The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-06

superb pageantry which marked the celebration in Quebec recently of the s0oth anniversary of the founding of that city by Samuel de Champlain, still resound throughout North America. Un- doubtedIy no attempt at any kind of public celebration has ever compared with this in point of military display fashionable representation or bewitch- ing beauty.
 The most brilliant accounts have been written of the tercentenary and in nu- merous papers accounts have appeared.
 The one reproduced below is from the pen of a correspondent for one of the cleverest periodicals in Gotham, and gives phase of the celebration which has not been touched upon in many in- stances before.
 The account is too lengthy to publish in full, but some interesting excerpts will suffice. The writer says:
 What panorama on all sides of the quaint and ancient city where famous heroes felw As Quebec has seen so much of war, and as Americans as well as the French, English and Indians par ticipated in the stirring drama whose scenes were laid around the old cita- del, it was fitting that this country should be represented at the celebra- tfon, though it must be admitted that the representation was rather a hollow one. At Gettysburg the fate of nation was decided, but on the promontory of Quebec the destiny of a continent was settled. But the tercentenary was not in any sense a noisy celebration or England's power. It was Canada's day. and. besides, even the most rabid of the French Canadians in the province of Quebec were never in sympathy with the brilliant but frivolous court of Ve' sailles, and after the wars were con- scious of no loss except that another flag than the trf-color of France waved from the citadel
 As might be expected the entire cele- bration resolved itself, not into me- morial of Cartier and Champlain, but a paean to the Most High, Most Puis- sant and Most nlustrious Prince George Frederick Ernest Albert Prince of WaieS. Anu HIS IeOyoi 1hiShAiS'S ~ON ducted himself with all the grace and charm that one would expect from the representative of his distinguished father, and the sight of the heir-appar- ent grasping the hand of MT. Fairbanks after the latter's humble effort in the speech making line was quite sufficient to thrill even the most democratic American present.
 Lord Roberts was the idol of the army and of the Canadian public and the man Americans wanted to see next to the prince. Everybody howled for "Bobs," though they took more or less interest in Earl Grey, governor general of Canada. But the celebration being in the province of Quebec he who was applauded until the applause ap- preached hero worship was Sir Wilfrid Laurier, premier of Canada, the silver tongued orator of the Dominion, the deity of the French Canadians and, above all, himself of pure French de- scent. Sir Wilfrid is now in his fourth term of four years, and it has gradually dawned upon the other provinces that Quebec is keeping him in power. Sir
 
 itwas through his personal efforts that half a million dollars was appropriated to assure its success.
 Apropos of Lord Roberts clever story was told in regard to him.
 A prominent woman in Quebec so- ciety was tucking sher small boy into bed one night when he said as she kissed him, Mother. what would you say if you should see 'Bobs'?" "I should say,' she promptly responded, "'Bobs' I love you" "So would l." he mur- mured sleepily. The next day in a large furrier's shop the lady was mo- tifed by clerk that Lord Roberts was upstairs buying Indian souvenirs. She promptly asked the senior member or the firm to take her up and present her. Then with a low, sweeping courtesy she said: "'Bobs,' I love you" Lord Roberts began to look bit bewildered. when she laugh ed merrily and told him of the episode of the night before, which touched him visibly; for it was sign of the loyalty and true love every Canadian has for this idol of the British army, their own "Bobs."
 The Chateau Frontenac was the cen ter of the fashionable life and of all the gossip. One of the most interesting guests was the beautiful Marchioness of Donegal. The former Halifax girl ran over for week on the Empress of Ireland and did some queening.
 Lady Allan, the social leader of Mon- treal, naturally came in for her share of attention at the celebration.
 Another really clever woman in whom all Americans especially will be interested Is Mrs. Hayter Reed of Mon treal well remembered here in New York as Mrs. Grosvenor Lowrey. Every body knows her. but she was not at the celebration for the social end of the game Her son by her first husband has grown up into fine, manly chap and will probably some day be big C. F. R. official, which appears to be the goal of every ambitious Canadian. Mrs Reed was Miss Armour, the daugh- ter of Chief Justice Armour, who was the brainy member of the Canadian commission on the Alaskan boundary question, and to whose liberality in that connection Americans owe much. Jus tice Armour was placed on the commis- sion as sort of ballast for Sir Louis Jette, for it had been pretty generally conceded in Canada that two like Jett !. would scarcely be able to cope with American diplomacy.
 MT. Thomas Nelson Page of Wash ington stopped over for the celebration. overheard quite an argument between