The National tribune., 1908-07-30


The old Parliament buildings stood on
the site occupied now by the Hotel
Frontenac, but the present location is
considered more desirable. 1t l. an i'm
posing pile, and compares very favor
ably with other buildings of this char
acter in any country.
Interesting and Quaint Sights.
There are so many interesting and
quaint sights to be seen in Quebec that
it is impossible to enumerate them all
but the visitor who is on the outlook for
the picturesque will be specially delight
ed with the old Break Neck" steps, the
stairway that leads from Lower to Up
per Town in certain part of the city,
and also with the. sights he will see
when sauntering thru that Old World
region known as Sous lie Cap" Here
are found the purest types of the
and sights are con-
stantly occurring which make 1t we'll
nigh impossible to realize that these are
taking place in the goth century and in
America.
Many of the old churches are most
interesting. In the historic Basilica,
the mother church of Catholicism in
North America, many valuable works of
art are found which We're rescued from
destruction during the Reign of Terror
in France, when the mob pillaged. the
monaSterieS and churches, and quietly
brought to New France. 1t is said that
this church has never been closed, eX-
cept for repairs, since it was built, in
1857. It's chanceI is a faithful irnita-
ton of that of st. Peters at Rome. An
other very interesting old church is Ste.
Anne of Beaupre. which is, however. 81
miles from Quebec, but which is easily
reached, and well pays for the trouble
taken in visiting it. This is sort of
Lourdes, and has been visited by the
devout, seeking health, for over $50
years. The original plain little wooden
chapel was erected, it is said, by some
Breton mariners, who, overtaken by a
violent storm when in that vicinity,
vowed that if saved they would build on
the spot where they happened to land
sanctuary in honor of Saint Anne. The
primitive little building has been rebuilt
and enlarged several times, but still oc-
cupies the original site near the sacred
spring." which is supposed to contain
miraculous properties. Across the street
from this unpretentious building stands
a really magnificent edifice whose in
terror compares favorably with the most
splendid cathedrals of the world, con-
tanning many valuable paintings and
pieces of statuary. Between the two
towers of the front is colossal statue
of Ste. Anne, and as you enter on either
side are large pyramids of clutches,
canes, trusses and splints left by former
unfortunate owners, who, cured by the
miraculous waters of the sacred
spring." left them as a mute testimonial
to the power of the saint. The old Ur-
suline Convent must not be forgotten if
one is pretending to mention the most
of the ancient religious edi
fees This is the oldest convent in
Quebec, the original building being COM
pleted in 1859. 1t contains some very
rare works of art, among which are
some paintings by Vandyke, and also
the remains of Montcalm, the hero of
all French-Canadians, who fell on the
Plains of Abraham, as did also the Eng
fish Gen. Wolf, who opposed him. Mont
calm's body is buried in the convent, but
his skull is kept in the chaplain's parlor,
to which ali visitors are freely admitted.
The usual number of skulls of saints
are shown the visitor, together with the
inevitable piece of the Holy Cross and
Crown of .Thorns.
Quebec in Winter.
While the smiling Summer is the sea-
son usually chosen to visit Quebec, It'll
is during the Winter that this old city
seems really to come more closely in
harmony with Nature, and more nearly
into her own. When the delicate snow
downward in airy play" and the cher
shed fields put on their Winter robe of
purest white" then old Quebec wakes
up. and merrier, gayer city does not
exist anywhere. 1t is then that the nal
tive population gives itself up to those
forms of social and physical enjoyment
which are so characteristic of it's pic
turesque life and environment. The ex-
bracing air affects one like
wine, and the bright eye and rosy cheek
testify to the fine physical condition. |
The brilliant, perfect Winter days-and
there are many of them in Quebec
ind nearly everyone out of doors, walk
ng, skating, tobogganing, sleighing, !
skiing (snowshoeing) or engaged in the
exciting Winter sport of hockey, a
favorite game with the young people
IF Quebec. All the girls are pretty, be-
,ause they look so healthy with their
irm red cheeks and bright, clear eyes,
md whether clad in the beautiful furs
which give them such an air of luxu-
-ious comfort or in some cheaper gar
nent, none are without attraction. The
hills forming part of the historic
plains, as well as the frozen Montmor-
ency Falls, are favorite places for to-
Dogganing, and the gay shouts that
,ome from the happy parties of young
people who engage in this most exciting
and delightful Winter sport prove that
hey, at least, have found life worth |
living. Not only are the long Winter
lays given over to these various ways
)f enjoyment, but on the clear, starry
Winter evenings the various snowshoeI
clubs make their night tramps to-their
country clubhouses, often headed by a |
bugle band, and presenting very pic
.uresque appearance as they tramp
along in Indian file over the white snow
lad in their multi-colored blanket suits
and bearing torches. Everybody seems
20 be alive to the very tips of their
myers and ready for anything. The
streets of the city are crowded with the
queer little sleds peculiar to this quaint
city, and their jingling bells fill the
clear, crisp air with joyous, merry mu-
;ic. Nothing could possibly be more
than the gaiety and cheer
illness of Quebec at this season of the
year; a fit of the blues would be choked
70 death before IL could possibly be
porn. Brightness, cheerfulness, gaiety,
pleasure, rule the hour, and the French
have never shown them
selves more strongly than in these
II ench- Canadians during this period
which is so largely given over to inno-
cent enjoyment. Among the upper
:lasses many splendid balls and dances
Ire given every Winter, and. indeed.
1ancing is prime favorite with all the
:lasses, who give it prominent place
n the list of their many ADJUSTMENTS.
The People.
The common people, called habitants,
ire very poor. These live in the coun-,
.ry, and support themselves by bringing
n eggs. butter, poultry, cheese, etc,
which they sell in town. But notwith-