The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-12-02
"reminiscences of
Western Travels.

Monday night, the twelfth of April,
found US at the Grand Trunk station in
Portland, en- route for three months
trip through the West. A group of
friends gathered to say ''bon voyage"
and just as we stepped aboard the Sleep
er treated us to a shower of rice which,
while it might have dismayed US five
years earlier, only proved amusing in
this instance and added to the hilarity of
the occasion. fear, however, that Two
Catholic sisters on the same train failed
to appreciate the humor of the situation,
if one might judge by the looks and re-
marks to each other and to our Jealous
friends as the train pulled out of the
station.
Early next morning we reached Mon
treal, and as the city was not new to
either of us we only transferred from
the Grand Trunk to the Canadian Pacific
depot and continued our journey to Otta-
wa, our most distinguished fellow travel
Ter being a bishop in imposing robes of
black and purple At Ottawa we were
met at the station by & friend, formerly
of the Portland Co., and after lunch
at his home and pleasant visit with his
wife and babies we proceeded to do"
the city, visiting the magnificent hotel,
Chateau Laurier the museum, and, most
interesting of all, the beautiful Parlia-
~ ho
Canadian Parliament was then in session.
The view from the tower of one of the
buildings well repaid us for the dizzy
climb to the top. On the streets we saw
many of the Third Contingent of Cana
dian soldiers who were in barracks in
Ottawa, drilling, and waiting their turn
to go to the battlefields of Europe.
Splendid looking young fellows they
were, in their suits of kahki, and it
made one heartsick to think how few of
them would ever return to Canada.
After tea we finished our day In Ottawa
by visit to the Dominion Theatre, and
after its fine vaudeville performance
went back to the C. P station, taking
the midnight train over the 500 Line for
Minneapolis.
Our train journey next day was most
monotonous one; the only scenery being
of the most desolate character-s wamps,
stumps and only an occasional small set
Element OF apparently poverty-stricken
people. In the afternoon we passed
through the region OF nickel mines,
where about IS percent of the worlds
supply of nickel is mined. Here were a
few high tension transmission lines and
glimpse of Lake Huron occasionally to |
relieve the monotony. Just before dark |
we passed through Sault Ste Marie and /
were much interested in trying to get !
snapshots of the soldiers guarding the |
International Bridge, as they stepped |
out of their sentry boxes and followed
after the train as it passed. Later this
sight ceased to be novelty, as we found
every railroad bridge in Canada similarly
guarded Here, too, at Sault Ste Marie
we changed our watches for the first
Time, anu UdQ Oup StCUilU, UuL ny no
means our last, customs inspection.
Another change of trains next morn
ing at Minneapolis and we settled our
selves for long journey. 1t was only
short time before we had made the ac
quaintance of our fellow passengers,
our porter and sleeping car conductor,
notably among the former Mrs. J. P.
Abrens of New York, gong to join her
husband in Seattle, and to make tour
of the West v it'll him, and Mr.. and Mrs.
Linn L. Reist, newly-weds, going from
Minneapolis to make their home in Port
land, Oregon, where Mr. Reist is sue
cessful lawyer. With these people we
found very pleasant and, we trust. lasting
friendships, and were destined to meet
them often in various Western cities.
That autocrat of the sleeping-car, the
porter, was gem of his type, and proved
a good entertainer and an adept in max
ing his passengers comfortable, which,
istic of the employees of the Canadian
Pacific. Though diminutive in stature,
five feet, "you can always tell you car,
madam, by the size of yo' portah," he
was large in experience and resourceful-
ness. We treasure a snapshot of him,
taken unawares, for he was one of the
most entertaining characters encounter
ed on our trip CARDS and conversation
passed the time very pleasantly while the