New-York tribune., 1901-12-07

search which she pursued IN the works of Park
man, Winsor and & score Of other writers. She
found abundance of material and has given 1t
an attractive arrangement, which ought 10
make it popularity acceptable in Canada, along
our northern border, and among all who take an
interest either in the French beginnings IN
America the pioneer work Of women any
where.
There were four important periods in the max
ing OF Canada: The first attempts al colonial
ton in Acadia. beginning in 1904; the early
struggles to gain foothold at Quebec. between
1908 and 1860: the founding of Montreal, in
1642 and the advent Of the Carignan regiment
into Canada, in 1868. The women who figure
in Miss Peppers pages are historically asso-
ciated with these four periods
Romance galore there is in these narratives
of the first women of Canada. Take, Tor IN
stance the story of Marguerite de RoberTai the
descendant OF long line OF cavaliers Being
detected In guilty intrigue with young or
ficer while on shipboard in the company OF
her uncle. the Viceroy. on the way to found a
colony in Canada. she was marooned on the
Island Of Demons in company with her old
nurse. Her lover. plunging into the waves
reached the shore as soon as did the boat which
carried the err,ng GIRL and there the three were
left with a scanty stock Of provisions and three
or four harquebuses with which to defend them
selves from the wild beasts. the Indians anc the
demons by whom the desolate island was re-
puted to be haunted. The girl and her lover
were married without the services of a priest
anI in due tirne this company, in the first nome
founded by white people in Canada. was IN
creased by the arrival of a child But HUSBAND
habe and nurse all soon succumbed to the rigors
oT the climate, while the seemingly more fraglle
Young woman lived or for two years. in some
mysterious wav enduring the nclemency OF the
winters and escaping the ravages Of the beasts
and the occasional incursions OF the fierce red
rren-the latter probably terrified at ner aP-
pearance, because supposing her to be one OF lhe
spirits with which their superstition peopieu
the place She killed three bears and other AMI
mails with whose skin she clothed herself and
ON whose flesh she subsisted, although at times
she was reduced to living upon the young ouds
n, the trees At last, after incredible hard
ships she was rescued by some fishermen VINO
CHANGED TO see the smoke from her island nut
and ultimately she returned TO France
There after the death by shipwreck of her still
relentless uncle she came out of the hiding that
fear of him had compelled, and lived long and
happily
Not all of the tales of these pioneer French
woraen's lives tragic as that of Mar
guerite de Roberval. A very different note Is
struck in the account of the Marchioness de
Guercheville, the first patroness of American
missions; in that of Nine de la Peltrie found
ress of the first girls school in Canada, at
Quebec; in the story of the dainty but daring
hospitaIieres of Quebec. who dyed their cher-
ished white gowns a dull brown, that they
might follow their profession more efficiently
amid the smoke and uncleanliness of the squaho
wigwams" and in the splendid story OF re-
nunciation, which recounts how the luxurlously
reared Judith de Bresoles gave up all, ana oe-
voted seven years to the study of medicine ana
chemistry so that she might become physician
and nurse to the savages.