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Montreal : PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR. ( ^0 X mmmm F5-M9 Qe 140222 Entered according to Act of Parliament of Canada, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety, by Mrs. Daniel Macpherson, in the office of the Minister of Agriculture and Statistics at Ottawa. i 4 X5BIDIC-A.TIOIsr. TO JAMES MACPHERSON LEMOINE, Esq., Author of Quebec Past and Present, Maple Leaves, ETC., MY DEAR HUSBAND'S COUSIN AND TRIED FRIEND, I DEDICATE JHIS VOLUME AS A SLIGHT MARK OF ESTEEM. CHARLOTTE HOLT GETHINGS MACPHERSON. CONTENTS. Page To my Subscribers and the Public 9 Sequel to Old Congregational Convent i4 St. Louis Hotel 18 The Quebec Bank 21 Horse Boats and Ice Boats ^o Beaumont, St. Thomas 37 St. Michel 40 A Chronicle of St. Michel 41 Second Visit to Roberval, Lake St. John 45 St. Leon Springs ct My Second Visit to St. Leon Springs 56 St. Raymond eg St. Augustin 54 St. Andr6 66 Les Eboulements ^o Society in Quebec Fifty Years Ago 73 Spencer Grange gg Society in 1854 oq New Year's Day, 1840 gg A Point of Honor 100 Country Post Offices Forty and Fifty Years Ago 103 The Subterranean Passages of the Citadel of Quebec 107 The First St. Patrick's Society in Quebec 109 Sillery Church 1 14 St . Matthew's Chapel , ug Bishop Hamilton no St. Patrick's Cemetery , 120 Mount Hermon Cemetery 122 In Memoriam 124 November ,,^ 125 To the Oyster 128 TO MY SUBSCRIBERS AND THE PUBLIC. My Fripinds, You have been so grood to me, in purchasing, within a few weeks, five lumdred copies of a feuilleton, only intended for private circulation, I should like to show my appreciation, by cater- ing to your desire for information rcirardincr our dear old city, Quebec; but what can I do? My learned friend, James Macpherson LeMoine, Esq., with his wonderful knowledcre of facts, so exhausted the subject in his excellent and beautifully got up book, " Picturesque Quebec." I am utterly overwhelmed. Un- til I began to study the matter I was quite ignorant that he had written so fully on these matters, so I can only play Boswell to his Johnson, and as without Boswell many of the sayings of the immortal Johnson would have been lost. I too may have my use in recording crumbs of information, interesting and instructive, though lacking the dignity of history. Yours truly, Cfiakiotte Holt Gkthixgs Macpiiersox. r OLD MEMORIES: AMUSING AND HISTORICAL. SKQUEL TO " REMINISCENCES OF OLD QUKJlIX,' KV MRS. DANIEL MACPHKRSON. My first recollection is that of being drawn in a child's carriage by old Germain, messenger of the Quebec Bank (where I was born), to the old convent, formerly occupying the sif e of McCall, Shehyn & Co.'s store at the foot of Mountain Hi'! in St. Peter Street, Quebec. This convent has been non-existant for forty-seven years. Its community now reside in St. Joseph Street, St. Roch's. When this convent was there, there was no St. Peter Street, there were no wharves. OLD MEMORIES: and an old sister told me the batteau men often struck their sails against their convent. I remember my father often called at the con- vent to take me out boating or the St. Law- rence River that lapped its shores, for the lower town of Quebec was then a delightful residence for Quebec people, only the military then resid- ing in the Upper Town. Applying for informa- tion about this old convent to Ville Marie, the Mother House of this order, I received the fol- lowing letter from one of the ladies: CONGREGATION DE NOTRE DAME, Montreal, October lo, 1890. Madam, As I am obliged to absent myself, I have only time to give the year of the present foun- dation at Quebec. The first house was in the Upper Town, established in 1688 under the direction of the venerable Mother Bourgeois. This house was transferred to the Lower Town in 1692, under Mons. de St. Valliere, and in 1844 the convent of the Lower Town not being any more convenient, the sisters went and fixed themselves in St. Roch's under Monseigneur Signai and the Rev. Cure Mr. AMUSING AND HISTORICAL. 13 Charest. Rev. Mere St. Madeleine was Supe- rioress of the Congregation of Notre Dame. I am sorry not to be able to give you further details. Your humble servant, Sr. St. Alexis de St. Joseph. H H OLD MEMORIES: SEQUEL TO OLD CONGREGATIONAL CONVENT. Friday, October lo, 1890. I have just returned from a very pleasant visit (my first) to Villa Maria, the Maison Mere of the old Convent of the Congregation, forty- seven years ago at the foot of Mountain Hill, Quebec. Taking the St. Catherine street cars as far as the Post-Office, at the toll-gate you enter an omnibus (at certain hours) which takes you, for the moderate sum of five cents, to the gate leading into the grounds of Villa Maria, the first educational establishment of the Con- gregation de Notre Dame, formerly Monck- lands. The approach on the Cote St. Antoine Road is beautiful, especially at this season, when the trees surrounding the various pretty homes o - AMUSING AND HISTORICAL. '5 some of our Montreal gentry are just taking on their autumn tints. At one residence especially I noticed the leaves of every color, from varied green and red, pale pink, and deep crimson. One small house especially attracted my atten- tion, that of Maxime St. Germain — a real old- fashioned humble country stone cottage, with the cross standing, a rendezvous in old time for prayer when churches were few and far between. It was told me that this Maxime St. Germain, from a humble habitant, by the rise of the value of his property, has risen to great wealth, though still living in his humble way, and with his wife and brother still occupy the old homestead. To make one understand the beauty of Moncklands, you must pay it a personal visit, and, in default of that, I cannot do better than copy a page of its prospectus. I can only say that I was utterly charmed even during my hurried visit. The view is so lovely from the front. The parlors so tastefully, even elegantly, furnished, with a fine library in one of them, every token of refinement, and the spirit of o der prevails with a carefulness of detail which must conduce to the comfort of its inmates. I ' .) 'f i6 OLD MEM OAVES. " In this Institution for Young Ladies will be found all the advantages, comfort, etc., in har- mony with its pre-eminence among the various houses of this Order. In point of situation, salubrity, and pic- turesque scenery, Villa Maria is unrivalled ; the grounds are extensive, and comprise a delight- ful grove and a lovely little lake, with gondolas, for the healthful amusement of the pupils. The house, which was formerly the residence of the Governor-General of Canada, is fitted up in a style of comfort and in a degree of elegance not surpassed by any establishment of the kind. French being the language of the Institution, the pupils possess rare facilities for acquiring a thorough and practical knowledge of this lan- guage. French conversation is compulsory, and enters into the competition for the highest honors. The course in the English language is thorough and complete. The Governor-General of the Dominion of Canada has graciously given this institution a magnificent medal, to be awarded for general proficiency. Hon. Ed. Murphy, Montreal, a valuable AML'SIXG AXn HISTORICAL. ^ microscope, to the