The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-12
From a Staff CORRESPONDENT,

From Staff Correspondent.
Edmonton, Aug. AT the last re-
ception at Government House, nine
women wore gowns that were imported
directly from Paris. Nothing can ex-
press more forcibly than this the change
that has come over this old Hudson 8
Bay trading post, within the past three
years. Three hundred and twenty five
miles north of the boundary seems so
very, far north, indeed, that most of us
think it is a country wrapped in snow
and ice, with Eskimo styles in favor the
year around. That the town can fur
nish this number Of women who know
the charms of a Paris gown, and men
of means enough to pay for their know
ing, shows that after an existence Of
Ill years, and several attempts to make
something Of herself, Edmonton is at
last fully awake and started on the
highroad to metropolitan honors.
On the brow of the plateau overlook
ing the wide reaches of the Saskatche-
wan, situation not unlike that from
the point at Fort Smelling, stands the
weatherbeaten Hudson's Bay fort, the
old Edmonton House, around which
the trade of the vast country to the
north as we'll as all the social life of
the vicinity For decades, Edmonton
was called the "Last House, the end
! of the trail, beyond which law track
LESS wilderness. Today, the once busy
post is hushed and silent, it's stockade
prumbling, it's houses and roads rapidly
of one of the hills, where, within the
short space Of three years a city Of
brick and stone has sprung up like
magic, the great Hudson's Bay COM
. pany's stores are housed in an exceed
ingIy modern business block Instead
of piles Of furs, coarse CLOTH, firearms,
cheap rum and whisky and the paltry
trinkets of the oldtime Indian trader,
there is thoroly up-to-date department.
store where one may buy the latest
styles in everything. Nothing is lack
ing, from the much desired long black
silk gloves to bottle of Pommery Sec.
A Town of Contrasts.
The town is full of Just such con-
trasts, where the old still hangs on,
doggedly refusing to give place wholly
to the new. On slightly hillside, over
looking the river and facing the old
Hudson Bay for, is the home Of
lieutenant Governor Bulyea, both typ
ical of the picturesque past and the
glorious present, with it's golden prom
Uses Of the future. The old trading post
is low ceilinged, it's interior finish crude
and primitive, while it's smoke CRIME d
} the odor of pelts, stores OF supplies,
the pungent tang of "spirits' and the
clinging faint Of cheap tobacco smoke.
r.. The home of the lieutenant governor
is typically modern. 1t has steam heat
electric light, and running water. It's
scheme of interior decoration is the
acme Of good taste in color and design
and what Edmonton is, compared with
what it so recently was, is shown by
the fact that in every detail, the dec.
grafton is the work Of local firm.
In the finest residence district OF
limited wealth could plan and build
Everything without and within be-
speaks perfect taste, except for one
thing-a tumbledown log hut containing
but single room, which stands conspic
uously in the grounds, 1t mars the view
passerby, but nothing could draw thu
line more distinctly between the lift
during the ascendancy Of Edmonton
house, and that Of the city of today
where society in Paris dresses center
about Government House. For tn
mansion was one of the very first set
tiers and began his married life in tn
little old hut. Today, in the enjoy
ment Of the great wealth that has COM com
to him with the opening of " the las
west,' he cherishes the rude cabi1
Dis Iemluuel VI LIS uuIuUIt UtS1uulu$S
A Cosmopolitan Air Already.
Social life in Edmonton is quite diff
ferent in tone from that Of any Amer
lean city of it's size, and has to be seel
if the difference is to be appreciated
i When the provinces of Saskatchewan
and Alberta were erected from the fou
territories Of Assiniboia, Saskatche
wan, Albert and Athabasca not Quit
year ago, Edmonton became tn
capital Of Alberta and entitled to
Government House.
There is nothing in American publ
life that corresponds exactly to tn
social influence welded by the her
tenant governor and his family thruou
Canada. The atmosphere Of his HON
is not SO formal as that of the Whit
House, but is considerably more so tina
the official residence of the governor Q
state Moreover, the atmospher
differs greatly in the various province
In Toronto it is ultra English; in VIII
nipeg it is rawther English, while
Edmonton it. is like the home of
cultured American family of wealtl
minus any frantic desire for frivolor
social recognition and conducted wit
dignity and reasonable amount - {
ceremony. .--g-~- s-~.7~ :.
Within three years Edmonton shf
grown from village of 1000 to a cit
Of 10000 inhabitants; enormous 70
tunes have been made in consequent
Of the boom, and between this welt
and the official tone which necsssari
colors society in the capital of an
British dependency, there is a co
mcpolitan air about Edmonton Who'll
unexpected and decidedly surprising