The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-07-24
MONTREAL
IS CITY OF
CONTRASTS
Streets Like Alleys-HOvels
Adjoin Magnificent Of.
flee Buildings
lRy Gcargc II. Manu-

city OF pccuilcr contrasts. Traffic
incident to its million population
clattcrs through narrow. dangerous
streets in everything from a horse
drawn hack to a Rolls Royce Most
American cities would raze the
novels that lean up against magnif-
iccnt office buildings and widen the
little alleys that serve this Canadian
metropolis for streets. 1t is like
threading a needle to drive through
the congcstcd streets of Montreal
and really dangerous operation,
as stop and go signs are nowhere to
be seen and the scmaphore at dan
gcrous corners is thing unheard Of.
Taxi drivers dominate the situation
and II you don't pull aside at their
siren call you get bumped, or worse.
Americans may challenge Mon
treats contention of being the sec
ond largest port in America. Half
dozen ports in the United States
could probably successfully challenge
that assertion, but its ships sail the
seven seas and its harbor is removed.
1t is one Of the interesting cities of
tho world, despite the fact that it
does not present as clean cut or ag-
gressivc appearance as Detroit or
Toronto. 1t chcrishes traditions along
with narrow, crooked streets. There
is little Partisan about it. It reflects
the French Canadian whose industry
and thrift built here great COM
mcrciel center assisted by one Of the
greatest commercial routes of the
world. the st. Lawrence river.
Montreal is also tho fourth largest
French speaking city Of the world,
although without direct contact with
France for $50 years, but many of
the large CONNIE rcial ventures are
controlled by the Scotch and English.
French and English are recognized
,as the legal languages and every pub
lie sign and notice is printed in two
languages. The dual language sys-
tenn gives the printers Of this sec
ton great deal Of "fat." This is
especially true at Ottawa where every
official printed record must be pub
lished in both Frcnri, and English,
which piles up the cost Of govern
ment very apprcciably.
Cleanup Campaign Needed
Montreal is a city Of noble streets
aud squalid lanes. But whole sec
tiOns are given over to shacks and
novels. A paint up and cleanup era
Is needed badly aud the slogan "Savc
the surface and save all" has never
been preached here in either Ian
guacc.
This metropolis is also an intense
" religious city. Mark Twain once
said that il is almost impossible ia
stand on street corner and fling a
stone without smashing a church
window. The great religious orders
are concentrated here.
But again it is u most liberal city
on tho side Of personal freedom
The pop Of the champagne bottle
is heard in the land. Beer is served
and the French sit in little garden.
and sheltered hooks and sip thcil
wine and beer, but no drunkenness is
seen anywhere. They do not "lush'
their booze on this side Of the Dor
der. There arc no brass rails. bar.
places alone serve liquor. 1t is one
Of the few cities Of Canada that doe.
not observe a puritan Sunday. II,
shows are open and horse racing
with attendant frills is permitted.
Montreal is city Of hospitalit,
and cuisine all its own. There j.
the far-famed pca-soup Of French
Canada washed down perhaps by tn,
native with a bottle Of amber -coloret
sautcrne.
Gateway to Canada
Montreal is the great gate to Can
ada. Through here flock the glob'
trotters and the less prctcntious tour
lists. Its age is indicated by the dat
1912 when the fathers Of Montrca
landed and gave to their settlement
the name "Ville Marie" Here are Il
be seen the immigrant bound for tn
great open spaces of the west, tn,
Oriental speeding to his destination
and q harbOr crowded with craft o
NIL nations. Such setting bring
Montreal into close contact with tn
four corners of the world and make
it a most interesting city to study
There IL q resistance to outside pres
sure and q complete Indifference a
- whether you like things or not
they satisfy the French CANADIAN
who has got to leave her
en- est-pas?"
The city is endowed with great ma
tural beauty as one is lifted out 0
the slums and squalor Of the con
gested sections. There is the islam,
site: rising slopes, great rivers, an
what in this section are called noun
tains. Nothing is standardized her
and the city planner has never got
ten any Of Montreal's money or al
tention. The municipal uplift move
ment has not reached this corner
Colleges arc placed next to hat shop
and beer inns and one can find
movie house backed IN against
stately convent. II is this seeming
Nv grotesquc arrangement that make
Montreal different.
Chateau de Ramexay
Of-especial interest to American
is the Chateau de Ramezay built i
1905 by Claude de Ramezay. govel
nor of Montreal Here in l775. Ger
eral Montgomery lived when 4
American force seized Montreal TO