East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-07-20

city will this week commemorate Its
tercentenary. Not in its long history
of 300 years has the ancient town on
the st. Lawrence entertained as great
"a crowd. All is in readiness for the
biggest historical exhibition of mod
ern times and with the official recep
tion tomorrow to the French, English
and American battleshlps and the dis
tinguished guests, the weeks festivi-
ties will be fairly inaugurated. The
Prince of Wales, now speeding across
the Atlantic on the famous mystery
ship, the British cruiser Indomitable,
will arrive Wednesday afternoon and
his reception will bespeak the regard
in which all Canadians hold their fu-
ture king. Vlce-President Fairbanks
will be among the distinguished MEL
who will greet the prince and bid him
welcome TO the new world.
Heralds clad in all the finery of a
by-gone age and mounted on dashing
steeds cantered through the streets OF
Quebec today and men of the watch
shouted out announcements to the
crowds of the great events to come.
Practically all of the hotel accom-
modatlons of Quebec were engaged far
in advance by parties of distinguished
men and women from other lands and
the rank and file OF the visitors will
be accommodated in the tent cities
which have sprung up as II by magic
on the heights of Quebec and in other
places in and near the city. Hundreds
OF private residences have been open
ed to visitors, and all the educational
and religious institutions of Quebec
and Lewis have transformed their
class rooms and dormitories into
sleeping rooms which will accommO.
date thousands. Temporary restau-
rants and lunch rooms have been es-
tablished by scores and the provis-
Joining OF the thousands is not consld-
cred to be a matter Of apprehension.
A Great Spectacle.
While the gathering of such a
crowd in so small a city is bound to
result in some discomfort for the Wis
itors. the great spectacle will be well
worth IT,
There is no such other stage in
the world for dramatic pagentry as
the Plains OF Abraham, where the
grandeur of the natural scenery defies
description, and where the 10000
spectators in the grand stand. face the
st. Lawrence, 800 feet below, at the
point where Wolfe's Highlanders
clambored up the heights
From the foot of his statue, where
stands for all time the bronze figure
of the great Champlain. steppinA
ashore, as II were, as he did so long
ago, to take possession of this new
country of the west, the Prince OF
Wales and Vice-President Fairbanks
with other illustrious guests will see
in procession before them all the
great men and women who have made |
this country what 1t is, and later on
will see. as in a dream. the moving |
living pictures OF the grea, events or
those early days.
on the banks OF that river, when
the plains, shall be seen again, as
Cartier saw nearly 400 years ago, a
cluster OF wigwams set beneath the
trees. Away on the broad waters OF
the river many feet below will come
the little boats with Cartier and his
crew, their names still preserved and
their descendants impersonating
them.
Court of France Pictured
Then the spectators will be trans
ported in their dreams to the court OF
France, the gardens at Fontainbleu.
and high on a white charger, trapped
with cloth OF gold, rides the proud fig.
ure OF Francis l, as they see him in
pictures painted when he lived and
was surrounded by his court.
Then back again for the little old
village Of Stadacona to see Champlain
as he brings his girl wife to the new
country
So on through many scenes, and
then at last in a final scene the armies
Of the brave nations. side by side in
parade of honor, the scarlet and gold
Of the British and the blue and white
Of the French, headed by four noble
yenerals-Montcalm and Wolfe, Lewis
and Murray. The flags wave, the
drums rattle. the trumpets blare, the
dream of the past is over and only
The wonder Of the present and the in
finite possibilities of the future re-
main.
No descendants of either Major
General James Wolfe or of the Mar
luis de Montcalm remain to take part
n the ceremonies in the Ancient cap
tai and as for Samuel de Champlain,
here are none of his descendants
Known to be in existence.
These are the three principal fig
Tres of the demonstration whose
names will be linked for all time with
he founding of Quebec and the most
notable battles.
A War Romance.
General Wolfe, as history informs
Is, died unmarried though his action !
While In the sloop of war before land 9
ng for his last fight would tend to 9
how he was betrothed to Miss Low q
her. Seated in the cabin by the side
If his former schoolfellow, Comman- I
Ter John Jervis, afterwards Earl st.
Vincent, he told the latter that he .
to fall in the battle of the
,ext day "and taking from his bosom
miniature of Miss Lowther he gave
t to him with the request that he
would return It to her should the pre-
sentiment prove true" His request .