Demeules & Laramee, Proprietors; E.R. Dufresne, Editor

(Minneapolis French Newspaper, Published from 1885 to 1929.

Translated by Bill Horn, Assisted by Kathy Horan-Grambsch & Jackie Demeules Hofhenke)

Minneapolis

Voter Registration

On Friday and Saturday voter registration takes place in each ward of the city. It is unnecessary to insist among our compatriots the importance of registering in order to exercise voting rights and vote on April 7.

Yesterday evening there was an assembly of French Canadians of the 3^rd Ward, presided over by M. C. Marchesseault. It was unanimously decided to support the candidacy of M. Eichorn for councilman. This position by our compatriot of the ward was taken to revenge the defeat of M. William Bourret and is fully justified under the circumstance.

We all hope that in this constituency, those who succeeded in depriving us of our rights, trampled us under foot in the previous election in the person of M. Bourret will pass heavily next week for denying the rights of our nationality. The will not flee and we wish them good heart.

In the matter of M. Cantieny, found guilty at the last criminal court of this city of murdering police officer Laughin last summer, judge Koon refused Saturday to accept a motion of the guilty man’s lawyer asking for a new trial. Consequently, the sentence was pronounced against Cantieny condemning him to seven years in prison will have full effect. The prisoner was conducted to Stillwater last Monday

M. N. Egslerton, tailor of Minneapolis, was arrested Saturday in St Paul on the charge of bigamy.

We record with pleasure the following property sales made last week in this city by some of our compatriots:

M. F.X. Crepeau sold lots 9 and 10, block 29, the Crepeau addition for $1200.

P.G. Lamoreau sold lot 19, block 9, second Baker addition for $8000.

L.F. Allard sold lot 7, block 10, in the Moter Line addition for $1300.

Translator’s Note

The April 1, 1885 issue of The Echo had several articles about the recent uprising in the Northwest Territories of Canada led by a Metis, Louis Riel. He started one in 1869, for which he was exiled to the US, and his father had organized one in 1849. The present issue illustrates the fear of many Metis of Western Canada regarding the potential loss of their land claims and rights through coming incorporation into the Dominion.

From about 1850, the French had become a minority in Canada. In 1867 a Canadian Confederation was formed to include Quebec and be taken into the British Commonwealth. Editor’s Introduction

We reproduce below as published in the Evening Journal of this city last Thursday the fanciful assessment here about Riel and the causes of the present insurrection of Metis and Indians of Northwest Canada. [This article appears as written, in English]

“I regard Riel,” said Mr. J.H. Hubbard, of Winnipeg, in the city today, “as a man of very little ability, but he has been kept up by the same influences that led to his former rebellion. He is looked up to by many of the full breeds, as we call them there, as a leader, and it is to work these through is influence, that Riel is made a toll by the same parties who controlled him in his other outbreak. I assure you, that certain religious powers are at the bottom of the whole trouble. Riel is made the tool of the church potentates, who expect to gain certain measures by the course Riel is pursuing. But he cannot be successful. His act is more suicidal to himself than the first rebellion. The country he has taken a stand in is against success. Prince Albert is an out-of-the-way place, with no country to fall back on, and so situated that he cannot cross to the American frontier. The outbreak cannot be otherwise than short lived.”

Evidently, Mr. J.H. Hubbard of Winnipeg, visiting Minneapolis last week, has a very strong francophobe, he wants to chew Riel at all costs and plant injurious doubts about the religious authorities of the Northwest by placing them as the inspiration of Riel, the instigators of the present troubles for interesting purposes.

We reckon that Mr. Hubbard is wrong in both cases at that he fails peculiarly on the intentions of “the church potentates” of the Northwest. Where are the proofs of these advances? He has given none; it is because he has none. More than that, arriving from Winnipeg, he supposedly knew both Riel and “the church potentates” about whom he speaks, he was supposed to know that Riel is deprived of capacity, talent and merit and that “the church potentates” in question have or ever had intentions and perverse, anti-national which he ascribed to from improperly in a newspaper of this city.

As for the connivance of the religious authorities with Riel in the present insurrection, no longer ago than last Sunday, the telegraph carried the energetic protestations of his Grace the Archbishop Tache, of St. Boniface, against the insidious insinuations of correspondents of the J.H. Hubbard type.

Is this not proof of the base partiality and the greater blind ignorance to, assert now that it is these same religious authorities of 1869 and 1870, are today troublemakers in the Northwest?

As for Riel, he has already proved to the English that he is not, as Mr. Hubbard says, “a man of very little ability”. We would love to see Mr. Hubbard face-to-face with Riel in the place of the insurrection, perhaps he’ll find the occasion to change his sentiments about the ability of the chief of the Metis. If Riel were really “of very little ability” the government of Ontario would not have put a price on his head after the insurrection of Fort Gary, Winnipeg, in 1869-70. As well, would the government of Canada have condemned him to ten years exile after that insurrection?

No. Riel is not a man worthy of the scorn that his enemies increasingly deliver to diminish him and weaken the cause he defends today. We do not assert by that to approve the uprising of the Metis not pleasing to God, nor to justify the means Riel takes to obtain the settlement of the concern for one doesn’t cure a social ill with a larger social ill, but we want to show that Riel is greater than his enemies who are tracking him everywhere like a wild animal since 1870 and will mark his name in the history of his country as the emblem of heroism and love of country. We know he will be judged severely in connection with the present insurrection which unfortunately threatens to become more serious and pressured in all manner of ways by the powerful Hudson’s Bay Company. A general uprising occurred in 1849; another Riel was at their head, the father of present day Louis Riel. They forced then, their oppressors to grant them the commercial freedom which had always been refused them. That first uprising was heard all the way to the English parliament where sympathetic voices advocated the legitimacy of their cause and obtain their justice.

We learn with pleasure that M. Edmond Beaupre has again joined as clerk in the service of M. Hall, the popular merchant of tea, etc. at City Market, generally know as Hall The T. Man. M. Beaupre is well known to the Canadian public and has a right to count on the benevolent patronage of his compatriots..

The Literary Club of Young French Canadians of Minneapolis

The next meeting will be 3 April at the usual place. The club which from its beginning seemed to have numerous difficulties stays strong and today maintains the high standard of the program it embraced. The Wednesday meeting promises to be very interesting given that there will be discussion, singing and declamation, etc. All the members and friends of said Club are cordially invited to be present.

A.J. Vinet, Secretary

Deceased

We regret to announce the death of Aurelie Fleurie, wife of M. Pierre Gauvreau on 26 March. Madam Gauvreau was 37 years old. She succumbed to a cruel illness of four months. The consolations of religion eased her suffering and the anguish of her final hour of departure to a better world. She leaves to morn her loss eight children and an inconsolable husband. The funeral took place last Sunday afternoon at Notre Dame de Lourdes.

At the Church

A young girl espoused to an old man – for his fortune, of course. “How bent over he is” said someone speaking of the man. “That” responded his neighbor “is to make it a marriage … of inclination”.

To Rent

For rent, sale or exchange for property in St. Paul or Minneapolis, two fine stores at the corner of Fourth and Churchill in Stillwater, presently occupied by the meat market of Joseph Papineau and the grocery of E.G. Lemoine.

Trouble in the Northwest

For eight days the insurrection of the Metis and Indians of the Northwest has taken on a character more alarming for the power of Canada. It is said that (Louis) Riel is well armed and at the head of a strong contingent of Metis and Indian warriors. The insurrection widens every day and threatens to become general among the native tribes and blood has already flowed, a fort has been taken by the insurgents, Fort Carlton in Saskatchewan. The excitement is intense throughout Canada, especially in Winnipeg. The military authorities are on the alert and hastily organizing the defense. Several thousand regulars have already gone to Fort Qu’Appel under the command of General Middleton and every day new detachments are sent west. We await an engagement soon with Riel’s forces.

The latest news arrived at Ottawa yesterday, announcing the savages intoned their war chant and assembled to the insurrection.

The authorities of the railroad, The Canadian Pacific, have organized a battalion of 500 men composed of company employees to protect their property at different stations in the neighborhood of the forces of Riel.

Lord Melgund

Lord Melgund, Secretary to Lord Landsdowne, Governor General of Canada, passed through the city last Sunday en route to Manitoba. He turned to the siege, by order of the Canadian government, against the Metis insurrection. If we are to believe the accounts of the reporters for the American journals who had the favor of an interview, the noble Lord has no grave apprehension on the subject of the impasse in which England finds itself in the Sudan, the Indies and the Canadian Northwest. All are no more than minor matters and, in sum, the English lion has nothing to fear. Alas … so much the better.

{Translator’s note: In January, 1885, Khastum in the Sudan fell to the Mahdie empire. The defending Anglo-Egyptian force including General Gordon were killed or captured into slavery.]

