The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-07

pushing, STRENUOUS, enthusiastic ana
happy. They claim their city has the best
climate on earth, and they would not ex-
change the biting Winds OF the prairie
for the kissing zephyrs of Now York.
Boston or Washington. They prepare for
the season. Just now every Winnipegger.
who can afford 1t, has on gray over
coat made OF coon skins The fur Is long,
and II stands out like tho bristles on
hot hog. This doubles tho size of the
wearer. 1t makes him look at least a
foot broader and, as 1t Is long, at lenst
six inches taller. He adds to his height
by fur sap which can be pulled down
over the ears. This makes him still big
ger. Indeed, the town Just now is peo-
pied with furry giants, who are breath
ing out smoke. for the frost congeals
the air from their nostrls. 80 that It
rises like the vapor OF an inciplent vol
cano. The women here also dress In furs.
Their checks are blushing under Jack
Frost'B omorous kisses, and the ozone "
the atmosphere paints their eyes bright.
They look too sweet to DO the wives and
daughters of the giants beside them, but
we doubt not the fact when they open
theIr mouths and begin to talk about
great Winnipeg.
A Cosmopolitan Population.
WINNIPEG is at the gateway OF the New
Canada. The tens of thousands Of immi-
grants who are now arriving como
through here. and one sees on the streets
natives from every region of Christen-
dom.
There are Germans, Austrians, Greeks,
Swedes and Norweglans, many OF them
dressed In the costumes OF the land from
which they have come. Now and then
one sees an Englishmar, and 1t Is hard
to throw tsone without striking an
American. At the same time, the most
OF the population is made up OF Anglo
Saxon Canadians, and, altogether. looks
not unlike those to be seen in st. Paul
or Chicago.
On one side Of the Red River, reached
by a bridge, is the town of St. Bonifacc,
where there are several thousand French
Canadians, and there are also Russians,
Jews, Italians and Syriars.
Icelanders or Winnipeg.
Some distance from here, on the shore
of Lake Winnipeg, there Is colony OF
Icelanders. many of whom have moved
into the city. Some of them are lawyers,
others are teachers, and not few have
intermarried with the Canadians.
These Icelanders were among the frat
OF the western Canadian immigrants.
They were brought here years ago, when
1t was thought that none but those ac-
customed to the cold OF the Arctic zone
could Withstand the weather. The do
minion government sent commissioners to
Iceland. and they brought back a colony
OF fifteen or twenty thousand souls. and
shipped them out to Lake Winnipeg. The
Icelanders settled on Its banks, and for
n time made most Of their living by
fishing, much of their catch being through
holes in the Ice in the winter
They are now well scattered over the
country. Many Of the girls have gone
into service and not q few are walters
at the hotels. Indeed. my favorite hash
singer at the Empire, where 1 am stop
ping In Winnipeg. Is a pretty Icelander
with cheeks of flame, hair of fire and
eyes of heavenly blue. These people are
orderly They take to education and re-
l;gion, the largest Icelandic church In
The world being in Winnipeg.
There are also many R1esians here,
and Russian church, Catholic popu-
iation is large and the French Canadians
all belong to that denomination. There
is Trappist monastery outside the city,
and Trappist nunnery Almost every
denomination of Protestants has Its
Westinghouse, the Jews have syna-
gcgue, the Salvation Army is waging
its warfare against dissipation and sin.
and the Y. NJ. C. a. l,assits own building
ond is doing excellent work. Indeed.
the whole city worships the Lord under
one religion or another. 1t is a God
fearing, order-loving municipality. 1t is
80 good that there are no Sunday news
papers. The street cars. are not allowed