Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-09-11
By Jessie Font Evans

AL aln AL NACoSL1OV AAcCo oAACA
chatter in a French patois as they
make their way. merry and gestic-
ulating. along the narrow, steep,
up-and-down streets of the old
town and the broader avenues OF
the new outside the walled gates.
In the ancient city, the only walled
town ON the continent north of
Mexico City, 80 to 90 per cent of
the people speak French, not
necessarily the French of Paris,
but Canadian French. which may
! be the French Of early Brittany
or Normandy.
So prevalent is the use of French
that when English Is heard it
is usually spoken by hopeful or
helpless traveller.
Three National Anthems.
It is said that Canada has three
national anthems. For God Save
the King" all stand at attention.
but few know the words. There
are two versions of % Canada"
and every Canadian knows one.
In La Province de Quebec one has
the feeling the universally known
version is the French version.
Outside the city limits the people
still live upon and, in many in
stances, actually tend the long,
narrow strips of land running
back great distances from the
houses which are clustered to-
gether. These strips Of land have
come down to them from the first
ancestors" those who came TO La
NoveIle France from Brittany and
Normandy when the Kings of
France held court at Versailles
300 years ago. In their family life
the residents are devotees of
modes of living and thought Of
the first ancestors" with only
those notifications or modern
innovations that appeal to them.
Less than Is per cent Of Quebec's
people are Protestants.
Quebec's Parliament buildings,
in 18th century French Renais-
sance style, seem almost modern
when contrasted with the Basilica
Hospital General. Church of Notre
Dame des victories set up in the
Place Royale. the Convent of
Ursulines or the ancient gateway
of the frowning Citadel where
Franklin D. Roosevelt and Wins
ton Churchill stayed during their
conferences. The Citadel is the
seat of residence of the Governor
General of Canada whenever he
makes a visit Quebec was the
capital from 1850 until 1854, when
it was transferred to Ottawa.
Colonization Dream Unfolded.
As the capital Of New France,
Quebec witnessed the efforts of
the French to realize a great
dream of colonization in the
Western World. It's mighty stone
walls, so long impregnable, were
the last stronghold of the French
in America until 1853. Outside
these walls on the Plains of Abra-
ham. Gen. Wolfe scaled the
heights with his Colonial Army
and in that victorious struggle
overcame the brave Montca1m hi
a history making hattie for oil
continent. Both valiant leaders
lost their lives.
As the Indian town Of StadA-
coma, the present site Of Quebec
knew the tread Of moccasined feet
for many continuing cycles of
moons before the intrepid Breton,
Jacques Cartier. landed in July.
1884, in his quest for Asia. Sub
sequently. In 1903, Samuel de-
Champlain, with the same OBJ
jective, established q trading post
and gave the city its name, Quebec.
Over a million tourists a year
visit the, nearby shrine of Ste.
Anne de Beaupre with its famous
Santa scala, the first American
representation of the 28 steps by
which Christ assembled to meet
PLATE. Religious pilgrims dock to-
it at all seasons of the year.
More and more Quebec con-
tinues to be Q year around travel
resort. Its winter sports attract
many. As in Montreal it is ad-
visable to secure q French and
English speaking chauffeur for
sightseeing. Ours is a young
teacher in q sixth grade school.
who is available after hours
through the Quebec Sightseeing
Association. Gasoline is from 30
to 40 cents for 9, 5-quart gallon in
Canada.
Stayed on DaupEiin Street.
When the hotel completely and
without reason voided our reser-
vations, we were fortunately taken
into a French home On quaint.
nearby Dauphin street. which
looks toward one Of the city's old