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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1896-12-18, Page 66 p Ninlos.el$ ;! otA - -aate rVfLla8ere•-*. EVERY FB'UDAY 11EOBNI G ail( et x he earl mane) t ti a lee p D m y 1 "Tbe Peet" Stearn J,'006100g KRIFSM. s T. R ON T. Sr„ B Asgg>; , Q Teams or flnne(RI3Tr0N.—ODs dollar a year, itr advan00. The,1date to Whfoh every subsoripti0u ie nail is denoted by the date on the address label, anemagxeleet Ramos, -,The following rates will be charged to th08e Who advertilie by the year;— ar.400 1 Int, I o m0, I a m0 One.Oebunu $00.00 800,00 $20.08 Salt 4 0 80.00 20.00 e Eighth r Quarter '' I 12.00 18.00 0.0We Eight cents per lino for first insertion, and three dentser line for each subsequent in. serti013, All advertisements measured as j`Ionparoil-121Lnes to the tu0h, Business °arcs, eight lines and under, 80 per annum. Advertieemente without speeifio direc- tions, will he inserted until forbid, and charged accordingly. Instructions to (Mange or disoontinue an advertlsemontmust be left at the counting room °Marc P080 not later than Tuesday of each weekThis is imperative. W. R. F.IEKR, Editor and Proprietor. The Settlement of Huron. No more entertafuing book has ever been written abort early life in Britfeb North America than "In the days of the Canada Company," by Robina and Kath. leen M. Limes. No attempt, the authors tell us, has been made at historical writ- ing ; their work is certainly not a history book, bop it moat assuredly is history of a far more rare and preoious kind than the chronological record of events which usually goes by that name. There will be many histories, and good histories too, given to the world before another series of euoh vivid piatures of the very lives of men and women who made history in a formative period of a country is present- ed. The authors themselves were, we should say, not themselves a part of what they tell, but from their cradles "the story of the settlement of the Huron tract" has been a sort of epia listened to, if not told, with glowing and sympathetic imaginations, and they have written it, preserving all the picturesque form and warm color with which it had been in- vested, partly by the memories of those who composed it, and partly by the im- agination of those who told it. Allowing, however, for the effects of the charmed magic casements from which the pioturee are made, the men, the events, the coun• try and the time, were in reality highly picturesque. The authors have beeu fearlessly frank in setting forth all that is most striking in the character and lives of their heroes and heroines ; very muah ae Henan tells everything about the gods aid goddesses, as if they were apart from, if not above, the blame or praise of mortals. Nothing is extenuated and naught set down in malice ; the best of everybody is enthusiaetioaliy displayed ; and the worst is told with simple straighforwardnegs ; there is pathos that deepens to tragedy, which, though not passed over, is not dwelt upon ; bat the humorous view of men and things is the one that prevails in this book. The beautiful, piot❑reeque and impressive in the natural scenery of the Huron tract, both as man first found it and as it re- mains, are sketched with much poetic feeling and power. The authors have read widely and in some rare directions, and each allusions and illustratious as are drawn from this source are freeh and unhackneyed. The opening chapters will, we fear, repel many readers ; they are the only hard reading in the book, though they have been by no means very easy writing. Once past these first chapters the reader will be sorry every time he is compelled to lay down the book until be bas finish- ed it, and having finished it he will re- read the first chapters over again for the pleasure be will then find in them. While the purpose of the authors is to pioture the characters and lives, the in- cidents and events, the time and country whish together makeup the story of the settlement of the Huron tract, and not at all to give an account of the Canada Land Company, either vindicatory or condemnatory in its conclusions, a olear and we should say a fair idea of the nom - many and its work for good and evil is conveyed. John Galt, the Scotch novel- ist, had been cue of the commissioners appointed to inquire into the state of the reeoarcee of Upper Canada by the Gode- rich ministry. Galt's imagination was fired by what he beard of the possibilities of the province, and he pictured in his own mind a fair Canadian country in. babited by prosperous families enjoying the importance and dignity of country families in England. With the energy and activity which characterized him, he formed the Canada Laud Company, and, eating with good judgment on hie