young lady who excels in natural history. Mrs. Ed. Murphy, a niagnifi( ?nt gold medal, for excellence in the art of house-keeping. The Countess de Beaujeu, a rich gold medal, to the voung ladv who excels in French con- versation. The Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Quebec, a medal for universal history. The Rev. L. Collin, Sup. S. S. S., a gold medal for literature. The Rev. J. Marechal, a gold medal for re- hgious instruction. The Hon. P. J. O. Chauveau, ex-minister of Education, a gold medal for composition. The Rev. Mother Sup. General, a gold medal for excellence in deportment. J. J. McElhone, Esq., of Washington, a gold medal for phonography and type-writing. J. M. McGirr, Esq., Ont., a gold medal for mathematics. Awarded by an artist, a gold lyre, for pro- ficiency in music." i8 OLD xMEMORIES: ll t if i ST. LOUIS HOTEL. I have just returned from Quebec, and must record one of the most pleasurable incidents of that visit, namely, my meeting accidentally an old acquaintance, the handsome Miss Bouchette, now Lady Shea, and her gifted husband, Sir Am- brose Shea. The pleasure of a prolonged inter- view with the latter, and I must say an hour's conversation with hiiii, is an education. He has the happ\ gift of conveying so much information in such easy flowing language, words seem to come specially to express his meaning ; you learn so much while apparently only chatting. Truly may the Bahamas bless the day when he went there, and evolved from the noxious weed they complained of (Sisal Fibre) an industry which will be its grand prosperity. Already the im- portance of this great branch of commerce has been so great that he has, in view of Canadian interests, come on a visit to Ottawa, to effect, if AMISJNG AND HISTORICAL, «9 possible, a divergence of the trade to Canada instead of permitting our American Cousins to reap all the profits. He showed me a plait of fibre about two feet long or more, so delicate yet so strong. There is no doubt it will pro- duce a rival to the famous manilla rope, and so facile of handling, it may yet be used for the manufacture of linen and other articles, for it needs very little preparation for use, and that of the simplest kind. This wonderful plant suddenly sprung into prominent notice. It is a weed particu- larly fertile in the Bahamas. It arrows about two feet high, and the fibre is the length of the plant, and when extracted by the simple process of pressing out, and then wet and dried in the sun, looks exactly like horse hair, and so strong one could not break even four threads twined together. This Sisal Fibre is creating such a sensation now. I need say nothing further on the sub- ject, only wish Sir Ambrose and his wife a pleasant trip, and thank Mr. Russell for the particular courtesy I received from him. But when will you fail to receive attention at the St. Louis! From mine host down to the i 1^ 30 OLD MEMORIES; humblest bell boy. all arc so watchful for your comfort, so civil in their demeanor, it is a ^pleasure to put up there. AML'SJNG AND HISTORICAL. 21 THE QUEBEC BANK, QUEBEC. On a recent visit to Quebec I was shown by the present courteous and able manager, James Stevenson, Esq., a notice he had written in the Shareholder, February 22, 1884, and there is so much of interest in it for the public, I transmit the valuable information it contains to you, my friends. Mr. Stevenson had directed my atten- tion to this article, as he had therein so kindly noticed my dear father, the late Charles Gethings : — The Quebec Bank, with the exception of the Bank of Montreal, is the oldest bank in the Dominion. On the 9th July, 18 18, merchants, and others interested in the establishment of a bank in the city of Quebec, held a meeting at the Exchange, and drafted articles of associa- tion. The document is headed, " Articles of Association of the Quebec Bank," and consists of twenty-five sections. No. 3 provides that, for the good management of the bank, there r ' 22 OLD MEMORIES ill ^'i !t fl' shall be thirteen directors; No. 6, that there shall be no recourse upon the separate property of any shareholder. Other sections severally provide for the issue of notes; the calling-up of the capital, which is to be ;^75,ooo; the term of the bank's existence ; and its dissolution. The bank is now in its sixty-seventh year. Dis- tinguished men, legislators, lawyers and mer- chants have served on the directorate. Durinrf the term of its existence it has been exposed to severe financial storms ; it has weathered them all, preserved its capital intact, and has paid several millions in the shape of dividends. At the first meeting of the shareholders, which was held on the 7th September, 18 18, the fol- lowing gentlemen were elected to serve on the board of directors, namely, John W. VVoolsey, Thomas White, J. McCallum, John Jones, Charles Smith, Louis Massue, Jean Langevin, Henry Black, Ph. Aubert de Gaspe, W. G. Sheppard, John Goudie, Etienne Lagreux, and Benjamin Tremain. Mr. Woolsey was elected president, and Mr. White, vice-presi- dent ; and the Board engaged the services of Noah Freer, as cashier. Mr. Freer held a com- mission as captain in the army ; he had seen AML'SIAG AND lllSTORlCAl., 23 service, and had been military secretary to Sir Georee Prevost, d uring the \v ar of 18 12. Steady-going merchants may have shrugged their shoulders and questioned the wisdom and propriety of api)ointin^ a soldier to such a posi- tion ; but Captain Freer took kindly to the business of civil life. He was accurate, precise, and methodical in all he did ; and a courteous gentleman in his intercourse with the public. The customers of the bank were men of high standing — including the leading officials of the capital, namely, the Governor-General, the Bishop, the Commander-in-Chief, legislators and lawyers, in addition to the regular commercial clientele. Holograph cheques of all its principal customers since 18 18 have been carefully pre- served in the bank, a review of which is almost as interesting as a cursory perusal of the annals of the city. That able jurist, the late Honorable Andrew Stuart, was appointed legal adviser ; and he appears on several occasions to have steadied the directors, and guided them into a course of safety. In the absence of an " Act of Incorporation," the shareholders no doubt incurred unlimited , I i'^ II 24 O/.n MEMORIES \ \ liability to the depositors aiu. 