Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-08-05
CAArEKu TsqSTrsNc IRON. CITADEL -

France, will celebrate its four
hundredth birthday within
few years. 1t is the oldest
city in North America, ard it's story
is not only history but romance. 1t
is a unique city, standing alone as a
sort of historical hyphdn between
the days that are and the days long
gone by, which cannot BID duplicated
either in the old world Or the new.
Jacques Cartier, sailor of St. Malo
in France, discovered its site in 1888.
He was the first white man to set foot
upon the soil Of Canada, the name of
which Is derived from "Eanata" the
Indian word meaning "A Collection Of
Huts." Two years later Cartier made
a second voyage to the st. Lawrence
and became friendly with Donnacona,
an Indian chief who was ruler of
StadacOna, a village which then oc-
cupied part Of the present site of
Quebec.
Following Cartier came Champlain,
'Frontenac, La Sale, and scores of 9TH
er intrepid soldiers Of fortune, who
founded and built the city fought with
the Indians, and explored the Great
Lakes, 'the Mississippi river and vast
areas Of the interior of the United
States, which were named Louisiana
by La Sale.
The old and new still rub shoulders
In Quebec. Its Inhabitants spoke
French more than three centuries ago,
and the majority Of them still speak
the same language. Many old build
5ngs with romantic histories are still
to be seen, and in striking contrast to
them are splendid buildings Of modern
construction.
sWhat a Beak?"
When Carriers sailors first sighted
Cape Diamond, a mighty crag pro-
jeeting, into the st. Lawrence, and
towering 200 feet above it, they are
said TO have exclaimed, "Quel Bee"
meaning "What a beak." This, ac-
cOrding to some authorities, is how
Quebec got its name. The first set
tlement at Quebec was on the shore
at the foot Of Cape diamond, and
cater Frontenac built the Chateau ST.
Louis, combination Of residence and
fort, on the heights above. The early
French settlers of Quebec were al
most constantly harried by the Zero
cinus hoquois, who many times killed
the outposts and charged the stockade
surrounding the fort itself, despite the
Gaet that it was defended by small
arms and cannon. The lroQuOis came
from what is now New York state,
and from time to time French soldiers
and their Indian allies, the Hurons,
crossed the st. Lawrence and pene-
Frated the wildernesses over which the
Eroquois roamed, destroying their viii
lagos as q matter of reprIsal.
Dufferin Terrace, Quebec's favorite
promenade of today, overlooking the
vast stretches Of the St. Lawrence,
was the scene of numerous Indian at
tacks. A big hotel closely resembling
an old French chateau now stands on
the very spot where stood the Chateau
st. Louis, and part of the cellar of this
famous fort is still to be seensbeneath
the planking of the Terrace. When
Sir William Phipps' feet sailed up the
st. Lawrence in 1890 and demanded
Ouebec's surrender, Colnte de From
tenac the choleric and valiant French
governor, replied to the summons, Il
viii answer you from the mouths Of
these cannon.
Phipps opened fire from the river
and Frontenacs guns replied from the
heights with such good aim that the
English fleet retired In the lower
town today stands a picturesque lit
tie church, NOtre-Dame des Victories,
which was struck by some of the Eng
Iish cannon balls. and received its
name from the victory OVER Phipps and
for another deliverance in 1711 when
q second English feet under Sir Ho-
venden Walker was almost wholly de-
stroyed by storm in the Gulf Of st.
Lawrence while on its way to attack
Quebec. Wolfe's battarie at Lewis.
across the river, also partially de-
sfroyed 1t in 1853. Notre Dame
square, upon which this church faces,
IS the oldest part Of Quebec. Here
stood champlain's ri Labitation,
house and fort and thd first building
erected 10 zoos when Chhmplain found
"a the city. All trades Of It have
song since disappeared and even the
place where the intrep IA soldier gov
efl0T was buried Is unknown.