News from Canada – Quebec

It is noted that in one month 100 Canadian families from diverse districts of the province left for the US, Northwest and the Pacific Coast. A regrettable fact is that most of these Canadians preferred the US, mostly Illinois and Wisconsin. The agents inform us that a number of other families intend to leave soon.

Sir John A. MacDonald has expressed his conviction that the urban terrorists (“les dynamitards cosmopolites”) were the authors of the attacks on the Parliament of Quebec last summer. The fact is that they feared them to be the malfeasants at the time. In Ottawa, the parliamentary buildings are prepared; guarded, the police are on foot day and night and all those who enter, especially with packages, are observed. The surveillance is more strict than ever such that it is practically closed at the beginning of the session. Evidently, the authorities have serious information and are not at all reassured.

M. Riel and the Metis (From “Le Manitob” of March 10)

From dispatches from Prince-Albert transmitted to journalists in Winnipeg, we carry the news, sensational news, that Monsieur Riel, at the head of the Metis of his district are preparing an uprising to which will be added participating Indian (“Savages”). The English population, they say, asks for arms to defend in case of attack.

If this news isn’t of the nature to cause an immense injury to our country by making us believe we are in a constant state of rebellion, we aren’t paying attention. But like foreign journalists who rush to report the preceding, we believe it our duty to say it is no trouble to apprehend the Metis of the Northwest. It is true these exist among them malcontents, who are in most cases there for legitimate reason, but the federal government occupies itself seriously with the cause of their complaints in promising to remedy them as quickly as possible.

Now that there is some agitation, assemblies, even violent discourse, the solution is possible. Some individuals believe they can’t obtain justice unless they shout, plead and lament. That’s their way. But, from there to a rebellion, that’s too far. The thing was so beyond ridicule that it is impossible to believe that we friends of Lower Canada wouldn’t have the least idea of compromising on that point, in sending advice for those who ought to know better.

Demeules & Laramee, Proprietors; E.R. Dufresne, Editor

(Minneapolis French Newspaper, Published from 1885 to 1929.

Translated by Bill Horn, Assisted by Kathy Horan-Grambsch & Jackie Demeules Hofhenke)

[New front page advertisers]

W.F. Scripture. Furniture and home furnishings. Superior quality with prices that defy all competition. M. Frank Thibeault, our Canadian colleague who is experienced, urbane and speaks French. 23 Bridge Square

W. C. Leber. Jeweler and watch specialist. 208 Hennepin Avenue

Bardwell, Robinson and Co. Doors, Frames, Shutters. Factory and Warehouse. 2^nd Street and 24^th Avenue North. “We invite French-Canadians to patronize our establishment.

[The continuing serial story “The Daughter of Street Hawkers” (not translated)]

Minneapolis

We send today with the present issue of L’Echo de L’Ouest a supplement in English with all the Minnesota law passed at the last session of the Legislature. This is an important document which all readers will without doubt wish to keep.

M. Carrier, distinguished lawyer from Quebec has for several days visited Minneapolis with the intention of establishing himself here. We wish our compatriot the most open and cordial welcome, and the success which his brilliant professional qualifications do not fail to assure him.

M. Edouard Huot, merchant of Polk County, is in this city on commercial business.

We greatly regret to learn that in the recent municipal elections of Dayton, Minnesota, where our nationals are a great majority, none of them were able to win a single office. Our compatriots of Osseo had more luck. They were able to elect M.E. Lefebvre, Treasurer and M. Jos. Saucier, Assessor; we cordially congratulate them.

The condemnation before the criminal court last Friday of the notorious Madame Burner for purveying for vice, has been received by a cry of joy and relief by all the honest population of this city. The process has unveiled a bloody wound: the extraordinary degree of depravation which it has rendered to the morals of our milieu. So we ought to rejoice when our courts of justice curb and condemn vice and crime everywhere it shows its head and separate from society the hideous monsters that corrupt and sully the reputation of our city.

The frequenting of “Roller Rinks” is strongly censured by the ecclesiastique authorities of the diocese, and for cause. The atmosphere of these places of amusement became the rage in Minneapolis since last summer are not always the safest, not nearly, and are even very dangerous for good morals.

The French Canadian public has learned, doubtless with pleasure, that M.R. Lacroix, already with forty-five years experience in the business of dry goods and having all the qualifications for a sales assistant, affable character, and the proverbial politeness of French-Canadians. Our compatriots are thus happy to find him at the counter of MM. Ingram, Olson & Company, which counts among its personnel one of us, our sympathetic and esteemed M. O. Lancetot.

Injustice Consecrated By Time

How $50,000,000 is accumulated under the French Reclamations called the “French Spoilage Claims” We read in the Tribune of this city:

“Last January 14 a bill was passed in both chambers of Congress authorizing the payment of what is called “French Spoilage Claims” to those claimants who could provide their case before a court instituted for the purpose in referring to this bill and taking count of the fact that certain citizens of Minneapolis found themselves among those interested. The Tribune printed a resume of the events leading to the claims and their subsequent history.

[The above is explained in a lengthy report from the Minneapolis Tribune. It refers to US claims for recompense from France in connection with American Treaties with France during the Revolutionary War. These presumably would compensate French-Canadians losses to the British government for citizens later migrating to the USA. Congress on several occasions voted to demand the money, but never got anywhere, sometimes being vetoed by the President.]

Municipal Election

As announced last week in our newspaper, the general assembly of Canadians of the 3^rd ward took place Monday evening with the purpose of informing themselves and organizing to ensure the nomination of William Bourret, worthy in all regards to receive that honor as candidate for the post of alderman of the ward. Bu unfortunately, as always, despite their efforts, our compatriots failed in their intention.

That’s a most regrettable fact.

Next Friday in the evening there will be another general assembly of Canadians of the same ward in Hunts’ Hall, Plymouth Avenue, to plan and discuss the choice of those candidates that our compatriots of the ward ought to support, [Presumably from among those successfully nominated.]

It is the time and the occasion to do an act of patriotism and show their strength and assert their numbers to obtain that to which we have an indubitable right. The other nationalities show us the example in their sphere of action, let’s not lag behind.

Last Saturday evening took place the Republican caucus to elect delegates to the convention held yesterday at Market Hall to make the choice of candidates for alderman and administrate offers: we have remarked with pleasure that several of us have been elected delegates among others M. Louis Laramee, Zepherin Demeules and T. F. Riviere in their respective wards.

At yesterday’s Republican convention the following were chosen:

For city Treasurer – E. H. Moulton; for alderman – 1^st ward, H. E. Blaisdell; 3^rd ward – C.H. Woods; 5^th ward – Thomas Downs; 6^th ward – Lars Swenson; 5^th ward, short term, Phineas Phelps; 8^th ward, long term, George W. Cooley; 8^th ward, short term. E. C. Babb.

Musical Soiree

The grand musicals and dramatic soiree given last Thursday by the French Canadian ladies at Market Hall, was a true success from the artistic point of view, if one can say, unfortunately the auditorium was short on attendance. That was due, in some measure, to an organizing done in haste, and also, let’s says in all frankness, the public impression that the amateurs involved were not strong enough for their program. But, we must say hastily that the impression was wrong and furthermore fanciful, for the young novices all acquitted their roles and tasks with a high degree of perfection and the anticipation of the less trusting was agreeably mistaken. We offer as proof that the applause and cheers that saluted each of the artists when they left the stage after playing a role or executing a part.

Mademoiselles McDonald and E. Blais with their pure fresh voices full of melody and richness of tone, charmed and enlivened the listeners in the song “I am a Merry Ginger” and the ballad “Jeanne d’Arc”.

The piece “Madelaine, Orphan of the Pyrenees” was a wild success; and those who came to the event with a preconceived idea of indulging in melancholy and being in the doldrums, had cause to brighten up at all costs. All the actresses rendered their parts in superior fashion. Mademoiselle L. Bessette, especially, playing Mathurine the farmer’s wife had an irresistible effect.
The tableau of the Four Seasons, burned by the fire of Bengal, and that of Jeanne d’Arc on the pyre, could not have been represented more naturally and with more perfection.

In total, the soiree was as charming as could be and we congratulate the artists who provided so delicious a time.

The participants: Misses H. Hall, M. Lavigne, McDonald, B. Dufresne, G. Kady, A Marchand, M. Bessette, A. Blais, A. Cyrien, M.L. Florant, E. Blais, L. Bessette, and G. Kady.

The telegraph brings the rumor this morning that the Metis and Indians of North West Canada are in full insurrection under the command of [Louis] Riel.

