Trafalgar School - Echoes Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

Page 30 text:

Sii«l) were llie (laiif erH Hiirroiiii(liii the life of llie firHt inliahilanlK of Ville Marie, wliicli the sculptor, Phili[)p)e Hehert, has repreHeiiled at Uie coriiern of tlie MaiHonneuve monument in Place (FArmes. This monument is well worth study by all those who are interested in the early days of Montreal. Standinjii; on the pedestal is Maisonneuve him- self, proudly holdinfj; the hanner of France. Afiain he is shown defeatin} the Iroquois near this very spot. Other essential fiffures in the early history of Montreal also appear — the Associates of France who made the foundinfi of the ( ity possible; the little (iroup as they heard mass on the shore the day they landed; Jeanne Mance, who established tlie first hospital, Hotel Dieu; Major Lambert Closse, who had the military charf e of the town, and, underneath his arms, his dofi, Plotte, looks out — a wornderful watch dog who once warned the little garrison of Iroquois lurking in the woods. There is also another hero of an early battle, Dollard; and finally an Iroquois, representative of the tribe to whom these colonists owed most of their trouble. Let us leave the monument now and examine the square more closely. Come first of all to the south side of Place d ' Armes and look at the ancient seminary erected in 168.5 with unwrought stone from the fields. It is the residence of the gentleman of St. Sulpice — the first clergy of Ville Marie. Shut off from the rush and clamour of the street by an ancient stone wall, this bviilding with its quaint belfry and clock tower is a favourite subject, for artists, as is the old gateway in front. Nowhere else in the City does one get such a striking contrast between old and new. To the east of this we see the square towers of the Parish Church of Notre Dame. Across the square for more than two centuries there has issued from its doors a religious procession in all the splendour of gorgeus garments, with smoking censers and banners waving in the wind, to bless the homes of the Faithful. Across Place d ' Armes, too, there passed to this church the great funeral of Marguerite Bourgeois, whose name has come down to us as the foundress of the first girls ' school in the City, and who shares with Jeanne Mance the title of The Mother of Montreal . But the saddest scene of all in the French history of Montreal was enacted in Place d ' Armes in 1760 — the year following the defeat of Quebec. For here the morning after the capitulation of the City to the British came the French regiments, one after another, and laid down their arms. The square was the official centre of the little settlement of the olden days. In it stood the great Gadoy ' s well where everyone came for water. Across it strode the French governors of Montreal to their chateau — the Chateau de Ramezay. Nearby was the old (jourt House, and, to the east, the City Hall now stands. What changes have taken place since the time two centuries ago when it was unsafe to venture along St. James farther west than McGill Street! The history of the square is the Hlory of the rise of Montreal to its present national greatness, to which the great biiihlings which now surrouiid it hcur witness. On the north side stands the Bank of Monlr ' al now one of the inosi |)o verful institutions in llie world. The interior, with its huge ((dunnis of s did green granite, is noted for its imposing architectural beauty. |2){|

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THE TELEPHONE There it goes again — Perhaps this time for me? — Someone calling Mother Asking her for tea. It looks so very innpcent Lying there so neat, You ' d never think it had the power To bring one any treat. This time sounds important I ' m sure it is for me — I ' ll sit here with fingers crossed, And then just wait and see. Yes — it was for me — but oh It ' s more than I can stand, Just some careless soul again. Some lessons to demand. Again the merry jingle — A most insistent ring — I ' m absolutely certain Excitement it will bring. Now I feel so happy, You can tell it at a glance. Because that special person, Has asked me to the dance. Frances Gyde, Form Va., Barclay House. PLACE D ' ARMES PLACE D ' ARMES is the historical centre of Montreal. Here stands a statue of the City ' s Founder with his flag outstretched to take possession of the soil. It was virgin forest in the time of Maisonneuve, when, on an evening in May, 1642, four little vessels cast anchor near the bank of the St. Lawrence. These ships contained the settlers who laid the foundations of the village of Ville Marie, later to become the commercial metropolis of Canada. Then the square became the site of the old parish church; next a public park with fine trees and lawns; and today it is an asphalt-paved square in the heart of Montreal. The square itself is named in commemoration of Maisonneuve ' s feat of arms in one of the raids of the hostile Indians. During a sortie made by the French the Indians came on in svich numbers that the retreat was given. Maisonneuve found himself svirrounded, but he faced his foes without flinching. The Iroquois chief sprang forward to bear Iiim down, but Maisonneuve grappled the man and managed to shoot him. The attacking Indians fled with the body of their chief — and the City was saved. [27]

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Flankino; it on the east side are the Trust Companies and on the west, the Banque Canadienne Nationale. The square has seen peace and war, prosperity and depression. The Fleur de Lys has given place to the Union Jack. The pageant passes and is gone. French soldier; Iroquois warrior; cardinal; fur-trader; banker and merchant — each has passed on his way and has left his trace on the grey old square of Place d ' Armes. Mary Mitham, Form Vb., Ross House. READING THE NEWSPAPER Well now, how many planes were lost today? Is Russia fighting still against the Hun? What news of France or farthest Mandalay? One airman lost, and he was someone ' s son! We sunk a ship that carried Jap supplies. The Indian news is serious, here they say. Save gas for planes; no car trips, I surmise. Send books to speed our soldiers on their way. The weather forecast says there will be rain, But sunny weather will quite soon be here Buy Victory Bonds , and buy and buy again For then our freedom will have novight to fear. This page presents a joke, the next a map And here a page of summer clothes is shown A coat, a dress, a little coloured cap. Then here ' s a poem on the Victory Loan. What ' s on at all the theatres tonight? A comedy on army life abroad — A man reported missing in the fight Is safe at home, the message was a fraud. So now I fold the paper up and sigh How old to-morrow all this news will be ! Not much is gained and yet, I wonder why The paper read, the day ' s begun for me. Pamela Irvine, Form Va., Barclay House, [29]