know- ledge of the country, selected the Huron tract, oomprieing roughly the area now composing the oounties of Huron, Perth and Wellington. With the title for over a million acres of land in his pocket and a capital of about a million pounds for its development at his back, he sailed for Canada. The company was to construe roads and bridges and establish means of communication, and by advertising their lands in 'England and Scotland sell and gabble them. With Galt sailed Wm, Dunlop, who had killed tigers in India, and had already acted a beroio part as an army surgeon in Canada in the war of 1812, He knew the country pretty well and the work required in a pioneer set. element as he built the road from York 10 tee naval port of ?mustang, on the Georgian Bay. He was appointed Warden of Forests, his duties being very vague, unless they were that of a sort of land pilot who oould guide people all over the province. Charles Pryor, another Sootoh friend of Gait's, was nominally Ilia seoretary. An office was opened at York, sketchy maps of the treat prepar- ed, sites for towns and ports chosen, and paths, not always very direct, leading to them blazed through the woode. Where the path Grossed a river, and the situation seemed picturesque, a town site was laid out ; where a river joined the lake and anything like a natural refuge for vessels offered, a port was laid out. Tarot the airy nothings thus given by the romanoist and poet a local habitation and a name actually developed into the towns of to- day, le eurely evidence that Galt, though imaginative and romantic, was praotioat and aaKeeioau. Guelph elle bad ite birth with spma peFara n Y befitting theo Werk 0 f 2 t sif and a pop on pt, George'e day, � , few Menthe later in, the tame year Dun, lop chow the Gita of Goderloh. The pea- ple of Goderioh need 29 explain the un - h t Plan ht wast at ani able of the town w qh p a , 'o urt 0 s odor a web with an ogta'On p R af. p lionev plot for a ventre, and srgebt radiating frome angle, lut r opted Y streets following in a general way the sides of the optagon, by 408102in,; that the plan wag prepared by the Canada Company in England for the inland powu of Guelph, wbioh it would have pulped, while the one -aided plan of Guelph was intended for Goderioh, but that on the way out the plans spmohow got ex. changed and went to wrong, destinations. That there was acme oonfueionis pertain, for this book reoorde the fact that the English direotore of the company express- ed their desire that the town named Guelph should be palled Goderioh ; the confusion 1e not yet at an end, for the authors of thle book' sometimes refer to the founding of Guelph when Goderioh is meant, Stratford and Galt were also founded in the same arbitrary fashion ; Port Pranks did not materialize Bay - geld, like Topey, was not made, but "just growed." Galt first reached Goderioh by going to P0netang,,on the Georgian Bay, and there belting a .government ves- sel which was placed at hie servioe. A year later Dunlop, accompanied by John Macdonald, the surveyor and draughts- man of the company, and by Major Strickland, brother of 'Mrs. Bloody, al- ready settled near Rice Lake, who deter- mined to join in hie friend Galt's en- terprise, and was appointed engineer and bridge builder, started to lay out a road and build bridges connecting Lake On- tario with Lake Huron at Goderioh. Ooe Van Ilgmond, a veteran of Napo- leon's grand army, now a friend of the settlers who was later to lay down his life for the cause of good government in the Maokenzie rebellion, contracted to clear the roadway of timber and under• brush and stnmps and to lay down corduroy roads where neceseary. Thus the Huron road was built. On the ex- pedition there was an uninvited, unwel- come companion, Smith, an accountant sent oat by the directors to ascertain bow Galt was spending so much money. Dunlop and his comrades, like all true pioneers, were schoolboys at heart, and did their work as well as welcomed danger wills a frolic, and they made the accountant's life a burden to him by their practical jokes at his expense, on one occasion nearly frightening him to death by hiding and imitating the bowl- ing of wolves. Galt quietly made pre- parations to go home and anticipate the accountant's report by one of his own, but the a000untant, becoming aware of his intention, suddenly started for Eng- land, leaving his work half done, tobefin- ished by Galt, who was thus prevent- ed from leaving. The accountant's report resulted in Galt's withdrawal, but not until Galt had two American accountants audit and report upon hie management to his complete vin• dicatiou. Galt's successor was an Irish- man, Thomas Mercer Jones, and ae Galt's staff had been Sootoh, so Jones' was Irish, his right hand man being