Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-11-20

Of the French provinces that
has retained its original charm.
D One must go there to appreci-
ate the odd costumes and the
quaint language, their queer customs
connected with marriages, burials, par
dons and "the blessing of the sea;
customs such as one sees nowhere
else, says writer in Town and Coun-
try. The soul Of this race bears the
Imprint OF the country and origin.
They are dreamy by turns, poetical,
savage, devotedly attached to the ira.
ditions Of the country and to Its soil.
Almost all families OF village or part
OF the country are related to each 9TH
er, hence the expression. Cousins a
la mode de Bretagne." Weddings,
therefore, comprise sometimes hun
dreds, sometimes thousands of guests.
When these are too numerous, tables
are set in the open for their accommo-
dation. Their superstitions savor OF
the Celts, from whence they are de-
scended.
Scenery 10 Fine.
The real characteristics of the Brit
tany country are scarcely discernible
before one reaches the north Of
Nantes. French Brittany it is, Of
course, for one has to go way beyond
Vannes to find the first village where
the Armorican dialect is spoken, but 1t
Is Brittany all the same, as is proved
by the rude granite that forms the
structure Of the island, by the general
character Of the cities and villages, by
the nature of the vegetation. and even
by the color of the sky. Fine scenery
and splendid architecture are found all
through the whole basin of the VIII
aine, along the whole OF this country.
Briar bushes and landes, alternately.
give 1t a savage, grandiose aspect.
Seen from the tower of a church. 1t
looks like a continuous forest Yet
woods are rare, In spite of the fact
that one side OF Brittany is called Ar
coat, which, in the language OF the
country, means land OF the forest"
. In contrast to the other side, Armor
| which Is land OF the sea-"
The Breton cities seem in perfect
harmony with the savage appearance
E Of their landscape. The smaller Brit
D tany places are charming and the cha
: teaux numerous. Blain, Chateaubri
and, Vitre, Fougeres, Dinan, recall to
i ones mind. by their ruins and by the
I high walls lowered by their fortresses
tsome OF which are very well pre-
6 served). the fact that for centuIie,
i France and Brittany were two distinct
e countries, sometimes friendly, bu,
G more often on warlike terms. defyint
each other. There Is much romantic
e history connected with these interest
g Ing places. In the somber Manor d,
!. Combourg. Chateaubriand. the re
nowned author OF Rene" and a deer
n philosopher. lived his pensive and sol
r itary youth. In the Chateau des Ro
q chers. Madame de Sevigne came II
1 vain to seek days OF quiet and peac,
4 away from the conventions OF cour
a life. Such is the interior OF this sid,
Of Brittany. In the eastern part III,
;. peasant is agriculturally inclined
q while near the coast the children
s dreams are to become sailors. to be
n long to the fishing expeditions O
!. Nova Scotia or Newfoundland.
The Soul Of Brittany.
n The course OF all OF Brittany's riy
y ers is divided into two parts, these /,
some place or other Joining the ocean
!. Such is the Rance. flowing from Sain,
r. Malo to Dinan. II is a splendid bi
@ river running along magniflcen
green coast with picturesque rock
and charming parks. Above DInan
becomes q rivulet OF minor impol
tance. The past has left It's imprin
- indelibly on this country. Mont Sain,
!, Michel. built on sand and rocks.
crowned by superb towers and we
). represents the very soul OF Britain,
!, mystic yet warriorlike. A peacef,
y convent, n wonderful Norman churc
with a beautiful Gothic choir. tower
pierced by iron-barred windows an
containing prisons. old winding street,
:. where plain bourgeois. in long pal
=" years, erected their simple abodes q
-. the foot OF the church. as II wishIn
!. to put themselves under the Lord
10 protection against the seas invasio
this Ia Mont Saint.Michel.
Beyond Cancale and Dol. Saint. Mai
". proudly emerges from blocks OF era,
lte. furiously beaten by ocean wave
II IL there that jacques Cartier. th
discoverer OF Canada. was born. su
4, rounded by immense city walls. wit
IL It's huge, imposing old iron doors.
evokes a past OF glory and battle. A,
venturers. noblemen, corsairs, seafa
Ing traders lived there In the pas
" sometimes fraternizing. usually figh
Ing each other Chateaubriand's bur
w al place on the height. overtowerin
," the proud old city. seems TO prote,