New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-27

tudv
Bennett Munro. Phi. D. LII b. Harvard HIS
torical Studesl Svo, PIP Kill Zs7 l1ongnahs'
Green & Co.
DR. Munro's book makes a strong appeal 10
specialists IN institutional history. They vii!
find II possessed of all the admirable character
istics of the best OF the earlier volumes Of the
Harvard Historical Studies 1t presents in clear
and workmanlike fashion the results Of thor
ough research But as its merit becomes known
this study Of conditions in the Province of Que
bee between 1864 ard 1854 is likely 10 be widely
read by laymen, too. for it gives new and vivid
interest to a corner Of the North American con-
tinent that IS characterized by more Of an Old
World favor than any other part OF the New
World now under Anglo Saxon rule.
The seignioriaI system in the old French prov
incc came to end more than half a century
ago. In Its outward conditions however, Quebec
is almost as unchanging as the Far East Even
urban conditions are less changing in the land
of the habitant than they are In Ontario or south
OF the international line; and the great expert
rnent which was tried for nearly two centuries,
of imposing feudal social and agrarian econ
oTny on Il section Of the New World although in
itself scarcely other than failure, has left an
impress still visible in town and country There
is not a tinge Of the guide book In DR.. AIunro's
work 1t has not d single characteristic OF a
book OF travel. Il is a scholarly though emf
nentv readable study of agrar!an, social relg-
ious and governmental conditions in the old
French province. with the seigniorial system as
It's basis. Yet to intelligent reader II can be
made 10 serve both as q guide book and q book
Of travel Of the highest merit. No one who has
ever spent a week in the city Of quebec, at the
season when Quebec is at its best and has fully
appreciated its associations and its quaintneSs,
but will find an added charm in the city from a
perusal Of Dr. Munros description OF the work
and aims Of the men who represented France
there IN the century preceding the elimination
OF the long struggle between England and
France for mastery on the North American con-
tinent The segniorial system was the object of
much solcitous care on the part Of these French
officials and in one or other OF its many phases
was the cause OF much of the running 10 and
fro between the ancient capital and the seign-
tories which were in Church or lay possession
This volume gives freshened interest to the
CITY of Quebec It gives a ana larger in
terest TO the traveller over the lntercolonial
from RiTnouski to Montreal 'or on the north slde
of the st. Lawrence, over the Canadian Pac;fic
from Quebec to Montreal II enables him to
understand how the ribbons OF land that stretch
hack from both shores of the river came to be
laid out in this peculiar fashion II enables
hin, 70 understand land system which mas no
counterpart in the Anglo Saxon world except
In the fen country of Lincolnshire tlat !i-H
adjacent TO the old market town Of EpWorthi
and also to understand how . is mat the Settle-
ments straggie out in a long ana apparently
,pending line with no houses clustered IN VII
O
caee in New England. Moreover any readeT
with intelligence and imagination who has ia
,,iliarized himself with the story that DF. munro
60 skilfully unfolds Will have no uliliCu''y !i'
,,.r.eoDling these long extending settlements
Win the men and women who were 'here Wt.ii3
C,,ebec was still French colony ana IA Ita''l-
,rr the Old World relationship OF the hap"a"'S
toTcard the scignior how their rent or equiF1-
lent of rent paid; how they diSch'' se4 49,,
n,.rcc services; how they were often AT issue
u,ith the segniors over the seisnioriaI r1iils 10
which their grain had to be taEeh' nna miia a.
w tbeir personal attitude to the seighiors al
,oh or when segnior and habitant met on
the highway. III, .o,,, H. NJunro's
- "a realize the relations OF the seIEhl'rS
Pr the offcial representatives OF old tTanee
at quebec and with the priests I picture that
IL - y. ~ the old system. 1t was free from
me NEST Of the from a an 9he
apuStS France: chiefly because no suon e.
tenn =" nave been tolerated by the haotan,S 10.
wouu were in demand on every se'N''''