New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-12
CFrom "old Quebec

their adventures in the New World. But the
authors do not stray from their main theme
longer than circumstances require What is still
more pleasant TO record, they give us I'M
BIASED study OF the city and the people who
made IL, and IL at times the pendulum seems
10 swing dangerously in the direction OF fulsome
praise of the builders of New France, it is well
10 remember that both of the writer's are, by
training and education. Upper Canadians. with
no undue predictions in favor Of the race that
still inhabits Lower Canada
BY far the greater portion of the work deals
with the French regime. the chapters following
the capture Of Quebec by Wolfe and the subse-
quent successful defence of the city against
Montgomery and Arnold, being brief and. it
must be admitted. a tTifie prosy. The story of
the French occupancy, however. is undoubtedly
handled with insight and skill, perhaps the best
chapter in the book being that devoted to the
recital Of the final great struggle between France
and England for the possession of the grim old
town. Not that this is the most interesting, for
of necessity the greatest interest attaches TO
the earlier days when the coureurs de bois first
came into being; when the French explorers
sought to find through the Western wilds a
highway TO Cathay; when Champlain ard his
Indian allies gave battle TO the Iroquois; when
Daulac and the handful of Frenchmen Gefied
yielded their lives at the stake martyrs TO their
devotion 10 religion; when Madeleine Of Yer
chores. heroine stin sung by the habitants, held
the blockhouse on the stately st. Lawrence. He
would indeed, be poor workman who could
not construct from such material a narrative
OF the greatest human interest.
The authors have closely followed Parkman
and the Jesuit relations in that portion Of the
work which deals with the history proper, but
there is no slavish imitation of their predeces-
sors. In studying the development OF the seig-
neural system and in estimating the influences
that contributed 10 make Quebec what it was
during the French occupancy they have made
some interesting deductions. 1t is worthy of
note that in treating of the government of the
country while it was yet in the hands Of the
French they 90 not lose sight Of the real good
accomplished by the representatives OF the efete
Versailles monarchy. They say:
On the whole il we except the wicked exac-
tions Of the Intendant Bigot and his confeder-
Rtes, Quebec was happily governed. From gen
era alton 10 generation the light hearted ha bfant
cheerfully paid his dime 20 the church his Gems
en- rente TO the seigneur. his military service -
the governor. IL the call came for a raid 1Don
New-England, be took down his musket and his
powder horn and set out blithely upon his snow
shoes for the rendezvous of war; if 10 rally TO
the defence of Quebec, he was equally ready 10
bury his chattels and take his place upon the
city ramparts or 10 Withstand a landing on the
BEAUFORT shore.
The authors clearly admire the habitant. that
strange composite Of big heartedness, narrow
ness, shrewdness and simplicity. The average
Upper Canadian viii. we imagine, not altogether
agree with their estimate of the personal at
tributes of his Lower Canadian brother, but he
cannot gracefully deny that the habitant has
shown great loyalty 10 the national government.
AS a race the French Canadians are. the writers
admit, "a people apart IN the great Dominion
far their civic and social. their literary and
domestic life are concerned" Clnging jealousy
10 their language and their customs changing
with the passing years almost little as Que
bee Itself has changed. they yet share faith
fcliy IN the national development. and honorably
serve the welfare OF the whole Dominion"
Strange. unassimilated. contradictory French
Canadians. What their ultimate destiny is no
man can say. Meantime they go cheeriIy TO
their daily tasks. cheerily, Of yore. spend the