John Long. worth ; they were known as the Trish gang, in oontradiati❑otion to the preced. ing Scotch clique. Galt and Dunlop were men well known in literary and social circles both in Edinburgh and London, and their idea was to convert the beauti- ful Huron tract into a sort of English paradise where cultured men of means might enjoy the possession of fine estates, living the lives of English country gentle- men. Having the command of the press and of snob periodicals as "Fraser's" and "Blackwood's," and even the "Times," to which both Galt and Dunlop were eon- etant contributors, they romanced about the country to such effect that barristers of London, writers to the Signet in Edin- burgh, doctors and other professional men, half pay officers and cadets of good family, and even a baron or two, with their wives and families, packed up their eight-day cloaks, their mahogany side- boards, their pianos, as well as their brooaded gowns and dress clothes, and embarked for Huron, where they took up anywhere from four or five hundred to a thousand sores of land each. Their say- ings and doings, their joys and sorrows, their troubles and misfortunes form the theme of this book. There were also happily Sootoh and Irish tribesmen, driven from their lands by degenerate chieftains, and more happily, too, low- land Scotch and English farmers; later a German colony arrived. Maps adver. Heed the Huron tract in England as a country traversed with roads, leading to market towns and to lake towns with harbors in wbioh rode a dozen ships at anchor ; while winding rivers dotted with mill sites, and spanned by bridges at convenient intervals, meandered over the surface. Tbe settlers expected to find all these on their arrival. Galt intended to realize all these plansat once, and bent all the energies of his regime to that end. But the work was costly, and the direct- ors, looking for returns from their invest- ments, received bilis and drafts instead. Hence the change in the management, the retirement of Galt, disappointment and embittered, and the appearance of Jones, with Longworth and the Irish gang, known after as the ;"Kings of the Company." Their idea was to do noth- ing in the way of public improvement that they could avoid doing and to geb as much as could be got from all actual or intending settlers and from the govern- ment as grants for publio Worite which could be stamped or delayed, or possibly not constructed at all It is not to be wondered at that bitter enmity toward the oompany grew and strengthened as the hardships of the settlers grew stern, owing to the absence of roads, bridgee, mille, as well as lack of winter tranepor- tatfon and communication with the outer world, whioh made provision and sup. plies of all kinde rise to famine prices. The company flourished, however, under the new regime, and had many friends aronnd them in Goderioh town and town- ship ; nerves the Maitland river, in Col. borne, lived the Saotchrnen, friends of the Galt administration, but later the bitter enemies of the company. The eooial jealousies and political fights of the Colburne and Company cliques are recorded "In the Days of the Canada Company." It was a good day for the settlers, and not an altogether bad one for the company, though an expensive one for Canada, when the company's claim was extinguished. _ The company paid a fair speculative pride for the lands, bat they did not give in public Improve. menta what they promised, and they ren- dered harder' the lot of the eettlere fro Huron by holding the lands at too high T +U$'SELS POS` prigo% and tine preventing eettlament mid the improvemonte that 00010 with 1 sett amet. n The endeavors of these gentlemen Oct - gore of the Roma tract to Wear their IMO farms, till their lands and build their ho s were ta d.ad ky s orfs of Fncia uts dangetone, disheartening, t ko tragical, but most comical when lop d beak upon from Sole dialan0e, Theire1L log hpusee, built an the scale and after the fashion, as far as passible, of English mansions, were mostly too big to alto- gether finish, Tellies,' as nelleiehed castles were palled, were numerous. The flret sheriff of Huron built a house with euoh epaoioue room that, though there were great hearths at either end of one room, there used to be in winter good eliding on the foe between them, and be- ing built e•ing.built of green timber, there woe, ao- (lording to neighbors, good sleighing in the house during the second winter. Col. Luarcl, It, A.., a +military' and° fashionable dandy of London, who don.' ned the red flannel shirt and tetra of the pioturesquo settlers of his day, stood in a tub when chopping down . trees on hie farm, so that the axe might not, es it often threatened to do, bark his shins. Two young men, after spending their morning