[Translator’s note: Louis Riel (1844-1885), famous French/Irish-Indian, i.e. Metis, succeeded his father as an acknowledged leader of dissident Metis in the Northwest Territories over home-rule issues, especially the fear that Metis land rights and titles would be lost through incorporation into the Dominion. This last rebellion ended with Riel’s capture and execution.]

Musical Soiree in St Paul

The musical and dramatic soiree given last Thursday by the French Canadian artists of the neighboring city for the benefit of St Vincent de Paul is marked as a good and great success. We are happy to say, at the same time deploring, the hall was too small by half to accommodate the crowd that appeared at the doors.

Artists in the musical program were: Mde Bastien Muckey and the ladies Olivier, Mde Demeules, Jr. and Miss E. Demeules and Misses E. Langevin and Emma Pepin.

Miss Bussy Leclaire recited a poem about Vincent de Paul.

The actors for the comedy “Country Aunt” were Misses E. Demeules, Ida Dufresne, E. St. Aubin, A. Chanson, S. Demeules, L’Evequ and Gervais. Those in the farce in one act “L’Avocat Patelin” were E. Greget, A. Martin, Z. Quesnel, T.O. Dufresne, LaBelle and Berthiaume.

.Obituary

Madam Mathilde Tremblay, wife of Honore Robert, of Osseo, died 10 March at the age of 53, embraced by all the success of the religion which she had faithfully followed all her life, following an illness of six weeks. She left to weep over her passing a husband and three mourning children among whom we count Madam G. C. Delauriers of that city. Madam Robert was the aunt of Madams Alfred Menard and Z. Demeules of Minneapolis.

The mass was chanted by Rev. Father Decker. Madam Robert was universally esteemed and cherished in the parish for beautiful feminine qualities of wife and Christian mother. May she repose in peace. We offer the family our profound regret and sincere condolences.

[A good example of how things were written at the time]

Demeules & Laramee, Proprietors; E.R. Dufresne, Editor

(Minneapolis French Newspaper, Published from 1885 to 1929.

Translated by Bill Horn, Assisted by Kathy Horan-Grambsch.

Additional translators for this project would be appreciated.)

[Display Ads]

W.F. Scripture, furniture assures Canadians that they have a French speaking clerk, Frank Thibeault

W.C. Leber selling watches and jewelry

Big Boston, selling distressed apparel

Bardwell Robinson, maker of doors, frames and shutters. French Canadians are urged to shop here.

[Following is a list of 50 short entries for “compatriots” engaged in business in Minneapolis. These names appear with their trade or occupation and address]

G.E. Matile, J.B. Bottineau, T.L. Laliberté, Dr. P. Marchand, J.B. LeRoy, M.J.B. LeRoy, Louis Laramée, Demeules & Co., Elmina & Alice Blais, Charles Marchesseault, Caron Bros., Alphonse, Leblanc, T. F. Rivières, O. Lanetot, A. Lacroix, Theophile Davis, Raymond Bernard, P. Trepanier, Louis Desrosier, J.A. Pagé,B. Bloch, Paul Roy, Octave Leblanc, Cyrille Perras, Joseph Faubert, Peter Houle, L. Tuscany, Chs. Blanchette, Olivier Boisclair, Jos. Longtin, Geo. Frenet, L.A. Henault, F. Beaudoin, Frank Lanetot, Joseph Marcoux, Paul Mosseau, E. Thibodeau, Léandre Taillefer, A. C. Labrèche, John Larue, Marcel Guimond, Raymond Lussier, X. Larose, Archiles Bourget, M. Healy, Bernard Mousseau, Octave Duperré, Felix Blais, Solomon Cyrier

[Next follows four colums of a serialized romance “La Fille des Camelots”, author not given. A Camelot could be a street vender or a member of a militant royalist group. Your translator skipped this]

[Notice: These people are authorized to sell subscriptions to l’Echo in their localities]

M. Antoine Gelinas, Dayton, county of Hennepin, Minnesota.

M. George Gamache, Andover, county of Day, Dakota Territory.

M. Joseph Lachance, Ladington, Michigan.

M. Joseph Saucier, Osseo, Minn.

M. Joseph Sauvé, Rice’s Point, Duluth, Minn.

M. T.A. Gagnon, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

The efforts of general [retired] Washburn to increase the appropriation for the construction of a Post Office in Minneapolis to the amount of $500,000 have been crowned with success. The Honorable Washburn’s proposal was approved Monday in both houses of congress and $110,000 is made available for the immediate recommencing of the work on the construction.

We regret to learn that M. Joseph Davis, deputy customs collector in St. Vincent [French island in the Caribbean] and brother-in-law of M. Louis Laramee, is dangerously ill. His brother M. John Davis of the city left yesterday to see him. [These two Davises were the great, great uncles of CGHSM member William Horn. Despite their Welch name, the Davis families had been in Montreal for many generations and were thoroughly French Canadian.]

Z. Demeules and Larence Tuscany recently bought four lots adjoining the property of Ste. Clotilde Church for $3800. It is a very advantageous acquisition and we congratulate them.

The health of General Grant [president 1868-1872] declines rapidly. If one is to believe the latest reports, his days are numbered.

It is rumored that “dynamiters” [we would say anarchists or terrorists] from the U.S. under the famous O’Donovan Rossa, plan to raise five regiments to go into the service of the Mahdi combating the English in Africa. The English would probably not be upset to see them in the depths of the Sahara Desert. [The Mahdi was the leader of an Islamic regime in the Sudan warring against the Anglo-Egyptian government. The Mahdi was successful, but his successor’s army was destroyed twenty years later by an Anglo-Egyptian force under General Kitchener. The remark about the English wishing the supposed O’Donovan Rossa force tied up in the Sahara probably meant “and out of their lair in Ireland”. I doubt the force was ever organized and, of course, it was to be in the Sudan, not the Sahara.]

French-Canadian Democrat Club

Last Sunday, members of the French-Canadian Democratic Club of this city assembled at 119 Nicollet Avenue to elect officers for the current year. The result was:

President, Joseph Faubert, 1^st V.P., Aimé Provost, 2^nd V.P., R. Narcisse Beaudette, Secretary, Felix Lambert, Asst. Sec., Joseph Hameli, Corresponding Sec. J.B. Botineau, Sergeant-of-Arms, Edmond Thibodeau.

After some remarks by the new officers, a vote of thanks was offered to M.J. Cousineau, retiring president of the club for skillful manner in which he fulfilled his assignment and the effective work he did in the last campaign.

Full of hope and confidence, the club will recommence to work in the interests of their political party.

We regret to learn of the premature death February 25 at Chambly Bassin, P.Q. Canada, of M.E.E. Scheffer, formerly of this city, and brother of our esteemed compatriot and assistant store keeper at Demeules & Co. …

Grand Banquet and Gala

The grand banquet at the West Hotel last Saturday offered by the citizens of Minneapolis for the members of the Minnesota legislature, was, we must say, not less than royally splendid. [West Hotel was on the southwest corner of Hennepin & 5^th street and torn down in 1940.] The immense hotel, flooded with electric lights, flaunted with sumptuousness the richness of the decoration; the marvels of culinary art displayed in the dining room; the freshness and brilliance; the marvels of the ladies dress; the elegant crowd circulating in the golden corridors; the dancing to the chords of the orchestra Dantz; this atmosphere of joy serene and noise at the same time; presented an arresting sight, the most enchanting, the most magical to be seen.

The legislatures, all except twenty-eight members, Governor Hubbard at the head, the officials and the guests from neighboring towns, formed an attendance of 800 people, composed by half by members of the fair sex.

At midnight the splendid Féte came to an end, all returned to silence at the West Hotel, its guests of the evening carrying the memory of the most brilliant reception one could ever see west of Chicago.

There was a proper soiree to make our legislators forget the cares of the present session and to request their strength and courage for the next one.

But the moral, one can’t forget: it is that, in the future, they will turn their sweet eyes toward Minneapolis and not accord all to St. Paul …

For example, it might no longer permit the good sister city St. Paul to extend its limits to the extreme west as they have just done, but will however, be able to give them full liberty to extend around Pigs Eye. [I’m unsure I have this territorial fight correct, but St. Paul apparently grabbed some area from what might have become eastern Minneapolis.]

Tickets for the concert of Les Dames Canadiennes Francaises on 19 March in the Market Hall are on sale at J.P. Gilmores, 105 Central Avenue.

Notice

Next Monday at the usual hour and place, the French Canadian Association will hold its regular meeting. All members are encouraged to attend.

A.H. Trepanier, Corresponding Secretary

The Literary Club of the young French-Canadians of Minneapolis … [skipping entry about new procedures]. The public presentation for March and April will be “The Expiation”, the moving and sensational play which promises your attraction and attention. M.J. L. Marcoux was named director and no one doubts we will have a brilliant success.