'e-holders ; but application was made to Parliament for a charter, and an "Act of Incorporation," extending the existence of the bank to 1831, was passed in 18 19. This Act received the Royal assent of George IV. on the 16th September, 1822. At the expiration of the term, the charter was renewed, and extended to the ist August, 1836; and, by a subsequent Act, to the same date in 1837. That year constitutional government was suspended in consequence of the disturbed state of the Province; and all the powers and privileges of the bank expired by the effluxion of the time limited by the Act of Incorporation. The directors were at a loss what course to pursue under the circumstances. They thought seriously of winding up the bank. In 1838 the government of the country was vested in Sir John Colborne, as Administrator, and a special council held in the city of Montreal. The same year, the Habeas Corpus Act was suspended, and an ordinance was passed authorizing the incorporated, chartered, and other banks in the Province to suspend the redemption of their notes in specie till the 1st of June, 1839 — limit- ing the circulation of each bank to the amount AMUSING AND HISTORICAL. as of its capital stock actually paid up. It was further enacted that all specie then held by the bank should be retained, and should not be sold, excepting to Her Majesty's Government. Political disturbances having been quelled, trade revived, and all thought of winding up the bank was abandoned. To supply the absence of silver, the bank, in addition to its- ordinary issue, issued notes of I5d., or 30 sous, and 2s, 6d., or 3 francs; and the several banks struck off a copper currency for the convenience of the public. The suspension of specie pay- ments lasted three years. In the absence of Parliamentary authority for the existence of the bank, the directors were advised to apply for a royal charter, and Captain Freer, the cashier, was deputed to proceed to England, for the purpose of communicating with the Home Government on the subject. Captain Freer was well received by the authori- ties, and every assistance was rendered to him in furtherance of the object of his mission. A royal charter was granted with authority to apply to Parliament for a renewal as soon as constitutional government slKuild be restored ; 2 96 OLD MEMORIES: W \ \- % I .!' at the same time the authorized capital of the bank was increased to ;^ 100,000. Several changes had taken place in the per- sonnel o{ the Direction since 18 18. In 1823, Mr. W. Sheppard was elected president; in 1832, Mr. Charles Smith; in 1838, Mr. John Fraser; and in 1842, Mr. James Gibb. In 1852 Captain Freer retired from the service of the bank upon a pension, having held office for thirty-four years. In 1848 Sir N. F. Bellcau was elected a director. He has since been a constant mem- ber of the Board, and punctual in his attend- ance, even while he held the office of Lieutenant- Governor of the Province of Quebec. On the death of the Honorable Andrew Stuart, the Honorable Henry Black was appointed legal adviser; and on his assuming the duties of Judge of the Vice-Admiralty Court, he was succeeded by the Honorable George O. Stuart^ the present Judge of the same Court. J. C. Vannovous, Q.C., held the office till his death, and was succeeded by the present legal ad- visers of the bank, Messrs. Andrews, Caron & Andrews. Mr. Charles Gethings, a man of inflexible integrity of character, was appointed to fill t!.^ a AMUSING ^\ND "ISTORICAL. a? office of cashier, vacated by the retirement of Captain Freer, and under his management, and the careful supervision of the president, Mr. Gibb, who was rarely absent from the office, the bank continued to pay its dividends, namely, in 1S53 at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum: in 1854. 7 per cent. ; 1855, 7 per cent. ; 1856, 7 per cent.; 1857, 6^^ per cent.; 1858, 6 per cent.; 1859, 6^^ per cent.-, 1860,7^. In i860 the president, one of the oldest and most esteemed merchants in the city, died, deeply regretted by the whole community, and Mr. W. H. Anderson, the vice-president, was elected president in his place. The following year Mr. Gethings, the cashier, retired upon a pension ; and Mr. William Dunn, a gentleman well qualified to fill an important place in any bank, was appointed his successor. The bank, under his management, continued to pay divi- dends, namely, in 1861, 8 percent. ; 1862, 8 per cent. ; 1863, 7)^ per cent.; 1864, 7 per cent. In 1864 Mr. David Douglas Young, a leading and highly esteemed merchant, who had served several years on the directorate, was elected president. Mr. Dunn, the cashier, retired soon after his appointment, and was succeeded by I. :i^ a8 OLD MEMORIES >: #1 Ml] 1 ! ''.\ the present general manager, Mr. James Steven- son, in December, 1864. Since the death of Mr. Young, which hap- pened in 1869, the Honorable James G. Ross has been president of the bank, and Mr. Wil- liam Withall, vice-president. Such, in brief, is the history of this old insti- tution, the doors of which were opened for business in 18 18, in a small house in Sault-au- Matelot Street. Some years afterwards, a portion of a commodious building erected by the Quebec Fire Insurance Company, in Peter Street, was occupied by the bank. But in 1863 the directors resolved to have a building of their own. and they purchased from Mr. H. Atkinson the site upon which the present hand- some banking house is built. A certain his- torical interest attaches to almost ever)- spot and locality in Quebec ; and to none more so than to that very site. There, on a cold stormy December morning, in 1775, when the simul- taneous assault on Quebec was made by Mont- gomery and Arnold, stood a small body of resolute men, ready to sacrifice their lives in defence of the city. While the life of Mont- gomery was ebbing away with the flow of his AMUSING AND HISTORICAL. 29 blood at Cape Diamond, Arnold was advancing, with a comparatively formidable force, from St. Roch's, upon Sault-au-Matelot, a little lane not over twelve feet wide, opposite the site of the bank. It is not too much to say that the fate of Canada, as a dependency of Great Britain, hung upon the issue of the impending contest in the lane. The struggle was a desperate one. It lasted several hours; but the repulse was complete; and Arnold, carried off wounded, retired with the remnant of his force upon the General Hospital, the head-quarters of the Americans, which they held till the siege of Quebec was abandoned in the following month of May; 1776. lit I 30 OLD MEMORIES. !» ii h I \ \ HORSE BOATS AND ICE BOATS. Near the site of the old convent just de- scribed, we used to embark on a horse boat to cross to Levis in summer, and in winter a canoe, managed by expert boatmen, who paddled their way through shoal ice, and, on reaching any large piece, with wonderful strength and skill raised the canoe and pulled it on the ice as we do a sleigli. These boatmen \\oreso inured to their work that an accident rarely happened. But there are records of a whole canoe full of people being swamped. Fortunately a regular service of ice boats exists in winter now, and with rare intervals (some extraordinary storm) with as much regularity as the summer ferry boats. Some of my young readers may never have seen a horse boat, so I will tell them they lockeci like some of the very small steamboats, but the machinery was put in movement and AML'SIXG AXD HISTORICAL. t^ carried on by horses attached to a pole in the centre and walking round ana round. Previous to the year 1857 there were no other means of crossinsj to Levis but bv the canoes, when Capt. Semple chartered a boat, which ran up to December, as it could only go through floating ice. But an enterprising gentleman, the recently deceased Mr. Tibbits, talkincr over the matter with a voung relative of mechanical genius, made out plans for machinery, had them sent to Montreal, made here and sent on to Quebec, were fitted up and at once proved successful, and thus in the year 1862 started his passenger boat, "The Arctic,"' which would cut through the heaviest ice and became a perfect success. I copy from a