settling their traps in their new log house, started in the afternoon to clear off the bush, and after :haoking till evening,euooeeded in chopping down one tree, which fell aorowe their house,emash- ing it into smithereens. They did not think anything about the direction the tree would fall in when they were chop- ping it. Potatoes were a favorite crop, and more than ons settler who sowed hie own, sowed them broadcast, and was much grieved over the small results ; one who did go was induced to buy some razor.baok pigs because told they were grass pigs, wbioh had only to bo turned on to a meadow to fatten. When told by a neighbor that his pigs were in his pota- to patch just freshly sown, he said it was no matter, they were grass pigs, and would not harm the potatoes. Another settler would drive nothing less imposing than a four-in.hand of oxen, of which he was very proud, though they were so lean they would have fatten, the neighbors said, had they not been yoked together, and once he offered a lift to a woman who was carrying a gnarter of mutton, but when she got on 1t was found the load was too great for the double yoke. The wives and daughters seem to have been capital housekeepers, and to have had no trouble at all with their part of the work except when there wee no provision to cook. In spite of all the drawbacks of their surroundings, they made brave and not altogether un- sucoeesful efforts to maintain the sooial customs of 'home,' Their big hooses were fashioned to this end, and dinner parties and belle were given quite fre- quently, though perhaps there was not a constant round of them. And the con- ventionalities and proprieties were strict- ly insisted upon.; one stickler for proprie- ty finding that the young ladies in her charge were not provided with gloves at a dance, heisted upon their wearing woollen mitts ; if there was ice en the floor they might not be so much amiss. The children perhaps enjoyed the life most. Sobools for a long time there were none, and tutors and governors generally proved failures, se they mar. rigid and settled down to other occupa- tions. The youngsters were always 011 the lookout for adventures with bears or wolves, but though they sometimes got lost in the woods over night, and sometimes when belated on their way borne from town or a neighbor's, by snow storms or aeoident, none were at- tacked or molested by wild animals. One evening a mother waiting the return of her ohilaren, heard wolves howling and fighting over something in the di. reotion her ohildren were expected from. The howling died away, but her heart sank, for it was past the honr,for the ar- rival of her children. They name, how. ever, later, and probably got a "good aoolding," and next morning went to school as usual along the same way. The children made friends with the Indians readily, and were always well and even oarefulty treated by them. There are one or two romantic stories in this book. Ooe of these is the life of Loris Oadotte, a half-breed, who visited England as a sort of Wild West orator, and was made a eooial lion of, and re- turned with a wife, an English girl of good family, who became einfatuatsd with him. Cadotte quickly descended to the Indian mode of living on hie return, and his clattered wife bore all the hard- ships of wigwam life among the Indians ; though Boon disillusioned and deeply re- gretful, she refused to leave her husband ; she gave her life teaching the Indian children of the camp. Cadotte ill-used her during her short life, and then spent the remains of his own long life mourn- ing her. Romances of the ordinary kind were frequent among the settlers of the Huron tract, who married and gave in marriage in spite of all the hardships of life. Some terrible stories of . tragedy there are, too. Herbert Pickup, a twelve-year old boy, was drowned at Preston. Singers, public speakers, actors, auc- tioneers, teachers, preacher's, and all who are liable to overtax and irritate the vocal organs, find in Ayere' Cherry Pectoral, a safe, certain and speedy re. lief. A timely dose of tbte preparation has prevented many a throat trouble. A. COUSLEY, Real Estate 86 Loan Agent, - Brussels. Money to Loan on Farm Secur- ity at the Lowest Rate of Interest. Money Loaned on Notes and good Notes Discounted. Sale Notes a Specialty. Fire & Life insurance Written. Special Attention given to CONVEYANCING. A. CO..USLEY, Office over Deadman & MoCall a Store, BILUSSELS. Wanted -An id,+f f1jggpp It PN our idep the W 14e0v tJpyntlf w14D6 i#1�ml 0 Ya b0rl a Pyp a0 REweEetI o4hr . dltOAWQ Irdne0OQd WYOA80 p1Wp52 alter SPECIFIC FOR SCROFULA, "Sipco childliOad, I have been afflicted with scrofulous bolls and sores, which caused. me terrible suffering, Physicians were unable to help lite, and I only grew worse under their caro, At length, I began to take AYER'S Sarsaparilla, and very soon grew bet, ter. .After using half a dozen bottles I was 'completely cured, so that I have' not had a boil or pimple on any part of my body for the last twelve years. I can cordially recommend Ayer's Sorsa.. parilia as the very best blood -purifier in existence."