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The Editor Abroad

The Editor Abroad image
Parent Issue
Day
28
Month
August
Year
1863
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Parker House, Boston, ) August 19th. 1863. ƒ Dear Argus: By a somowhat " winding way " wo have found oúr Way to t.his " city of Notions," or as Boston literary men are apt to think " lmb of tlio universe ; " and before starting out to " see the elepliant1' will " drop you a line" from our tetnporary abode in tho 5th story - to'o high up by about tijree fiights of stairs. OUH START. We left the goodïy city of Ann Arbor on the 4:45 train, Monday afWnóófi', August lOtli, en route for we hardly knew where. At Detroit,, we met Messrs. Crittcnden and Westfall, of Jackson, and the Messrs. Batchelder and ladies of Ypsilanti, with whom we traveled as far as Toronto, C. W., which place we reached at 6 A. M., of Tuesday morning, and whcre we seperated frem our travelipg companions and laid over for the day. - Since that time we have not been fortúnate enough to meet a singlo Michigan man, tbuugh we find largo numbers registered at all the hotels at which we have stoppcd. AT TOEONTO. Toronto is a well built city of about dO.000 rahabitants. The public buildDgs are massive and fine. Wo especiully uoticed tlie niarket, over whieh is St. Lawrence Hall and lbo city offieers. - We have seen no such market building in any city in the Ptatos. In oür fan dom rarables about the city we found our way into College Avenue, a broad street )nrdered on eitber side with rows or rather groves of evergreens, maplcs, and other forest trees, under which all along were soats ior sojourners. Pursuing this -ivenue for half a mile or more we entered Kings Park, and wandered for an bour or more tbrougb its shady walks - Fronting the entrance, mounted upon granito bases were two cïnnons, 68poundcrs captured at Sebastopol in 1854, and presented by Queen Victoria to the city of Toronto. On one side of the Park we noticed the really elegant buildings of the University of Toronto, but as they were clofcd at that houï we can not speak of interior. We also visited Osgoode Hall, the headquarters of the oourts and lawyers, and a beautiful building. DOWN THE ST. LATVRENCE. Leüviog Toronto at 4 50 P. M., we passed along the banks of Lake Ontario, through handsame country to Kingston, at the lower end of tlie Lake, wbicli place we reached at 12.20 A. M., and laid over for a ride down tho St. Lawrenco by steamer. Left Kingston at 6 A. M., and our gallant steamer was soon itiding through the labyrinth channel f the " Lako of a thousand lies." - These islands stud the faeo of the lake on all sides, and the scène is really enchanting. Going on we pass Ogdensburg and Prescott, the only two towns of any size bt'Uveen Kingston and Montreal. Near Prescott is pointed out the windmili and ruined houses, land -tr.nrks of the rcbellion and invasión of 1838 ; anc some distanee bclow the battle field o! Ohyler's Farm, where - the " Guido Book " says - the Americans got worstei in tho last war. We soon approach the apids and our staunch crapt is dnshing iko mad through the boiling waters. - ,'his exciting scène is repeated at the jong Sault rapids, at the Coteau de Lac, ind fiually at the Lachine. Before passDg these last rapids au Indiau pilot was aken on, whoso eaglo eye and steady latid guidud our cruft safely through. The curreut and counter current break ovor the soaroely hidden rocks, sending the spray over our decks, and the tlighest variation iro.n the narrow ehannfl would dasli us to pieces. ]5ut the passage is nade and the steamer g'ides into smooth waters, and fapt approachcs Montreal wbich has for sorao timo boen visible in the distance. Ascemling tbo river tlio steariiei avoid the rapids by passing throujh a serie3 of cariáis. This rido dowa tbc St. Liuvrence has been the most interestiiig and exciting part of our joarney to tliis placo, and wc advise our travelitig friends in this direotiou not to inibs. AT MONTREAJi. At MonteMl at 6 P. M., aiul tal;c quavters at the Ottowa House. Next da)', in cornpany with threo Cliicago gentjerw-wheso