newspaper the following notice of Mr. Tibbits, who died March 26, 1889: " On Friday last the mortal remains of the late James Tibbits were committed to their last resting place in Mount Hermon Cemetery. For many years the deceased was a prominent figure in the mercantile community. He was a man of great physical and mental energy, and of unbounded enterprise, always willing to risk in public enterprises the money with which I [■ 'tT .11 liii 3a OLD MEMORIES in 1: many of his ventures were crowned. One last- ing monument of his enterprise and abih'ty remains to us in the excellent ferry service we enjoy with the South Shore. He was the first to demonstrate the possibility of a steamer cut- ting its way through the nidsses of ice which obstructed the navigation opposite the city during the winter. Like many others of our enterprising merchants, Mr. Tibbits died poor. Quebec owes his memory a debt of gratitude, which might well have been slightly repaid by a public funeral. It is, however, such a long time since Mr. Tibbits resided in the city, the gene- ration that succeeded are hardly aware of the services rendered by the deceased. It is not fitting, however, that they should be lost sight of." The ferry boats, summer and winter, land you in close proximity to the railroad, and carriages take you west towards St. David or east to St. Joseph. After driving up a very steep hill you come to a road branching ofif to the west beside which is the little old English Church and Ceme- tery, the former being now renewed under the supervision of its popular pastor, Rev. Mr. Ni- cholls, grandson of the much-esteemed Bishop AAtUSIXG AND HISTORICAL. 33 Mountain, Higher up and last is the Roman Catholic parish church, a monument to the zeal and perseverance of the late Rev. Mr. Dalzeil. Almost a riot was in the parish when he asked for it to be built of its present size, but with far- seeing wisdom he insisted, and now it is crowded to overflowing though two other churches have been built in the space of the last few years. Levis also possesses a fine college in this locality. On the summit of the hill called rue dcs Mar- chands is a very handsome and spacious store and residence belonging to Mr. Couture, and opposite to it is a tiny little building kept in good repair, though unused, which Mr. Couture tells you with pride is the shop where he first earned the shillings which were to end by making him a millionaire. Mr. Edouard Couture carries on the business in the same place now, but the Hon. Geo. Couture, Senator, sleeps under a handsome obelisk in Levis Cemetery. The noblest monu- ment that exists to his memory, however, is the beautiful church, built by money left for that purpose in his will, adjoining the splendid hospital, built within about ten years, to which he contributed so largely during his lifetime. One of the head ladies of the institution (a \ 34 OLD MEMORlfiS if! l! very old friend, sister-in-law of our well-known citizen, Hon. P. Casgrain) took me through this building about a week ago, and I was as- tonished to find it almost filled already. The poor, the crippled, old women, young chil- dren, have here a comfortable home, with de- lightful surroundings, and on a height and with a view of the Citadel, Quebec. When Mere St. Monique asked me to go and visit the Catacombs under the church, T de- cidedly objected, but Josephtc, as I called her in our youth, always would have her way, and I am glad she did so here, for I do not know whether similar places for burial are existent elsewhere in this country or only a new creation in Canada, but I am glad I went into them. This seems to be the perfection of burying. Leading me through a long light passage under the church, we came to a very heavy iron door ; then on its being opened a second appeared with its blank emblems and death's head and cross bones, sufficiently indicative of where we were going Entering this door Mere St. Mon- ique struck a light, and we found ourselves in a fire-proof brick chamber and passages. On every side shelves to hold one coffin. There is only llrjnilfc IHHHIWJilW w AMI SING AND HISTORIC A I.. 35 one occupant so far — Mr. Gini^ras — but there are places for ninety. The coflfin is placed on a shelf just large enough, then masoned up» and the name put on the masonry. A great improvement on old-fashioned vaults, as all possibility of disturbance is precluded and no danger from foul air. This building is under the High Altar, so to a devout Roman Catholic much of the feeling of gloom is taken away. A few miles west is St. David's Church, a pretty new edifice, and further on at the village of St. Romuald, St. Romuald's Church, so filled with choice paintings and works of art by its late Pastor, the Rev. Mr. Saxe, it has become quite a worthy show place for our sight-seeing American friends. The Rev. Mr. Saxe was of such clever wit and genial presence, he exer- cised great influence over those with whom he came in contact. I remember saving how proud his parishioners must be of this lovely little edifice. " They well may be," he said, " it has hardly cost them anything for all these works of art. I made the old country, that could afiford it, give them, you know. I travelled in Europe for contributions, and impressed on each community how necessary it was that each i 1 !<■ 1 ~ II! 36 OLD MEMORIES: ^City should trivc of .>« h . 'I I i >«' AMUSIAG AND HISTORICAL. 37 BEAUMONT— ST. THOMAS. Previous to the year 1853, or thereabouts, there was no railroad below Quebec, and vehicles were the only means of transport ; but when time and means permit, it is surely the most agreeable of all ways of travelling. We were frequent visitors at Crane Island, and our downward drive to St^ Thomas, where we took sail boat to cross, were in the habit of stopping at various way-side houses, not inns, simply neat commodious places where we were always expected and welcomed, and sure of a meal and bed. One of these was the Fraser House at Beaumont: it still exists, but sadly deteriorated, and occupied by a French farmer and family. It is a very long low house in a very small quiet country village^ prettily situated with a view of the St. Law- rence. On one occasion my husband and myself drove up to the door. •' Welcome ! " (we were frequent nJyIi 38 OLD MEMOriES . M I f f » li 5 . !■ visitors) " but it is well you did not come a few days sooner. Who do you think has just left ? Lord and Lady Elgin," — and I forget whether slie said any children. " Come, and I'll show you the room as I arranged it for Lady Elgin." If you have never, my readers, seen a genuine old- fashioned habitant bedstead, I would almost fail to impress you with its height ; you could not possibly get into it without standing on a chair, and two of these were placed side by side, taking in one whole side of a room, with the long white curtains pendant from a rod attached to the ceiling. I can hardly think of it now without smiling. Of course, it must have been for the novelty of the thing that Lady Elgin used it instead of having one brought from Quebec. Perhaps one gets so tired of for- mality and grandeur, a change becomes a wel- come relief. We said we had but twenty minutes to stay, and must have lunch at once. In about ten minutes we had a most delicious fricassee of chicken in white sauce. On compli- menting Mrs. Eraser, she said, " I learnt how to make that from Lord Elgin's cook, and was I not smart } those chickens were running about when you came." That spoilt all, ah — if she only ^ % AMUSING AND HISTORICAL. 