— G. T. It]INIAltT, Myersville, Texas. ER'S TBE ONLY WORLD'S FAIR Sarsaparilla Ayer's Cherry Pectoral cures Coughs and Colds . 4' iINQIGEST)ON,61ZZINESS.. Riip7l'ONS'0NTHE, sic !AL BEAUTIFIES,'COM o'LEXION.- An Agreeable Laxative and NERVE TONIO. Sold by Druggists or sent by Mail. 200., 50o., and 01,00 per package. Samples free. J(NO The Favorite TOOTH POWDER 0 for the Teeth and Breath, 200. Sold by d,1S. EOX, Drltsstat, ttri88e18, Fill up the Baby' w Stocking �4rN To clear out our stock of Toys and Christ- mas Goods, to make room for„other lines, THE POST BOOKSTORE WILL Surprise ITPTUH Bargains Haven't room to mention prices. Bankrupt stook of Photo. Albums to be sold at less than original Dost to clear. Metal and Tin Toye, Balls, Fire Arms, Wash Tube, Knives, Paints, Dolle, Tope, Games, Drums, Brooms, Whisks, Books, Tin and China Mugs, Shaving and Toilet Sets, Dishes, Magic Lanterns, Rocking Horses, Sleighs, and a 1000 and 1 other articles. No Reasonable offer declined for Toys, as stock must be cleared out. THE POST BOOKSTORE. Wanted—An Idea Who can think or some [Ample thing to patent? Protect your Ideas- theyy may bring you wealth. Write JOHN WEDilaRBORN es CO.. Patent Atter, nays Washington. D. 0., for their $1,18 D 0 t prize otter and hat or two hundred inventions wanted. LDES ES s? THE LUXURY OF SECIIRIT! 1e IPOUNI) SN Dr. LeRoy's Female pills. Tho only reliable and trnetlrortby pro. •'1<eciiva rowdy ever! Went, isc rami fornil Irrg.. daritior ofthote,nnlueyeton,. Sealed circular free. Pilsen per hex of druggists, orbyeat1 securely sealed on r°ielpt aortae. LeRoy Pill Co. Victoria St.. Toronto, Can. Sold In Brussels by JAS. FON. DR. C-Bvsl'S THE ORIGINAL KIDNEY PILL KIDNEY= LAVER b THE ONLY KIDNEY -LIVER PILLS PILLS T. Dawson, D winger Standard Slink, Brad- ford, Qat„ says. Chasea Kidney -Liver Pills are a grand medicine for the Kidneys and Liver. W. F. CAartlan ,,a MV.C:1011 88, Toronto, re. lireeentinl, MOntr al Sony. says,Chinas Pill, act la magic for the relief .f ban 1 ache bilious attack and constlpntfoa Sold eVeryrvhort, or by mail en rersIpt of prko, to 00M2188011, OAIE8 ,1 00, 45 LOMBARD 80. 72501020, 1170. NEW ut�her SVo�I The undersigned has open- ed up a Butcher Shop in the SMALE BLOCK, 9 IMS, where he will keep constant- ly on hand a supply of the Best Meats Procurable, sold at reasonable prices. A share of public patronage solicited. r'vr. IL EER.: Meat delivered to all parts of the town. Me. 1S, 1:890 PAINTING! The undersigned are prepared to attend to all branches of Painting, including House, Sign, Carriage and Ornamental Work. Paper Ranging, Halsomining and Decorating neatly and prompt- ly looked after at mod- erate Prices. Wo make a Speoialty of Manufacturing and planing in position First -Class Awnings_ Orders left at our Paint Sloop, formerly used by Messrs. Boddick & Wake, will be attended to with. dispatch. Paper Hanging Orders may be left with Messrs.Deadman & Mc- Call. • SAMPLE BEOS.,. PAINTERS. FALL VVINTER • We keep in stock and supply everything in Coal and Wood. Stoves, Tither Parlor, Box or Cook. First-class Furnaces From best Canadian Manufacturers, and Warranted to work properly. TINWARE OF ALL KINDS. Plumbing promptly attended to at Reasonable Rates. Lamp Goods, Lanterns, &c. Orders Taken for Coal. WILTON & TURNBULL Stove and Furnace ✓lfen, Brussels. Confederation Life, of Toronto. Established 1871. Fa 5• m m �� cam 00-0 o0 O r O N 0 000 00 0 0 The Policy Contract issued by this Association is perfection itself, UNCONDITIONAL, ACCUMULATIVE, AND AUTOMATICALLY NON–FORFEITABLE, It leaves nothing further to be desired. Bates and full infor- mation furnished on application. a. SERE►, Agent, Brussels. A Business to be Popular Must be broad guage in its methods. It must admit the . intelligence enof h cc the buying public, and endeavor byevery hon- orable means to establish confidence between itslf van 1 that public. The buying should be right and the selling just. The rich and poor alike should be treated with courtesy and con- sideration. This business is building up on these lines. OUR SPECIALTIES. Lamp's, Silver Tea Setts, "The Queen" Razor, The "Out of Sight" Mouse Trap, The latest Tracing Wheel, Carpet Sweepers, Powder, Shot and Shells, Knives, Forks and Spoons, Cow Ties, Axes, Saws, Lanterns, &c. CASH FOR FURS, HIDI3S AND SHEEP SKINS. American and Canadian Coal Oils. A.. M. Call and see us. McKay. HARDWARE MEROHANTS. BRUSSELS.