Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1914-11-14

- RITTANY is undoubtedly one.
of the French provinces that
has retained it's original charm.
One must go there to apprecl-
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
d1tions 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
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-
dalton. Their superstitions SAVIOR OF
the Celts, from whence they are de-
scended.
Scenery Is Fine.
The real characteristics of the Brit
tany country are scarcely discernible
before one reaches the north of
Nantes. French Brittany 1t 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 continuous forest Yet
woods are rare, ia 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
of their landscape. The smaller Brit
tany places are charming and the cha
teaux numerous. Blain, Chateaubri-
and, Wire, Fougeres, Oman, recall to
ones mind. by their ruins and by the
bioh walls towarod by THAN fov+...
(some Of which are very we'll pre-
served, the fact that for centuries
France and Brittany were two distinct
countries. sometimes friendly. but
more often on warlike terms. deriving
each other. There is much romantic
history connected with these interest.
ing places. In the somber Manor de
Combourg. Chateaubriand, the re-
nowned author of Rene" and deem
philosopher. lived his pensive and sol
| itary youth. In the Chateau des Ro-
cheers, Madame de Sevigne came in
vain to seek days of quiet and peace
away from the conventions of court
life. Such is the interior of this side
of Brittany. In the eastern part the
peasant is agriculturally inclined.
while near the coast the chlldren's
dreams are to become sailors, to be-
long to the fishing expeditions of
Nova Scotia or Newfoundland
The Soul Of Brittany.
The course of all OF Brittaw's riv-
ers is divided into two parts, these in
some place or other joining thsocean.
Such is the Rance, flowing from Saint
Malo to Oman. 1t is splelid big
river running along a manificent
green coast with picturesqu rocks
and charming parks. Above pinan it
becomes a rivulet OF mino impor-
lance. The past has left itsmprint
indelibly on this country. Mo Saint
Michel built on sand and cks, is
crowned by superb towers ID we'll
represents the very soul of tiffany.
mystic yet warriorlike. A eaceful
convent. wonderful Normachurch
with beautiful Gothic choitowers
nierced by iron-barred winds and
containing prisons, old windintreets,
where plain bourgeois, in lg past
wears, erected their simple sdes at
the foot of the church, as Fishing
: to put themselves under tfLord's
, protection against the seas vasion
r this is Mont Saint-Michel.
Beyond Cancale and Dol, at-Malo
8 proudly emerges from blocbf gran
v tie. furiously beaten by oce waves.
a II is there that Jacques Cier. the
: discoverer of Canada. was h. SIR
: rounded by immense city Us, with
o it's huge, imposing old iropors, it
y evokes past Of glory and tie. Ad-
9 yenturers, noblemen, corsai seafar.
v ing traders lived there inc past.
q sometimes fraternizing, usr fight
: ing each other Chateaubriis burr
n al place on the height, oywering
the proud old city, seems protect |