39 had not told us ? There are numerous pretty vil- lages all along the south shore. None prettier than that of St. Michel, adjacent to Beaumont. It much resembles Kamouraska, though much prettier as the foliage is so lovely. 1 15 If. 40 OLD MEMORIES, \ \ f i I ST. MICHEL. St. Michel is a delightful summer residence, about fifteen miles from Quebec, reached directly by steamer every day, or by railroad a few miles from the village. We resided there for a couple of years, and then made the acquaintance of the Rev. Mr. Drolet, who with his mother and sisters tendered us such kindly hospital. ty. The Par- sonage became to all of us a Maison Paternelle, for the family all spoke English as well as French, and the genial cure, a very clever and devoted priest, was in his home an admirable host. I shall have occasion elsewhere to speak of him. I will conclude this article witii a few verses I found lately, written on the spur of the moment from the circumstance of one of the ladies nearly falling through a trap door into the cellar of the dining-room of the old- fashioned house we then occupied. AMUSING AND HISTORICAL. A CHRONICLE OF ST. iMICHEL. A REMEMBRANCE OK HAPPY DAYS. It was a winter evening, The moon was shining bright, When from a lady's parlor Came sounds of laughter light. But, suddenly, the scene is changed, There's heard a warning shriek, And borne upon the air the words, "Oh ! dear, will no one speak ? " Unheeding trap, just at her feet, Comes with majestic mien A damsel of sweet presence, And "smiling all serene. Her eyes are like the glowworm, Her cheeks like damask rose, She holds her head so loftily, She looks not at her toes ; When, roused from contemplation sweet Of bottles ale and stout, A head above the trap appears — " What's all this row about? 3 iKXfJ ■I ■ft 1' I i 1 si r 1 ' If 1 A: ! II 42 0/Z? MEMORIES: I see, I see, Miss P^lora, dear. You'd all but tumbled down ; One further step, and you'd have fall'n On my unlucky crown. Oh ! had you tumbled on my head In yonder cellar well, We now, alas, been both quite dead " — A sad old tale to tell. How youth and beauty often fall Into some snare[unseen, As so hath chanced in many a day And yet full oft I ween, While thoughtless youth with eager .step Pursues its heedless way. MORAL. Then damsels all who hear my tale Hold not your heads so high, A downward glance give now and then. Hid dangers to des'^ry. We arrive at St. Thomas after a forty miles drive, and stay over, if the tide does not serve for coming, at Madame F.'s well-known hotel — not far from which is the residences of the late Sir Etienne Tache and Mr. Bender, I father of the present well-known Boston physi- i cian, Dr. Bender. AMUSING AND HISTORICAL. 43 '.I A short distance from here is the house now occupied by E. P. Bender, formerly owned by Mr. William Patton, a splendid specimen of an English gentleman. A lumber merchant, doing a large business with ample means, his house was the home of generous hospitality. It is thirty years since I visited it or more — it then gave you an idea of one of England's far-famed country homes. Everything handsome, well ordered grounds, its steel grates (then a novelty), and handsome paperings, a host so courteous, his wife a refined lady of the old school — all appeared to promise long years of happiness to its inmates, when in a day, alas ! all was changed. Mr. Patton was most energetic in his efforts to hasten the building of the rail- road from Quebec to St. Thomas, and went into town to see Messrs. Morton, Peto & Brasscy, when he met his fate. Overheated by his exertions, he lay down to rest opposite an open window facing the St. Lawrence, a gale sprung up, he got a chill, and in twenty- four hours he was dead, of inflammation, before his wife could reach him, and yet she arrived almost in time, due to a mysterious warning of some kind, I forget what it was — she told me o^ it herself. ! I I. ■A 44 OLD MEMORIES i 1 ji. Sitting quietly in her room she heard or saw something, and, convinced that her husband needed her, she ordered a carriage, and, despite all remonstrance, drove all night, and passed in the darkness the carriage sent for her, and anivc 1 the grey dawn of morning to find her husband just dead. How many such unaccountable occurrences happen I could tell of at least six such exper- iences in Tiy own history. My theory is this, that unoor e::r:a?n conditions thought meets thought, ic' so ^ "erically impresses on the loved one its owi. ,vc; ?«gs and wishes. Previous to Mr. Patton's purchasing it, this house had been occupied by several families of note, the De Beaujeus, Olivrs, etc. It was pur- chased a few years since by E. P. Bender, Ksq., who now occupies it with his family. AMUSING AND HISTORICAL. 45 if SECOND VISIT TO ROBERVAL, LAKE ST. JOHN. I was unfortunately prevented from visiting Roberval until late in the season — in fact, only a few weeks before the hotel closed — but I saw enouTfh to confirm my first impressions as to its desirability as a summer resort for people who really need to recuperate after the wear and tear of town life. It was late in August, a cold spell was on; we arrived per railroad on Pullman car, which brings you to the very gate of the hotel premises. A dull heavy rain came down as we got off the cars, but what of that ? you are ushered nto a hallway where burns a generous grate fire. Courteous officials greet you and inquire your wants. Shown to a com- fortable bedroom, and then to a supper as good in quality as meals served in most town hotels, with excellent attendance, you fancy you are in fairy land, as, gazing on the wild country around, you remember that this locality a few years ago : Jl It 46 OLD MEMORIES. n was not even inhabited by farmers, but all was bush. Ushered into the ladies' parlor you are greeted by a most winning hostess, Mrs. Scott, daughter of the Honorable Mr. Shehyn, who, re- siding here at present with her children, does the honors, and welcomes you as if to her own pri- vate parlor. The season was so nearly over there were comparatively few guests, but those of the most pleasant — Dr. and Mrs. Lovely, Rev, Mr. and his wife, and several members of the Beemer family, who by their musical talents contributed largely to our enjoyment. Rober- val I am sure has a grand future before it. Dr. Lovely, one of the most eminent physicians of the United States, assured me that he had dis- covered coal-oil there, not five miles from the hotel, and also some stone (1 forget what) of which he was taking specimens away with him. He said if it was what he thought, it would indeed be a bonanza. It appears to me that Roberval would be especially beneficial for those sufifering from ner- vous exhaustion or debility, or tendency to con- sumption. The pure mountain air, the quiet, the absence of rush and excitement, must surely be most grateful to such parties, while for those AMI SING AND HISTORICAL. 