[Letter to the editor of Echo de l’Ouest from:]

Lake Linden, Michigan 23 Feb 1885

Monsieur the Editor:

Your patriotism for all French-Canadians provides us, I hope, the pleasure of adding to your columns the election results for offices of the Society St. Jean Baptiste of Lake Linden for the next half year. [Results followed]

Editor acknowledges and his remarks include: that the group continues in their mission under the glorious banner of the great St. Jean Baptiste, that their union becomes closer, healthier, more powerful and that the rough combats of life in their country of adoption, become tor them easier and more profitable.

Reception and Evening of Music

On Monday, Mr and Mrs Charles Bennard gathered at their residence, 528 Nicollet Ave, about fifty of her friends and acquaintances to welcome Mr & Mrs Louis Laramée on their return last Thursday from a long sight-seeing trip in Canada and the western States.

Her apartments, decorated with taste, with flowers, fine drapery and seasonal ornaments presented a ravishing sight and invited the most open gaiety. In the corner of the salon, a starred flag and the tricolor [French flag] enlaced, married agreeably the national colors of Washington and Lafayette, a delicate attention by the Bennards, provoking the approval and vivacious thanks of the guests.

One noted among others in attendance: Mr & Mrs W.H. Chamberlain; Mr & Mrs. William Bourret; Mrs & Miss F. Lavigne; Dr & Mrs J. Marcoux; Dr Rainey; M. Z. Demeules; Mr & Mrs Beauchamps; Mr & Mrs Rioux; Mr & Mrs P. A. Ginchereau; Mr & Mrs E.R. Dufresne; Miss Marie Bennard, Emma & Alice Blais, Misses Florant, Katie Chamberlain, E. Marchand, Marie, Laura & A. Bessette, T. Rodgers, M. Dufresne, Katie Rockwell, Marie Robidoux, M.A. Marcoux, Eugénie Laramée, Bernadette Dufresne, A. Florant, E. Cryrier, M. Beauchamps; M.F. Lavinge, son ….

At 9 o’clock the musical program followed, which was applauded excessively:

1. Overture vocal: “Home again.” Ordway Chorus, directed by Mrs. Bennard.
2. Duet: “Opera Martha,” Gottschalk.M. Lavigne & Marie Bennard.
3. Vocal: “Ave Maria,” Gounod, M. O. Lanctot.
4. Piano: “Il Trovatore,” Sydney, Bernadette Dufresne,
5. Solo: “Si tu Savais,” Balfe, M. Ginchereau.
6. Piano: “Le dernier suorire,” Wollenhaupt, Mamie Lavigne.Vocal: “La jeune Huronne,” Miller, Alice Blais.
7. Flute: “La fille du Régiment,” Donnizetti, Frank Lavigne.
8. Piano: “Boute en Train,” Ketterer, Bernadette Dufresne.Vocal: “Un Soir d’Eté,” Doane, Elmina Blais.
9. “Home Sweet Home,” Doane, Mamie Lavigne.

Several other pieces of music on the program were also executed to perfection by Miss E. Marchand, piano, Mr F and Miss Mamie Lavigne, violin and piano, songs by Misses Bessette and Florant, and above all a beautiful ballad by Miss Blais which literally lifted the audience. Miss Mamie Lavigne recited with great art a piece of light poetry in English.

[Translators Note: The guests of honor, Mr & Mrs Laramee were married in Quebec in 1870. They were my great-great grandparents.]

[The next item pertains to the problem of the Catholic Parish in Fall River. The bishop, called her the Swiss German, had refused Mass to certain French Canadians who insisted on a French speaking priest instead of the German speaker they were sent by said bishop. At this writing, the case is on appeal to Rome.]

It appears that the banishment on all by the Swiss-German at Fall River is to pervert the Canadians attention. Attention! Catholics don’t let yourselves be fooled by cynicism; stay firm at your post. Your faith is exposed; watch for the wolves. If you suffer persecution for justice, prove that you merit sympathy in standing from and always standing upright. Catholics forward brave people.

Deaths

In this city, this month of March, Philippe, age two months, infant of Mr Arthur Demers.

The Dynamiters of Chicago

Captain Mack, an inventor, affirms that Chicago is full of conspiring dynamiters. Canada is menaced as well as Canadian buildings in Chicago. [These were Irish Terrorists]

Alderman Election

We are very happy to learn that there has been filed in the 3^rd ward of Minneapolis a nomination for candidacy of our esteemed compatriot M. William Bourret for the post of alderman in the next municipal elections.

It is perfectly unnecessary to discuss the merits of his candidacy. M. Bournet is so well known here not only in the French-Canadian colony, but among the other nationalities. It is sufficient for us to recall that M. Bourret possesses all qualifications necessary for the task: longtime resident, honorable character, long business experience, an advantageous social position, possession of the confidence and esteem of his compatriots and other citizens of foreign origin. Consider these qualifications, which everyone recognizes as do we, we are certain.

The present duty of the French-Canadians of Ward 3 is thus to account themselves, to organize their forces to assure success of this candidacy which will certainly succeed if we show ourselves as true French-Canadians. In past years, apathy, indifference or ignorance of the electoral system, the failure to go in a block at the fixed time to the caucuses where the nominations are made, has been prejudicial, fatal. For the moment we fail to nominate our candidate in the preliminaries, all is lost. Don’t forget then when the time comes to get to the caucuses to assure the nomination of M. Bourret and then to vote in the general election so we can see the success of our candidate for alderman.

An Anti-Masonic Protest

A protest against the permit given to Masonic Societies to take part in the dedication of the Washington Monument this February 21 has been received by the Congressional Commission in charge of the preparations.

The protest had 13,000 signatures. The protestors say that the Order of Free Masons has no more right to this distinction than the Hibernians [Irish Catholics] or any other society. They add that a Priest sent by the Pope and destined for the monument was assaulted and thrown into the Potomac.

They ask why the Catholics are scorned while Free Masons are honored. Masonry is denounced in no uncertain terms, their officials, laws and oaths. The protest unfortunately arrived too late.

Varieties

A word from a Gascon [“Un mot de Gascon” - must have been an expression of the time]

A gascon fell gravely ill and was transported to the Hotel Dieu [This “Gods Hotel” means a hospital to the French]. A friend come to see him and says “Allow me to ask you if you are right with God”. Answer: Apparently since he gave me a room in his hotel.

Someone asked Mme de V on presenting her to the very proud and haughty wife of a foreign minister: Who is that lady with the scornful air? Answer: You don’t know her? She is Her Insolence the Marchioness of Z.

A vexed drunk says “That’s just swell! When I drink everyone sees it … and when I’m thirsty no one notices.”

Part of a dialogue: “Would you believe it? It’s now six months an idea has been on my mind.” Answer: “How unfortunate. It must have been bored being all alone.”

“Do what you ought to do whatever may happen”

Demeules & Laramee, Proprietors; E.R. Dufresne, Editor

(Minneapolis French Newspaper, Published from 1885 to 1929.

Translated by Bill Horn, Assisted by Kathy Horan-Grambsch & Jackie Demeules Hofhenke)

Translators Note: Following is a series of correspondence to and answers from the editors of Echo de l’Ouest. They involve the founding of another paper, Le Progres, in Minneapolis by a M. Paradis.

The colorful, critical and length language is a lost art. I’m struck by the general message about elevating the position of Canadians (meaning French-Canadians) in the community and the call for French-Canadian patriotism.

14 Jan 1885

Editorial

A French journal of this city, which bursts with announcing … and indulges itself fat holidays every full moon … announces pompously to its readers that l’Echo de l’Ouest is on the edge of falling in a ditch.

Alas! If the colleague [fellow editor] find the subject substantial and proper for him to save his existence, much good may it do him! But, if he awaits the disappearance of l’Echo de l’Ouest in order to publish his sheet, derisorily decorated with the name “Progress”, every two weeks or less each month to satisfy his numerous patrons, [advertisers], who overflow these columns and his thousands of readers, we predict to him that there will be many years to content himself with a regime of dry crust.

The journal in question also announces with a great sigh of relief, that M. Louis Laramee, one of the proprietors of the Echo, withdraws his support. That is a lying affront invested by the scrupulous and robust colleague. We are authorized to give him a formal denial.

[Follows five more paragraphs that shed no more light on the subject except that the editor of “Progres” has had previous journalistic failures]

14 Jan 1885

Correspondence

Minneapolis 16 Mar 1885

To the Editor,

A short space in your journal, if you please, for the following lines.

Last spring or about that time, the paper you edit passed through the hands of the two members of the ownership of the journal ”Canadian” of St. Paul. Yours was the only journal we had in Minneapolis. Several of our compatriots, highly regarded in this city and your humble servant, undersigned, believing rightly or wrongly, that the sale of l’Echo to the owners of “Canadian” meant its approaching disappearance, we resolved to found another journal to replace l’Echo. We wished to have a worthy French-Canadian journal and a couple of months later, “Le Progres” of Minneapolis made its entry into the world.

