The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-12-07
LIST OF SPECIFICS.
MONTAUBAN.

A chance meeting, with young English
woman, on the summit of the Puy de
Dome, in Auvergne, led to our changing
our itinerary and coming here to Montau-
ban. cit is the queerest little town."
she said, "you really must not miss it. "
When our carriage stopped in front of
the Hotel du Midi, in Montauban, at
dusk, the first thing which met our eyes
was a string of rabbits and fowl hung
the open courtyard. Rather gruesome.
But there they were, poor creatures, the
pathetic little heads of the rabbits wrap
ped up in white paper, that the dripping
blood might not stain the marble floor.
1t is curious fact that ice boxes are not
necessary over here. 1t is sufficient to
hang ones meat or butter in draught,
and they are perfectly we'll preserved,
even in midsummer
Montauban lies on two banks of the
splendid Tarn, and is Protestant centre.
The Theological Seminary is here, rank
ing first in numbers and renown in all
France, not even excepting the one at
Paris. The Professionals were numerous
here in the XVI century; then the Re-
vocation of the Edict of Nantes drove
them away. But after time they came
timorously back. Baptisims were often
held at night, in the open fields, for fear
of persecution. Under tho glorious EN-
pire, when France was at her grandest
and best, Napoleon guaranteed them
their right of worship, and even favored
the re-opening of the Seminary. There
are three large places of Protestant wor-
ship in the city.
All the buildings here are of brick.
The pavements are composed of black
and white pebbles arranged mosaic fash
ion, in different designs, that Of the
lozenge prevailing. There are several
queer old houses with wooden spiral
stairways. One has to dash into SEEM
ingly private courtyards in order to get
glimpse of them. The huge oxen, yoked
from the head, all wear white linen
blankets striped with red. The cows
also are pressed into service as beasts of
burden to haul wood and merchandise, as
we'll as to draw the family carryall. The
sad but ubiquitous donkey is everywhere.
Carrying load up hill they look from
distance like crawling mice. wonder
when the agotheosis Of the donkey will
will come! A more brave, patient, re-
signed little beast was never known. His
only reward, in these Latin countries,
so far, is kicks and blows.
The town crier exists here. He walks
the streets, rings his bell, and announces
the interesting bits of local news, such
as sales of hay, wood and grain; changes
of domicile, articles lost and found, etc.
joined the gaping throng which sur
rounded him yesterday, and heard that
Jean Vidal and his worthy spouse were
celebrating gaily their golden wedding
day, after having given to the world, in
their long career together, seventeen
children, of whom nine are still living.
This interesting couple were then and
there acclaimed by the admiring popu
lace, joining Justify in the chorus.
Montauban has $4,000 inhabitants;
1000 men compose the garrison. A regi-
ment of cavalry crossed the old stone
bridge the other day, making a fine
showing with their copper helmets glist-
ening in the sun, jingling chains, clang-
ing swords, and the historic red trousers
.'hewn out of the solid CLOTH" as some
one aptly said.
The climate is mild. The mimosa and
palm thrive out of doors the whole year
round. The people speak curious patois,
impossible for US to understand. The
older women wear cloth turban around
their heads of blue and white or black
and white, the two ends knotted in front.
The Place Rationale is surrounded on all
four sides by brick arcades, with double
row of cloister-like arches, permittin
one to visit the different stores independ-
ent of the weather. 1t is one of the most
distinctive features of Montauban. In
the open space in the center is held the
meat and vegetable market on Thurs
days and Saturdays. It then presents
scene of extraordinary interest and ami
nation.
Montauban resisted the forces of De
Luynes in 1921, and only offered its sub
mission to Louis XIII. in 1929.