47 who want a livelier existence, the trips in excur- sion steam-boats, the visits to various other fishing grounds, the power of jumping on the railroad that comes to your door and whirls you off for a few hours to other lakes, is a matter not to be lost sight of. Added to the perfect in- side comfort of this hotel — baths on your bed- room flat — the immense piazza runs the full length of the building, affording in wet weather an excellent promenade, with a view of the lovely lake, and what I much appreciated was the absence of the horrid gong calling you to meals. Here you are told the time for meals, and if you so desire a civil waiter calls you at the hour you name, but the fearful din that else- where rouses you from your pet morning sleep is absent. Entering the ladies' parlor in the evening you feel almost that you are in a private house. A bright fire burns in an open grate. Some fair lady is employing her talents at the piano in your service, and you enjoy some really good music, when one of the ladies asks are you to have a little dance or a small game of cards — the first at once, the latter when we are tired. After a short time small tables are IM If !i I ' t ; > \\ 48 OLD MEMORIES: brought in, the guests group into h'ttle coteries each one retires when he will, after enjoying all the comforts of a home with the liberty of an hotel. I must not forget to state that at the village, about a mile from the hotel, is a Roman Catho- lic Church and fine Ursuline Convent, a delight- ful boarding school for young ladies, who enjoy boating every day and pleasant little trips to an island now belonging to the Nuns. There is also a telegraph in the hotel, and any amount of vehicles and horses and boats for visitors — also cheaper boarding houses in the village for those who require them. During the few days I stayed there, one or two funny incidents occurred. On one occasion I had an old man to drive me, when I said, ** I hope it will not rain before we get home." " I hope it won't, indeed," he said, " I am not dry yet since yesterday." " How is that } " I asked. Said he : "I was out with that party from the hotel who when out fishing were so drenched, and the storm being so great I stayed by the hotel kitchen fire instead of going home to change ; but, madame," as a sudden thought struck him, "you live at the hotel, is there a doctor living I AMUSING AND HISTORICAL. 49 there ? " Having been there only a few hours, I did not know, but inquired why he asked. " The fact is, I hear that when people come from Louisiana or Paris ^ a party of ten always brings a doctor with them" (a party re- cently arrived just numbering ten), "and hear- ing that I had a son ill, one gentleman said if I would take him to see my son or bring my son to him, he would try and cure him." "Well," I asked, " have you done so?" "But no," he said, " he is English." (I spoke in French and he thought I was a French Canadian.) " What dif- ference would that make } " Why, riadame, do you think the English know anything V "Well," I said, "perhaps a little; you might try the doctor." At the same time I was quite pre- pared to hear that he was a victim of some practical joke from his statement that every ten persons coming from Louisiana or Paris brought a doctor with them ; I little expected the de- nouement. " Oh ! my son would not see him at all. He said, * father, do you wish me to die at once } ' But, madame, I would not have minded taking him to the doctor myself. You don't think that even though English he would have given him something to kill him at once }' i\ 11 3i 11 ■ 50 OLD MEMORIES \ ** Oh ! no," 1 answered, " I am sure he would not do that." But my story does not end here. On entering the parlor, where several were seated, I addressed a peculiarly pleasant lady near mc, and began to narrate for their benefit my conversation with the old driver, when I n(.»ticed my hearer give a kind of warning glance; and then she went off into a merry peal of laughter as the door opened and a gentleman popped in his head. " Come here, my dear, learn a lesson of humility. This, my dear lady, is myhus- . band. Dr. Lovely " (I have learned since that he is one of the most well-known of American physicians) ; " he is the Englishman, who can't know anything." The doctor, who enjoyed the joke, engaged the same driver next d ly to have his fun as much as anything. After a good deal of skirmishing, he elicited all from the old coachman, who» however, said, though English, if Dr. L was a Roman Catholic, he might induce his son to trust him, as he believed that the little bottles he showed him really contained des re- medes. I know that the doctor explained to him that, though not a Roman Catholic, he attended nearly all the members of that denomi- \i ^ AMUSING AND HISTORICAL, 51 nation in the United States, and there was some kind of negotiation going on when I left. They may have come to terms, and the boy^ cured, despite himself. Perhaps this poor old chap, living for many years utterly isolated from civilization, might have the same horror of Lcs terribles Anglais that the I^nglish peasantry had of Napoleon the First, who, when children were refractory, were threatened to be given to Bonaparte. And, now, as some of our English people may be hard on this old F'rench- Canadian, I must tell you that the clergyman's wife, attached to some very proniinent hospital in one of the large cities of the United States, said they came across sometimes very odd cases, and instanced that )f a patient coming to the hospital, and, being ordered to take a bath, said he had never taken a bath in his life, and must go home and consult his wife. He went and never returned ! ! ! This, in one of the largest cities of America. So don't too much despise the old backwoodsman's prejudice. As Mrs. Lovely most kindly invited me to pay her a visit, I may yet tell you more about this very true tale- II (I I' 1 5a OLD MEMORIES ST. LEON SPRINGS. It is fully fifty years ago since my lather took me to Three Rivers en route for St. Leon Springs. We were most hospitably received by Mr. Lajoie (father of the present dry goods merchant of Three Rivers), and his good lady, and Mr. Faucher de St. Maurice, father of the present gentleman of the same name. Of the party were, I think, Mr. Gingras, whose son, brother-in-law of Mr. Dorion, recently deceased, was the first I think to establish the reputation of these waters. After a sumptuous repast at itir. Lajoie's, wc were driven to St. Leon Springs, and this is what I remember of it then : a steep sandy hill, up which was walking a pale, thin young lady, whom my father pointed out to me as Miss G ; that lady has been in bed seven years, you see her walking now; whether the cure was permanent or not I have no means of ascertaining, but Mr. Campbell, late proprietor i J AMUSING AND HISTORICAL. m of St. Leon Springs, told me only two weeks since that he remembered Miss G perfectly. Mr. Campbell further told me since that his father had noticed the cattle drinking at this spring, and finding it had a peculiar taste, had it analyzed, and gave to the public this boon for the afflicted, and health-preserving drink for the sick. We had tea that day at the Springs on a deal table, without table-cloth, seated on wooden benches, while carpenters were putting the roof on a large building we sat in. I presume this was the first