acquaintance wo have been fortúnate enough to r.iake on the steamer - wc inako the " grand tour 'y of the city marked out for all visitors, that is rido around the mountain, to tbo Cemciery on top, etc. The public buildings of Montreal aro numerous, wotttire, and e)cf,':irit. Among thoso ve "isited were :. tho Frenen Cathedral, a Gothic structure capabie of seating 10,000 to 12,000 persons. Tho princ pal windowS of the Cathedral is 32 feet broad and 64 feet ligh. The English Catbedral is a beautiful structure. We also visited tho Gray Nur'nicry and hospital attaohed. The neatly sorubbed floors, comfovtable beds, and cheerful attendants, must certainly make this a desirable home for the unfortunnte sick. Were in at the chnpel at noon service of tlie nuus - a novel exercio, at least to us, In the Place Jacques Cartier stards a cohimn erected to the memory of Lord Nelson, surmountcd by a statuo of tho oíd hero, and goarcfed by two large cannon taken in ono of bis engagements. It was flrectod in 1808, only thrce years after the death of Lord Neleon as been allowcd to gö somewhit into decay. We cannot even ment ion tho many buildings worthy of note, tlie beoutiful squaro, &O. The quays, Iiowever, must not bu forgotten. íliey are built of solid limestone and probably unrivalled in America. And the Tubular Bridge. Tn entering the city we pnssed under this preat wprfcj and in departing through it. Built at an expense of $7,000,000, it is a testimony to the ónterprise of Montreal and the Grand Trunk Rarlway. The bridge is of 23 spans of 242 feet each, and a center one of 330 feet. The tube is iron 22 feet high and 1G wide. It is a tnumph of engineering and meobanioal skill. Montrcal has a population of about 70,000 and is the lnrgest and most important city of the Ganadas. lts narrow streets and sueh old fashioned, low buildings, make it present a singular appearance to the eitizen of the States. TO AND AT QÜEBEC, At 4.15 P. M., Tlmrsday, Aug. 13th, took ears for Quebeo. Por about 70 miles we rode through a beautiful country, settled by the first Frcnch emigrants and inhabitcd by their dcseondauts, as their low, steep-roofed iïamo houses, ueatly whi'. e-washed frotn ridge of roof to ground, and their farms say forty rods in width on the roads and three or four miles long amply tcstify. Long rows of these houses could be seon skirting the waon roada on either side of the rail road. Ileached Quebec at 11 P. M., and by the street lights could see that we had entend a walled city. After waiting two hours or moro suceeeded in getting a bed on the parlor floor of the Russell House. Amotig our fcllow lodgers was a jolly Irishman, a Parliamentary reporter, vho w uld teil stones and keep laugumg mtil our sides aohcd. However, we went to sleep in spite of Lis yarns aud got about two bours of rest. Comraeneed our morning rambles eary. Vis ted the French Cathedral and the Parliament Housi, the former a fine omlding both interior aud exterior, the latter wortby of no special note. After breakf'ast our party took a carringc and proeecded " to do the town." Our first visit was to the Citadel crowuing the heights of Capo Diamond. The citadel fortifications embrace an area of over 40 acres, and the barracks will nccommodalc a large forco. It is garrisoned by two regiments. It lays nearly 400feetabove the river, aDd around its baso skirts the "lower town.'' Guna bristled at every point, and soldiers werc engnged iu drill. The views froin the ramparts estends some 50 miles up and down the magnificent river, and covers a broad estent oi country. From the walls is seen the spot where the gallant Montgomory üttetnpted to suale the heiglits and surprise the garrison bv entering through tho windows to tho officers quarters. Looking down from the walls or up from tho river it does not seem possiblo that he could expect to succeed, and jet we doubt not he would have done so that there liad not been a failure to co-operate by tho Plaitis of Abraham. From the Citadel we dovc to tbe Plaius.of Abraham, and stood upon tte battlc field where Aioutcalm wasdefeated and Canuda was lost to the French. A monument