The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-03
Anc,onts ON the Plains of Abraham.

The st. Lawrence and the st. Charles are
running red to-day, and purple is flashing
from the tin roofs Of Quebec. Two hundred
and fifty stout soldiers from Massachusetts,
have arrived in Quebec. The Ancient and
Honorable Artillery Company has begun
its fall mannuvres. Boston lie left without
defence. Quebec Is in q position Of grave
danger end responsibility. The Anclents
come to her in peace, but who can tell what
may happen when their imaglnations are
inflamcd by the memories Of MoNToALM
and WOLFE? The Governor General, a
bold man, has made a virtue Of necessity
and promised to review them on the
Plains Of Abraham; and surely the Plains
Of Abraham never bore such a weight OF
war as they now have to hold up.
Even If the Ancients can resist the mar
tial stimulus Of the Wolfe monument, who
can hold them back when they see the
statue OF BELLoNA, pronounced "Bolony"
in Boston, their patroness and tutelar divin-
ity2 When they see BoIoNY there will be a
swapping Of buttons and a ripping Of frogs
as thrilled hearts communicate their emo
ton to convex chests. Moustachios and
pocket pistols will be pulled CALAMITY.
Scabbards willleap from their swords. With
a rattle Of %spontoons, known in the Faneuil
Hall Armory as "pontoons," the Ancients
will rush forward, surround the unfortu-
nate Governor-General, seize the Plains OF
Abraham and the Citadel, and proceed to
demolish the latter for the sake Of having
something more to celebrate. There are
not yet as many events in history as there
are spirits OF commemoration in the An
clients and Honorables.
In spite Of the seeming friendship Of the
Ancients for Great Britain. the Government
Of that country does not trust them. Ever
| since a squad Of them celebrated the Fall Of
Bastille with demonstrations that delighted
| and alarmed Paris, Great Britain has feared
that there is q secret understanding be-
tween France and the A~ncients, If not &C
tually what Sergeant FRED PYRMoND, the
c~ommandant OF Fort Parker. describes as
the A~ncient-Francais alliance. Sergeant
| PYRMoND, Capt. THOMAS JEFFERSON OLYs,
and the immortal Col. SID HEDGES. all Of
whom took part in the Fall OF the Bas-
tile, are understood to be in Quebec to-day,
ready to take part in tho Fall Of the Cita-
del. The situation is critical, and we wish
We could put more confidence in the predic-
lions Of those who maintain that on account
OF the invitation given to the London Hon.
durable Artillery Company to visit Boston
! the Anclents will seek no quarrel with
Great Britain. When their blood is up, no
fortress is safe from the Ancients, particu-
larly il 1t contains a basement Of supplies.
This impetuosity may bring the Ancients
as we'll as English rule in Quebec into
serious peril. Even II our suspicious are
u%nfounded and the Ancients respect the
Citadel, they may get into hot water.
Should they try to exhibit their Fall-of-the-
Bastille accent. even the kindly French
men OF Quebec will rise and mutiny. Then
the dangers of the old town, the narrow,
steep ways, the frequent stairs, are severe
obstacles to the passage OF o body Of heavy
troops. How in the world are the Ancients
going to get to the Plains of Abraham with
out an elevatorp
1t is an impressive fact that, In compli-
ment to the visit OF the Ancients to Quebec,
the province has just given a majority Of
10000 against prohibition.