hotel, rather a contrast to that of the present day, which is yearly crowded with an increased number of fashionable visitors from all parts of the Dominion, in search of health or amusement. This hotel has been very lately enlarged and fitted up with every modern con- venience. Parties leaving Montreal by the Canadian Pacific Railroad, and getting off at Louisevillc, will find vehicles waiting to take them to St. Leon Springs. This lady just alluded to, Miss G , was one of those peculiar patients one hears of in a lifetime, and, as all her near relatives are dead and few will recognize the initial, I will inform my readers that Dr. A , one of my father's. 54 OLD MEMORIES: physicians (now deceased), told me that she was afflicted with a kind of fit — cataleptic, I think, they called it — when she fell into a state so closely resembling death that two of Quebec's most prominent medical men were about to perform a post-mortem examination on her, when the slight quiver of an eyelid proved her still alive, and on her recovering she told them that, though unable to make the slightest motion, she had heard and seen all that had passed, and Dr. A was exceed- ingly indignant that such a subject should have been sent to him as an ordinary patient, as the same tiling might have occurred again. He was, if I mistake not, then residing in Halifax, and he told me that all the instructions he received were to provide a suitable lodging for a nervous patient, who could afford to pay well for a quiet private residence. Accordingly, Dr. A persuaded a well-to-do Scotch farmer to take her as a boarder. Vox a time all went well, though she would go off into a sort of trance, when she lay apparently dead for perhaps three days and returned to con- ciousness, often cognizant of what had occurred during her semi-deathlike state. But on one occasion her second sight, if you can so term AMUSIAG AND HISTORICAL. 55 it, was so great, she terrified the old people so, they begged the doctor to remove her, saying she was no canny. The facts ^were these: — On one occasion Miss G fell into h -r cataleptic state, and the doctor not expecting her to revive before a certain time, said he would not call till the following Thursday. But on the Tuesday, receiving a summons from a very old patient, twenty miles distant, he decided on calling on her en route. The weather being rainy, he asked for a covered vehicle, and the only one procurable was a shabby, very old-fashioned waggon. In the meantime, Miss G awoke from her trance, and said, "the doctor is coming." "No," said the mistress of the house ; " he is not coming till Thursday." " He is coming now," said Miss G , " he is at the red gate " (a gate some distance from the back of the house, and too far for any sound to reach) — "what a funny carriage he has." When he really drove up in this queer-looking vehicle, the landlady was so scared, she uttered that exclamation, "she is no canny," and insisted that board should be taken elsewhere. I offer no explanation — Itt the savants do that — I only narrate facts I vouch for. Ml w i .! ti U i 56 OLD MEMORIES • MY SECOND VISIT TO SPRINGS. ST. LEON Going by the Canadian Pacific Railroad to Louiseville, we took a trap awaiting at the station, and, after a drive over a rather pretty country road, arrived at St. Leon Springs. Alas! the season was over, only Mr. Thomas and his son, and Mr. Langlois, were there, and a few servants. Nevertheless, we saw enough to convince us what a delightful health resort this must be in summer. When I say health resort, I do nof mean pleasure resort, though there is plenty of amusement for reason- able people, who would find pleasant com- panionship, dancing, music, drives, croquet, lawn-tennis sufficient for summer heat ; but, we speak now of St. Leon Springs as a retreat for the really ill or convalescent, and as such it must simply be perfection. A large hotel, nicely kept, numerous bath-rooms, all fitted up with an abundant supply of St. Leon water for AMUSING AND HISTORICAL, 57 bathing, excellent meals, well-cooked and nicely served, as we saw even during our brief and unexpected stay (I have never eaten such perfect home-made bread as there), with the drinking of these health-giving waters, must surely be of incalculable benefit. Twitting Mr. Langlois on the supposition that perhaps in cities the St. Leon water is in part manu- factured, Mr. Langlois told us a funny incident. He said, I think it was in Toronto, he over- heard some one saying, as his trucks came in loaded with barrels : " I wonder how much of this is manufactured ? " On the impulse of the moment, Mr. L gave a hint to the carters to dump the casks on the pavement instead of taking them through the yard. As anticipated, a policeman came up and remonstrated on impeding the sidewalk. Soon a crowd gathered. Just what Mr. L desired. When spoken to, he said : " Of course, it was an oversight, the water should have been taken into the yard ; but as it was there, he would like to prove to the people assembled how genuine was the water, by tapping scvcnd bar- rels, and, igniting with a match the gas, said : ^' My friends, can any of you manufacture gas h mmmm 58 OLD MEMORIES: in water to burn like this ? " Mr. L is not by any means a man you would credit with being a religious enthusiast ; but I will never forget the solemnity of the act, as, raising his hand towards Heaven, he uttered these words : " He who made these waters can alone make the gas." Mr. Thomas, a wealthy gentleman, with his son, for health and occcupation, takes the management here. The latter, quite a sport, drove us with his blood horses to the station, at a pace that made me tremble. There a grand old-fashioned coach with four spanking horses waits at the railroad station to drive you in style to the hotel. Come and try them, my fast American friends. I will conscientiously stick to the old-fashioned one-horse buckboard — not elegant and hardly comfortable, but very safe. AMUSING Aa\D historical. 59 ST. RAYMOND. H About eight years ago my dear husband and myself took rooms for the summer with a Mr. Ignace Dery, a carpenter. The house, a very large one of many buildings, was prettily situated on the banks of the river. Facing the house an immense barn indicated the prosperity of the farm. In course of conversation I remarked to Mr. D. how astonished I was to find such a handsome church, fine shops, and a musical choir, with a thriving village, in a place we had only heard of a few years before. ** You will be more surprised, dear lady," he said, " when I inform you that I came here fifty years ago, a boy of fifteen, against my people's will, with another cousin, and broke the first road in what was all then bush." " How did you hear of this place at all } " " Well, from the Indians, and I went out with the surveyors and thought what a splendid place it was for a settlement, and said so, but my father would not hear of it. However, one day, my cousin. ii !l 60 OLD MEMORIES i If Joseph Dcry, said to me after church, ' Have you decided on coming to squat or take possession and make an opening on these lands?' 'My family will not hear of it,' I answered. 