mat ka tho ppot where the bravo Wolft: feil and died ; just by is tho j welt froni whieh water was brought to qnench bis tbirst ;, and yonder, marked by flag staffs, is the cove at wbich be landed his iorcea. Wo tread upon historie ground. ï'roin the Plains of Abraham wc Jrovo down tbrough tho narrow, precipitons streets of the city, across the St. Citarles, and out to tbt? Watifül Falla of Mountmoïeney. Slany marks of antiqnitj weve pointed out by the way sido, tho residenco of General Montcalm, an old i chureh 225 ycars old, &e. The drive was a fine one, and gave many bcautiful views in the beigkts and vaüi'Vd skirting the St. Jjawri'-.ieo. One could woll spnnd a week in Quebec. lts like is n.yt found in AmcriBt;, bat our timo was limitcd, and our notes are covering too much paper. TO THE WIIITH MODNTA'INS. At 4 P. M., we tüok cars for Gorham, the nearest eastern place Ot' approach by rail to Mt. Washington, the highest peuk of the White Mountainá. Eeached Gorham, the Alpine House, and' a' bed at 2 A. M., Saturday. Awoke with the early morning to look out upon the aát mountains before, behitid, ai:d above us. At 9 mounted top of stage ior Glen House, 8 miles distant, at the vcry base of Mt. Washington, and froni whieh the carriage way takcs a winding start to the summit. After a few rods ride was pleased to cschango my aristocratie seat - tbc top of a trunk - for a seat in the buggy of a passing gentleman, witli wbom we èujoyed a delightful iïdo th'rough the valley of tho Pea body. Reacbing the Glen ITouse, we, - that is ourself and one of the Chicago gentlemen before referred to, the otliers having fallen out by the way - took coach for the mOuntöïQ summit, which we reached , aftor a circüitous ride of four hours, áud eigbt railes. This carriage way has been built at an expenso' of $80,000, and renders the attainment of the mountain top as easy and safe as the approach of your Observatory. As Mt. Washington is the Mecca of all' Pilgrims to this section, the receipt3 for toll are by no means trifling. Eacli passenger in a carriage pays 80 cents, the carringe a toll besides, and each foot passenger a toll of 32 cents. The road winds around the raountain, doubling on its track, exhibiting the foklings of a serpent, borderod continually on tho upper side by precipitous heights, and on the lower side by yavniing depths. As we ascend tlie foresl begin to show a smaller growth of trees, and; when about 6 miles is told vegetation has run out, exuept the inoss close and tenaciously to the rocks. The summit reaebed tlio view well repays the pilgrim. Mountains, and lakes, and rivers, and ponds, and villages are seen for 00 miles around, and even the shore line of the broad ocean is pointed out. It is a natural panorama worth looking upon. ITaving dined at the Tip-Top House, and thus feasted the stomach as well as the visión, we eommenced the descent, making it in about IJ bours, passing and meeting in our way coaches, carriages, equestrians and pedestrians. Tarrying over Sunday at the Glen [ouso with about 250 others, we rcewed our pilgrimage on Monday mornnL. And we might say here lliat we had a cold rain in the valley Sunday afternoon, while at the same time visitors to the mountain witucssed a hail and snow storm. At Gorham we took the 9.30 train for Portland, and at 2 P. M., reached that )c;iutiful city. Tuesday we took a sail lown the Bay - Casco - which forms one of the best aud safest harbor on the Atantic coast. The Bay boasts of 365 slands, and stopping ac one of them - Dushing - we enjoyed an invigorating jnth in the " salt sa." At 7 P. M., we took steamef for Bos,on. Soon we ware out of the harbor, and for the first time, at Sea. We jaced the deck for awhile, snuffing the ocean breezo, and to our state room and ;o b( d, to awake and fiiid oursclf moored along side of one of the noble wharves of Boston. Having had hard work and little rest since leaving home, we are " laying up" to-day, and henee our readers are bored with this first and, perhaps, last, epistle.

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Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus