
sees that the thing could be done without any