'Well, then, come without their leave ; if they see you succeed, they will be quite satisfied.' " So Dcry and his cousin started off right after mass, the equipment of the former being a loaf of bread and piece of pork procured from his sister, whom he let into the secret, about half a bag of potatoes for seed, a hatchet, and his working clothes and a little salt. The boys walked out about fifteen miles : the one, my friend Dery, remained at the east end, his cousin at the west. These two houses now form the boundary in a certain measure of the village of St. Raymond. Mr. Dery told mc his first occupation was to plant some potatoes, then build a small hut, and he said for food he had only to dip a line into the river back of the site of his house to procure all the fish he needed. On this he lived, with fruit and a little flour procured later. Such was the commencement of this prosperous village. The cousin, Joseph Dery, still kept a few years ago intact his first cottage, though building a comfortable house beside it. M AMCSIXG AND IIIS'l ORICA I.. 6l ANUTHKR I'lONEEU. In the autumn wc moved for .i month nearer the village, and occupied the house owned by Mr. Beauprc. It was a commodious dwellintj, neatly furnished, and on my remarkinL:^ a rather nice bureau in m\' room, .iiul inquiring if they had a cabinet-maker in the village, my landlady answered, "Oh! my husband made that himself, and, though never apprenticed to any trade, built nearly the whole of this house himself," and then the old gentleman, pointing to the other side of the river, said, " Do you notice, madame, that clump of trees; well, beneath that rock is a cavern which I dis- covered and made a residence of when, as a boy of thirteen, I walked from St, Augustine across the country to there, to see what I could do for myself. I had no near relations, and determined if possible, by squatting, to get a home. I built a projecting porch, and lived for many a month in that cavern. I earned my living by doing odd jobs for the farmers, who came from some distance, and helped to row them over in a scow to St. Raymond proper, now the village, to get their horses I i. ' 62 OLD MEMORIES, n shod, and while waiting for their return, noticed how the blacksmiths worked ; then it occurred to me how well a blacksmith would do on my side of the river (thus saving the crossing), and I commenced to learn, and here I am, the master of a comfortable home and several farms" — the reward of energy and favorable circumstances, which brought the railroad to their very doors, and with large stores opening for the supply of the railroad employees, and the influx of summer visitors, has made the desert blossom like a rose, and a charming village (the intersecting waters spanned by a pretty bridge), spring in a few yea,rs from the bush. Mr. Panet, advocate, and his charming wife are residents here. Mr. P., representative and nephew of Mrs. Shakspcarc, wife of General Shakspeare, daughter of Bernard Panet, of old Quebec memory. October 28, 1890. I have just returned from St. Raymond and learnt some additional facts anent the Derys I found interesting, and detail them for public ■^H^- AMUSING AND HISTORICAL. ^l benefit. The daughter-in-law of Joseph Dery said her father-in-iavv was the first, except sportsmen and Indians, who had ever been to St. Raymond ; a little pathway throuc^h the woods was their inroad. He started to find the River St. Anne, which runs through St. Ray- mond ; he found his walk very fatiguing from Lorette, and arriving at the Cape, under which runs the St. John railway now, was delighted to find he was nearing his destination. He named the hill Cap Joyeuse, which name it still bears. On wishing to see the first cabin he had built, she said, by recent surveys, it would be situated in the middle of the river, as the waters of the St Anne river had gradually washed the bank away. The end of the first cottage built is still extant, every plank used in it being sawed by hand, and the portrait of Mr. Joseph Dery hangs on its walls. Iv r,4 OLD MEMORIES ST. AUGUSTIN, AUOUT 15 MILES WEST OF QUEBEC. I do not know that I ever heard much of St, Augustin in my earh'er days, except as the resi- dence of Mr. Gale, an oldtime school master, who fixed his residence there, and taught many of the (after) prominent men of Quebec. His wife, a prim httle lady of wax-doll complexion and flaxen hair done up in frizzes, was quite a character as well as her husband. A very kind- hearted little lady she was, with a peculiar gift of hospitality, and her cakes and home-made wine were of wide renown. Mr. Gale had a taste for antiquities ; a small museum, in great part con- tributions of curiosities, the gifts of his admiring scholars, was one of his cherished parlor orna- ments. His was a school of the ancien regime, but in its best sense, though religiously a day was ap- pointed for the pulling out of teeth, those for .'lA/O'S/A'U .hV/J lUSTOKlCAL. U administering sulphur and molasses and other time-honored medicines, happily or unhappily exploded. Nevertheless, Mr. Gale's was a thoroughly comfortable home, and his students had a true regard for himself and good wife, testified often in later years by his anciens clcvcs constantly sending him contributions of rare articles to add to his collection. €6 OLD MEMORIES I \ ?T. ANDRK— NEXT PARISH HELOW KAMOURASKA. " In the (hiys when we went gipseyin^j a lonj; time ago." About seventy-five years ago or more a wealthy Englishman, John S. Canipbell, came out from the old country and commenced a large business in lumber and ship building at the part of S\;. Andre called Pointe Seche. Here he built a beautiful residence with every luxury and ap- pliances then known, splendid walks in the shrubbery, beautiful gardens, and even a resi- dence for a physician, as at that time there was a great deal of ship fever, and he employed a great number of workmen in his ship building and other mercantile business. He brought out his wife (with her lady's maid), who, accustomed to society life, must have been indeed startled at the contrast of her surroundings, for here she was virtually in a wilderness. It is true that, previous to the railroad from Quebec to the 11 ? AMUSING AND 11 IS TO RICA/.. lower ports, these same villages had much more life in a business point than to-day, for then all travellers stopped at the wayside inns, and there being no facilities for going or coming from Quebec, the shopkeepers who brought down in their schooners goods at certain seasons of the year did a fine business, and reallx' large for- tunes were made by many : an apt illustration of the truth of the vulgar old proverb, " that what is one man's meat is another man's poison," for tile railroad, which is such a boon to the farmers and those bordering its route, has proved utterly destructive to the old-fashioned inns and shops on the old route, for the tr.msfer being solely by vehicles, a regular influx of travellers was expected and received, thus giving life to the village and current cash. Mr. J. S. Campbell and his lady becoming after some years thoroughly disgusted, aban- doned the place, and st) swiftly, I many years after, about forty years ago, found a book be- longing to the family in the disused ilining- room. 1 heard from one of the f.imily to-day who own this lovely property now, and use it as a summer residence (Mrs. Rankin of Dor-