[Translators note: The idea of Echo being sold seems to have come from false information passed about by the future editor of the new “Le Progres”]

The “Progres”, yes readers, the “Progres” … which under the ferocious inspiration of J. B. A. Pardis ought soon to make all Canadians of the West into a race of giants by the fever of progress, no double meaning intended.

But what a farce we were playing, naming our paper “Progres”. We, who believed to have invented something more like a steam engine, we bore a ”crayfish” [i.e. one step forward, two steps back] and a crayfish of the most beautiful water. [?]

Damn! Well, it is not wrong to tell under the general management who calls himself “Bombast” J. B. A. Paradis, seven times founder and printer of journals as can be said truthfully of “The Canadian” of St. Paul [apparently he ran it at one time] having known our men berfore by his appearance and tarnish [signs of printers work?] … we thought him the size to move mountains, to scale the city, but look now, his is the opposite, rotten luck. We who thought to have put our hand on a veritable dynamiter, had only a pathetic firecracker, failed and raked [the French is “rate et rateau]. After ten months that he campaigned and bought like a partisan [a sans-culotte] in and for “Progres”, instead of advancing, he retreated, always retreats. Ah heavens, the “every dish” loathed [he wrote “vomi”] by his compatriots of St. Paul, excuse the expression, he found a way in the space of three months to make a tempest around himself and ruin forever our enterprise in carelessly spreading the fire of discord among the Candians of Minnesota.

[There follows five more paragraphs criticizing Paradis, his ethics and management.]

I greatly regret that the twenty in all shareholders, led as I was, by a feeling of patriotism when we founded “Progres”, into the lair of our crayfish, but that what would come has already arrived for a large number, and then snap! … General Boom-boom!

I do not hesitate to say that “Progres” would be in existence today if we had an editor who was capable “on principle” to make itself representative of Candian views.

Those who wish to buy shares of “Progres” can address their mail to me and I will let them have as many as they want at half-price.

Yours, etc.

J. Cousineau, sharehold of “Progres” of Minneapolis

14 Jan 1885

Editorial

The editor of “Progres”, despite what we have already told him during January, again insinuated last week that M. Louis Laramee has withdrawn his financial support of Echo de l’Ouest; the colleague (in the sense of a fellow journalist) ought at least to have taken the trouble to prove his assertion; the proceedings would have been more honorable and he would have saved himself the displeasure of again passing as a shameful liar.

Here is our response to the muddle-headed notable of the neighboring paper – let the public judge:

Minneapolis, 16 Mar 1885

(To) M. The editor of L’Echo

I’ve read in the “Progres de Minneapolis” 12^th of the current month, an article in which M. M.B.A. Paradis, editor of that paper announces for the tenth time that I have withdrawn my financial support of Echo de l’Ouest:; nothing more false (could be) advanced. Moreover, our journal has no need of financial assistance, the moral support it meets everywhere and the growing patronage everyday accorded to it is amply sufficient to assure its existence.

Your devoted servant

Signed Ls. Laramee, one of the proprietors of Echo de l’Ouest

[editor again]

Is that conclusive enough? And will the editor of “Progres” still have the nerve to keep saying what he knows to be false? He is, indeed, capable. The arguments are useless and we will not stop ourselves further to react to the thrusts of the colleague, who has practiced to the letter ever since he has been in journalism, the famous maxim of Prouder: “Lie! Lie! Something always sticks”.

The quibbling character disdainful pseudo-Canadien, who directs “Progres” of this city is well known by the public, has incensed provocations addressed to Echo de l’Ouest his malevolent attitude in regard to all that Echo has done here for our compatriots to all that tends toward the improvement of their position, since it has been in Minneapolis are well enough appreciated already, so we dispense with discussing them. They are all as real as harmful, as nasty, as lacking in patriotism, as those which we have just wiped out.

It is quite ridiculous to see this assassin struggle to pose as a champion of our rights, to make himself the defender of our institution, he who has done nothing but dirty with his malicious words, everything he touches, everything he encounters. His element, his principle is to foment discord among others, it is to destroy instead of edify.

If we have advice to give to our colleague of the Canadien of St. Paul and our correspondent today (J. Cousineau’s letter), it would be to leave alone this destroyer at bay.

.

Demeules & Laramee, Proprietors; E.R. Dufresne, Editor

(Minneapolis French Newspaper, Published from 1885 to 1929.

Translated by Bill Horn, Assisted by Kathy Horan-Grambsch & Jackie Demeules Hofhenke)

Subscription for Weekly Journal, 1 year $1.50, 6 months $.75

Minneapolis

Next Sunday at 4 pm. in the church of Ste Clotilde will begin the annual retreat for Christian mothers, which will end on March 27^th at 9 am with the Feast of the Very Holy Virgin. There will be at 9 am, mass and instruction and at 2:30 pm, instruction and praise.

Concert

The great vocal and instrumental concert in rehearsal by the French-Canadians of Minneapolis for the profit of Notre Dame de Lourdes will take place April 19. We are happy to learn that the organization of this concert is on a firm footing and promises to be a brilliant success. We will in the future provide full details of the concert.

The Rev. Father Pernin, priest of LaCrescent, Minnesota, visited Minneapolis on Saturday, the guest of Rev. Father Nougaret. On Sunday Father Pernin chanted the High Mass at St Clotilde.

The railroad line “St Paul, Brainerd, and Northwester” passing through Mille Lacs and Red Lake Falls will probably be built in the spring. The route to Red Lake Falls will make that place a most flourishing center of activity of the Northwest.

Free Canadian Job Placement

Business men, carpenters, masons, road workers will always find at this office experienced, sober and well recommended workers. No. 27 1^st Street South.

The musical and dramatic evening performance by the French-Canadian Ladies of the city will take place tomorrow in Market Hall as has been already announced. The program is most attractive and we expect a large attendance.

We have learned that M. F. C. Fortier of this city recently bought half the property of M. Valentine presently used as a meat market and has entered into partnership with the latter for this branch of the business. We wish M. Fortier every success which his qualities of good Canadian and good citizen merit him and at the same time, the encouragement of his compatriots.

Notice

Next Monday evening the 23 March there will be a general assembly of French Canadians of the 3^rd precinct at 7:30 pm at 206 Plymouth Avenue to take into consideration what it is advisable to do relative to representation from that precinct to the city council. The elections are approaching; is it time for the French-Canadians to organize, to see that their interests are seriously safe guarded in the elections. The assembly of next Monday at the time and place indicated above is precisely convoked to discuss their interests.

We are very happy to recommend the house P. H. Prendergast, Catholic bookstore, to the patronage of our compatriots. M. P. H. Prendergast merits in all respects the patronage of the public. He has for a long time been known for the worthiness of his business.

The Company of Pillsbury and Hulbert of this city is on the way to equip this city with the largest elevator in the West. This immense structure will have a capacity of one million and a half bushels. We are quite happy to learn that the contract has been given to our skillful and entrepreneurial compatriot M. Cloutier, pass master in this kind of construction.

Building Society Lafayette of St Paul [This would be a Savings & Loan Bank]

The election of directors and officers of the above society took place last Friday at a special meeting at the offices on Robert St. St Paul. The following were elected directors: T.O. Dufresne, L.N. Dion, L.O. St Pierre, F.X. Gravel, J.B. Olivier, A.C. Anderson, Adolph Poirier, Octave Savard, Zotique Quesnel, Alfred Dufresne, Louis Demeules.

The new directors then proceeded to elect officers for the current year: T.O. Dufresne, President; Octave Savard, Vice President; L.N. Dion, Treasurer; F.X. Gravel, Secretary; J.B. Olivier, Counsel. Examiners: Alfred Dufresne, Adolphe Martin, Louis Demeules.

Lack of space prevents giving a full report of the operations,. Suffice it to say that the financial state of this wholly French Canadian institution is most prosperous and does honor to our St Paul compatriots.

The musical evening tomorrow by the Ladies of the congregation St Louis in St Paul, in the church basement, promises to be a success. Here is the program:

Instumental Overture

1. Grand Concert Galop [a musical dance form] by Ketterer. Delles L. and E. Olivier.

2. Comedy “Country Aunt” by Aunt Peabody and her nieces Helena, Hattie & Miriam.

3. Instrumental Grand Concert Waltz ob Lieberg. Madam Bastien Muckey.

4. Vocal: The Huntress. Duet by Madam Louis Demeules and Delle E Demeules.

5. Instrumental: Minuet by Bocherini. Ferdinand Duleken, Delles E. and J. Olivier.

6. Vocal: A Bird Flies over the Sea by White. Delle E. Langevin.

7. Instrumental: Bard’s Prayerby Godefroy. Madame Bastien Muckey.

8. Vocal: Only A Dream by Delle Emma Pepin.

9. Comic Song by Z. Quesnel.

10. One Act Farce: The Lawyer by Patelin.

Our Travelers

The Canadians returning from Egypt arrived in this city Friday by the Northern Railway. Two to three thousand persons went to meet them at the station and escorted them to the Hotel de Ville where Mayor Cooke presented a welcoming address. The fanfare of the Union Musical marched at the head of the Column. All our river travelers returned in good health though fatigued by their long journey. It is fair to say they suffered a little from the type of food they had in the Sudan, but the travel was not too harsh even though they found the navigation of the Nile difficult and dangerous. The hardest part had been during that traverse. In sum, all appeared content with their voyage. [These travelers were probably members of General Wolsley’s relief expedition to the Sudan in support of General Gordon. They arrived too late.]

Demeules & Laramee, Proprietors; E.R. Dufresne, Editor; A. Davignen, Administrator

Office 105 Central Avenue E.D. Minneapolis, Minnesota

(Minneapolis French Newspaper, Published from 1885 to 1929.

Translated by Bill Horn, Assisted by Kathy Horan-Grambsch & Jackie Demeules Hofhenke)

A Directory of Addresses of our compatriots in business in Minneapolis

G.E. Matile, Lawyer, 34 Washington Avenue South.

J.B. Bottineau, Lawyer, Penee Opera Block Minneapolis.

T.L. Laliberté, Doctor & Surgeon, 105 Central Ave Telephone 162-2.

Dr. P. Marchand, 228 Plymouth Ave, Corner Washington Avenue, Telephone 495-2.

J.B. LeRoy, Doctor & Surgeon, 400 Cedar Ave, facing Scandanavian Bank.

M.J.B. LeRoy, Violinist, 121 Nicolet Avenue.

Louis Laramee, Saddles, 304 Nicolet Ave.

Demeules & Co., Grocer, 27 1^st Street South.

Elmina & Alice Blais, French Teachers, 506 Central Ave.

Charles Marchesseault, Blacksmith, Power buildings, Nicolet Island.

Caron Bros., Grocers, 738 Adams Street, N. E.

Alphonse Leblanc, Shop Clerk, 106 Central Avenue.

T. F. Rivieres, Pharmacist, 105 Central Avenue, E. D.

O. Lanctot, Clerk, Dry Goods Shop, 513 Nicolet Avenue.

A. Lacroix, Dry Goods Shop, 244 Nicolet Avenue.

Theophile Davis, Saddles, 304 Nicolet Avenue.

Raymond Bernard, Grocer, 5 Main Street S. E.

F. Trepanier, Business Man, 423 Nicolet Avenue.

Louis Desrosiers, Clerk, Clothing Store, 200 Hennepin ave.

J.A. Page, Shop Clerk, 107 Central Avenue.

B. Bloch, Clerk, Clothing Stgore, 204 Nicolet Ave.

Paul Roy, Clerk, Dry Goods Merchandise, 247 Nicolet Avenue.

Octave Leblanc, Painter, 1207 3^rd St. N. E.

Cyrille Perras, Carpenter, 10 University Ave S. E.

Joseh Faubert, Barber, hot and cold packs, 119 Nicolet Avenue.

Peter Houle, Rooming house and hired car, 59 Main St. S. E.

L. Tuscany, Salon, 10 1^st Street North.

Chs. Blanchette, Stone Mason and Cutter, 1163 11^th St., 12 Ave N.

Olivier Boiseclair, Constable, 47 10^th Ave. N. E.

Jos. Longtin, Salon, 25 Main St. S.E.

Geo. Frenet, Constable, 622 5^th St. N. E.

L.A. Henault, Saddler, 208 First Street North.

F. Beaudoin, Saddler, 304 Nicolet Ave.

Frank Lanctot, Butcher, 745 Adams Street N.E.

Joseph Marcoux, Clerk, Shoe Store, 209 Nicolet Ave.

Paul Mousseau, Constable, 335 19^th St. S.

E. Thibodeau, Clerk, Clothing Store, 204 Nicolet Ave.

Leandre Taillefer, Businessman, 843 8 ½ ^th Street N.

A.C. Labreche, Blacksmith, 119 1^st Street N.

John Larue, Painter, 2033 32^nd Ave. S.

Marcel Guimond, Constable, 1314 4^th St. N.

Raymond Lussier, Miller, Carpenter, 217 13 Ave. S.

X. Larose, Businessman, 622 5^th St. N.E.

Achile Bourget, Clerk, Shoe Store, 303 Plymouth Ave. N.

M. Healy, Singer Sewing Machine Office, 25 S. 4^th Street.

Bernard Mousseau, Clerk, American Express, 1505 22 St. S.

Octave Duperre, Houde Mover, 12 Avenue N.

Felix Blais, Clerk, 1301 Washington Ave. N.

Soloman Cyrier, Clerk, Tea, Coffee, Grocery, Market Hall.

Subscribers

Subscriptions [presume new or renewed] out of town:

Paul Godin, Dayton, Minnesota

George Gamache, Andover, Day County, Dakota Territoy

Joseph Lachance, Codington, Michigan

Joseph Saucier, Osseo

Joseph Sauve, Rice Point, Duluth

M.T.A. Gagnon, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

The ladies of the Canadian Congregation of St Paul [St Louis Parish] are preparing under the patronage of the conference of St Vincent de Paul, a musical soiree for the benefit of the poor. The event will take place the 19^th of March in the undercroft of the church of St Louis.

Ste Clotilde Parish

On Passion Sunday [the Sunday before Palm Sunday], March 22, at 4 pm, Ste. Clotilde will begin the Annual Retreat of Christian Mothers. All mothers and girls of the parish are invited to join the retreat which will last four full days and will end March 27, The feast of The Compassion of the Most Holy Virgin at 9 am. The hours for the exercise of the retreat for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are: 9 am mass and instruction, afternoon 2:30 instruction and praise.

Minneapolis

M. Legros offers his sincere thanks to the friends who visited during the final malady of his lamented wife and who assisted the funeral service.

The Library Club of Young French Canadians of Minneapolis

Saturday, March 6, the club members met for the launching of their first regular semi-monthly meeting. As was announced in the columns of your newspaper, the meeting promised attraction, amusement, and of course, it was a complete and utter success. If one must judge the future progress by the debut, we affirm with right and reason how grand and impressive they will be. There were speeches cleverly delivered and devised, songs that we admired and applauded with open heart and, certainly, justly.

Next Sunday the 15^th of March turns out to be the 3^rd Sunday of the month and consequently the date fixed for our meetings. The members of the Club will assemble at the regular meeting place.

A.J. Vinet

Corresponding Secretary

In the last days of February at the Poor Home of this city, died one of our compatriots upon whom the cruel hand of misfortune had fallen and reduced to a sad end, M. Charles Huot, native of Quebec. He died embracing Christianity and the members of the Society St Vincent de Paul of the parish of Ste. Clotilde, assisted by the generous permission of the priest of that parish, gave him the Christian last rites at Ste. Clotilde and buried him in the cemetery reserved for Catholics.

The Dakota Territory is again undergoing the most exciting events on the subject of the location of the capital. This question is full of rifts and troubles of all sorts for the new state.

Last year the territorial legislature chose Bismarck for the capital and that city made immense sacrifices to build a capitol building which ended after several months. But the Southern section of the territory did not agree and wanted the capital at Pierre, and that ended in a battle “Tooth & Nail” for their ends.

News from Trois-Rivieres [Area of Quebec from which many local French-Canadians came]

During the Novenna [nine days of special prayers], the Rev. Father Hamon successfully constituted in this city under the name League of the Sacred Heart, a powerful association, for men, against drunkenness, blasphemy and estrangement from the sacraments. The number enrolled in this league exceeds one thousand. At the election of officers last Sunday evening in the presence of the Monsignor of Trois-Rivieres who has given his warm support, to the work, L.U.A. Genet was chosen president and C. A. Bourgeois and N.L. Denoncout vice presidents.

Demeules & Laramee, Proprietors; E.R. Dufresne, Editor

(Minneapolis French Newspaper, Published from 1885 to 1929.

Translated by Bill Horn, Assisted by Kathy Horan-Grambsch.

Additional translators for this project would be appreciated.)

Minneapolis

ASSOCIATION CANADIENN-FRANCAISE

Meeting dates of our French-Canadian Benevolent Societies Association

Regular gathering – every 2^nd Monday of the month 7 PM and the fourth Sunday of the month at 3:30 PM.

UNION ST. JOSEPH

Regular gathering every 1^st and 3^rd Sunday of the month after the divine service of the fore-noon of the parish of Saint Clotilde.

CONFERENCE ST VINCENT DE PAUL in the Parish of St Clotilde

The regular assemblies of this meeting take place every Sunday after the church mass.

The Legislature

It is now two weeks that our Minnesota legislators have been in session in St Paul to deliberate the economic situation of the State and legislate for its needs. The message of Governor Hubbard ….

Obituary

Reverand Father John W. Nealis, pastor of St Joseph’s parish in St. Paul died last Friday after a malady of several weeks. … He was born in 1849 in Kilgarvin, County Mayo, Ireland.

Minnesota has brought back first prize for butter in the New Orleans Exposition as well as several other prizes of importance which rank our state one of the premiere of the American union for the excellence of its products.

O’Donovan Rossa, the great Irish agitator, king of the dynamiters, in refuge in the US, was shot with five pistol bullets by a woman, last Monday in the open on a street in New York. The shots were not fatal, it appears, but he had a narrow escape. A large part of the press and public don’t care and speak bluntly that it’s unfortunate he didn’t die on the ground.

Alas, after having worked so much to make engines of destruction to blow up London and the English, his sworn enemies, he suddenly gets done in. Would that the lesson well profit him if he recovers. The murder attempt threatens to make as much noise in the world as the recent explosions in London.

The Carnival in Montreal was an immense success.

Don’t Waste Your Time

Pointless to shop the meat markets to find good prices and top quality: go straight to the Minneapolis provision company, No. 24 and 26, First St South facing Z. Demeules & Co. and you will be completely satisfied. Ask for M.N. Baudette.

We are happy to learn that M._H. Treppanier opens today at N. 106 Central Avenue, a shop of goods and toilet articles for men and boys such as shirts, underwear, collars, neckties, etc, etc, a varied assortment and of the best selection.

We wish Mr. Treppanier the patronage of all his compatriots.

Postal Service

Congress is presently bringing up a purposed law to reduce by half the postage of newspapers. It is hoped that this bill passes without opposition in the two chambers.

After the 1880 census there were counted in the US 11,314 publications who gave the prior year 16,629 tons of mail to deliver and a postal income of $1,705,177 totally contributed by the proprietors of newspapers and other publications.

Passage of this measure would have as an affect a reduction of postal revenue under this administration, but on the other hand, there will be compensation for the government in the increase of second class mail received by the postal service.

Incidentally, one should not forget the insertion in this bill of a clause ordering the postal officials, those in Minneapolis above all, to no longer ignore systematically or by gross indifference, the duties of their responsibilities toward the French speaking public. We pay the other administrators for the postal service, we have the right of equal postal service. However, a week doesn’t pass without our receiving numerous pleas telling us of acts of negligence and unpardonable abuse, not only in the distribution of these journals but even in that of private mail.

News of Canada

A pastoral letter of the Monsignor of Trois-Rivieres was written 25 January, to the churches of the Diocese. This letter responds to rumors published in newspapers relative to the division of the diocese.

Deceased

Quebec, 27 – The community of the Brothers of the Christian Brothers has just lost one of its most distinguished members, Brother Albert. He was a native of Luxembourg and 63 years old. He completed 38 years of religious life and he was in Quebec for seven years.

Arrest of a Sinn Fein (Irish Revolutionary)

Hamilton, Canada 27 – Today an individual named John Cash said in the presence of police, that he was a Sein Feinian and it was he who drove in the “Phoenix Park”,  the car in which were found the assassins of Lord Cavendish – M. Burke. Later this man got drunk and the police arrested him. Cash arrived from Ireland shortly thereafter.

[A bit of history from Bill Horn: The Phoenix Park murderers of May 1882. The new chief secretary of Ireland’s Lord Cavendish and the permanent under Secretary, Thomas Burke, were hacked to death by extreme Irish nationalists called the “Invincibles”.]

The Pacific Railway

A request has been presented today to the mayor’s office urging him to convoke a meeting of citizens for the purpose of having the terminus of the Pacific Railway be in Quebec.

One recalls that last year several journals in the US and Canada made a stir on the subject of a marriage preformed in Syracuse by Monsignor Charles Guay, apostolic notary.

Some hold that the marriage was null and that Mgr. Guay had been forbidden by the bishop of Albany on that occasion.

We learn from the Standard of Syracuse that the judgment rendered in that case by the Sacred Congregation of Saint-Office in Rome fully justifies the conduct of Mgr. Guay.

A Ghost

Brockville, 27^th – About 8 years ago, a young girl named Ferguson of Sand Bay, a small village situated between Mallorytown and Ganaoque, married a man named Keyer. After the marriage the husband left for California to seek his fortune, leaving his young lady in Sand Bay. The husband and wife exchanged letters for two years, then the letters ceased. Subsequently, news arrived at Sand Bay that Keyer was missing and two years later the abandoned wife remarried a man named Root. Since then all went well in the new household until last week when Keyer debarked from a train from the West and made himself known. At last word he was on the way to rejoin his wife and one awaits with anxiety the result of the meeting.

Dispatches from Europe

[The Echo de l’Ouest carried several reports on European affairs including the following]

Imperial Federation – Northcot, P.M., declared in favor of a federation of colonies – perhaps the origin of the British Commonwealth.

Egyptian Affairs – England considering a serious problem regarding a bombardment of Alexandria and to what base there England ought to retire.

Explosions of January 24 in London  – Bombing in the House of Commons and the Tower by Irish Nationalists.

Avalanche in the Alps – 300 killed.

French Elections – Senate elections choose 67 republicans and 20 conservatives.

Dynamite – Police of Hambourg Germany learn of a plot to blow up the Stock Exchange.

Rome – Italian forces to aid English in the Sudan. An extraordinary action.

Business Revue

The week began under auspices a little better than last. The arrivals of grain in the first two days were 138,500 bushels against 113,500 a week previous. The demand for wheat for the mills had been very weak, consequently the sales thereof had been less numerous and were made Monday a discount of 100 vs. preceding [100 of what we do not learn]. The millers appear to be rather well provisioned and not disposed to make new purchases.

The sale of wheat of inferior quality were made at a rather large scale Monday, but at 2 cents before last Saturday.

The millers association has elected a new reduction of 2 cents on the price of wheat.

There were Monday 232 loads of grain of all sorts submitted for inspection.

The total of wheat in warehouse the same day was: Minneapolis, 3,965,253 bushels; Duluth, 5,353,620 bushels; St Paul, 1,252,000 bushels.

The sales in cash of wheat No.1: February, 80 c; March, 81½ c; April, 83 c; May, 86¼  c.

Len depression for oats: White oats No. 2: 25 to 26 cents; Rejected: 24 to 25 cents.

Corn is firm, the arrivals abundant: rejected [?] from 37 to 38 cents.

Demeules & Laramee, Proprietors; E.R. Dufresne, Editor

(Minneapolis French Newspaper, Published from 1885 to 1929.

Translated by Bill Horn, Assisted by Kathy Horan-Grambsch.

Additional translators for this project would be appreciated.)

Minneapolis

The members of the Candian-Francois Democrate Club will meet next Sunday to elect their officers.

Sixty prisoners found guilty before Grand Juries last week were brought into court Monday to undergo their trials.

The employees of the manufacturers of glass of this city are on the way to causing trouble for their bosses.

The Reverend Fathers Gamach of Gentilly, and Landry of Terrebonne, Polk County, Minnesota passed through this city yesterday. {Terrebonne was a town near Montreal after which a town in Polk County was named]

M.J.B. Olivier of St Paul returned last Saturday from a long and pleasant voyage to New Orleans. [We note a number of French Canadians of Minnesota did a river trip to New Orleans]

The Governor’s Mardi Gras Recognition in the evening in the Capital in St Paul and the dance which followed was a grandiose affair. There was an immense crowd. Nothing was left to desire. Sumptuous decorations, superb dress of the ladies, music, food, etc. etc. The space was the only problem; one felt cramped a little throughout the vast halls of the Capitol.

M.G.H. Lessage received a telegram yesterday from West Newton Minnesota, telling him of the death of Madam Louise Bouchard. She was the sister-in-law of M. Jacob Bouchard, former merchant of this city.

We have the pleasure of announcing that some of the French Canadian ladies of Minneapolis are preparing a magnificent dramatic and musical evening, with presentation of “tableaux vivants”, for March 19 at market hall.

If one judges by the program and amateurs who are to give their support, this musical fete will be interesting and worthy in all respects of the kindly patronage of all our compatriots. We hope, therefore, there will be a packed hall on March 19 at Market Hall.

We will be providing the time the program of the soiree.

It is rumored that the Protestant Archbishop Trench of Dublin, Ireland has just converted to Catholicism.

The journal of O’Donovan Rossa, published in New York, offers $10,000 for the head of the Prince of Wales.

Again an outrage equal to the explosion at the Tower of London and which will not fail to draw to the dynamiter, “the good graces” of John Bull.

Literary Circle

Last Friday the members of the Literary Circle of Young French Canadian Ladies of Minnesota had a very interesting gathering on the occasion of installing their officers.

Next Friday, the 27^th, there will be a new meeting at the same place, the hall of the French Canadian Association at 7 pm. All members are asked to come.

Timber Cutting in the Western States

The Northwest Lumberman of Chicago recently published a very detailed review on the products of cutting of pine forests in 1884. [The column continues with several paragraphs telling the amount of board feet cut in various districts of Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Great Lakes. The grand total for 1884 was 8,090,533,654 feet, an increase of about 500,000,000 over 1883. It continues:]

Since 1878 the annual harvest of wood has always increased and today, the supply exceeds greatly the demand. However small this progress continues in the future, it is greatly to be feared that the forests of the state are disappearing contrary to the demand of public interest. The Northwestern Lumberman with good reason, advises to go slowly on the job, to show more economy in the cutting of trees and more conserving of our forests.

Births

In this city, the 9^th February, a daughter to Mrs. Pierre Bourgeois.

In the same city, the 6^th, a son to Mrs. Joseph Baillargeon.

Deaths

Mr Abner Mead died the 16^th February in this city of an advanced age. His service was held February 23 at Notre Dame de Lourdes.

A madam Cavlin of Dubuque, Iowa was found dead in her bed on Monday. Her daughter and son suspected of being the perpetrators have been arrested.

Louis Riel Banquet

On January 6, Louis Riel, leader of the Metisse-French Canadian population of the Territories of the Northwest and Manitoba, was the object of a grand demonstration of sympathy in St Anthony of Padua, Northwest Territory, in recognition of eminent and numerous services which he rendered to this compatriots.

[Louis David Riel – A Metis who led several insurgencies against the Canadian government. Originally concerned about Metis land rights when the Northwest Territory was absorbed into the Dominion. At one time in exile in Minnesota. Final all-out war in 1885 began about March in Manitoba, but apparently the French Canadian community was following his move as reported in the February 25 issue. By November he had been captured, tried and hanged.]

Emigration

The repeal of the law entitled “Timber Culture and Pre-Emption laws” will necessarily have the effect of increase in emigration in the Northwest during the next season. The bill has already passed the Senate and everyone believes it will be voted through by the House of Representatives. It carries a clause inserted in the bill that this act of repeal takes effect this July 1. In the meantime, the field is open to all who desire to take advantage of their rights under the former law which permits obtaining simultaneously 320 acres of land, of which 160 are by virtue of the “Premption Law” and 160 by the privilege of the “Timber Culture Act” which doesn’t require its occupation by a colonist of good faith.

After the disposal of the present act, the colonist will have to live on his land and will have the right to only 160 acres. [This article appears to say that, because of a forthcoming change in US law, there will be a temporary increase in emigration out of the Northwest of the US]

It is rumored that Mr. Roswell Miller, Assistant General Manager of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St Paul Railroad will be the successor to the deceased S.S. Merrill who died fifteen days ago and was General Manager.

President Arthur has officially recognized the nomination of Professor F.C. Boucher as Consular Agent of France in St. Paul.

Obituary

Last Saturday, Madam Pierre Legros of this city, succumbed to a long illness, suffered with great resignation to the will of God and fortified by the solace of her church. Madam P Legros was 65. The funeral will be Monday, the 23^rd, at 10 AM at Saint Clotilde amidst a great gathering of relatives and friends. Madam P. Legros was the mother of Madam Frank Thibault of this city.

We offer to the family of the deceased our sincere condolences.

An Anti-French Bishop

We announced Saturday the closing of the French-Canadian church of Fall River. By order of Monsignor Hendricken, the Bishop of the diocese, the doors of that church were closed and nailed shut Thursday evening and his Grandeu has made it known that they will not be reopened as long as the French-Canadians refuse to accept the Irish Pastor He has tried to impose. In the meantime, they will make their devotions as they can. The Monsignor washes his hands.

Carried away from the temple were all the ornaments and sacred chalices, bought by the deceased Abbé Bédard with the money of our nations and they were transported by unknown hands. An equally stripped was the presbytery furnished by M. Bédard.

Monsignor Hendricken sent out Friday this proclamation: “ The Bishop of Providence has closed the church and retired the priests of the parish of Notre Dame in the village of Flint. He was obliged to take that measure because of the insubordination of several years by parishioners, who by a rather strange caprice, wished to impose their wishes on question relevant to his authority. The priests of other Catholic parishes of Fall River have instructions to administer the sacraments in their respective churches to all the parishioners of Notre Dame who wish it, provided that they did not take part in the present plot to resist ecclesiastical authority. These priests are equally instructed to visit all the sick who have called for them.” – Thomas Hendrichen, Bishop of the diocese.

Thus because of the “insubordination” of some parishioners, His Grandeur forbids worship in the French Church of Fall River. It is true that He deigns, at the same time, to allow our nationals, to the men, to the women, to the children, of whom the greater number do not understand English, to drag themselves down the aisles of other churches, where they don’t have seats and even to confess in a language they don’t understand.

It is exactly as if Monsignor Fabve, here, closed Saint Patrick’s and obliged the Irish of that parish to go to Notre Dame (our Minneapolis Lourdes) or other French churches of the city.

Mr. Hendricken has even gone further yet for those who have protested against the imposition of an Irish priest at Notre Dame de Lourdes of Fall River. For them, no sacrament, no salvation, but excommunication and damnation.

One sees that His Grandeur doesn’t do things by halves. He doesn’t even want to wait for the result of the appeal these poor citizens have made to Rome. He treats them as rebellions, in the English fashion, and as if they were vulgar disciple of the Mahdi, all simply because they do not recognize his authority as supreme and they place the Pope above the Bishop.

However, it is known the Holy See is aware of the question, as it is considering it and one must hope it will be resolved in time to not put the Canadians of Fall River in the situation of changing their diocese and leaving their happy domain from Mgr Hendricken for their Easter services. For the present, the Supreme Pontiff has addressed to a committee of the “rebels”, mad outlaws by the blessed Bishop, a kind letter in which His Holiness said that He is to examine the causes of their pleas and He will give a definite response soon.

No doubt Rome will consider that the French-Canadians have the right to be treated as are Catholics the world over at least like those savages who are not obliged to learn the language of missionaries, but to whom are sent missionaries speaking their language.

The desires of centralization, of uniformity of language, of forced anglicizing which the venerable Bishop of Providence nourishes and which he endeavors to satisfy by such energetic means may be commendable from the Yankee point of view, but that is not a preemptory reason to put these desires before the interest of the religion and the health of souls.

Next Monday the 48^th Congress of the United States will end its days. The next week the inauguration of the President and Vice President elect, Cleveland and Hendricks will take place in Washington. [Prior to the 20th Amendment in 1933, the new President didn’t take office in March, resulting in three months under the former executives and Congress] The event and the new state of things which it will create in high governmental circles of the nation, is the great preoccupation of the moment for all the America’s union. The formation of the Cleveland cabinet is another mystery for the common people

Good News

The Honorable Washburn, member of the appropriations committee, has succeeded in having inserted in the appropriation bill an extra $200,000 to continue the work on government buildings in this community.

Religious Ceremony at the Church of Saint Clotilde

Last Sunday, after Vespers there took place at St Clotilde, a beautiful and touching ceremony – the blessing of The Way of the Cross. The faithful of the parish came in crowds to testify to their faith, to their zeal and their generosity in the fulfillment of the work of the church and to follow the wishes of their well-beloved pastor. The strong voices of the choir, harmonized by the notes of the organ, beautifully rendered the hymns appropriate to the mass of the day. Reverend Father Retz of Stillwater was the officiating priest and the preacher for the occasion was Reverend Father Genis of St.Paul. As always, the fervor, the spirit of living faith of which the words of Father Genis were imprinted, went right to the heart of the attendees. The ceremony of the Benediction of The Way of The Cross was made by the Reverend Father Nongaret, pastor of St Clotilde.

Korti 18^th – Eighty Canadian volunteers are staying in Korti to continue their service in the Sudan (relief of General Gordon). All the officers have offered to stay until the end of the campaign. The offers of Dunson, Kennedy and Neilson have been accepted.

Commercial Review

The market transactions in grain have lessened for eight days and sales have moderated. The arrivals Monday came to 47,500 bushels. Saturday closed ½ cent over winter wheat. [There follows an extensive market report]

Do you know what you must do to preserve your watches? Have them cleaned yearly by M.W.C. Leber watchmaker and jeweler, No 209 Hennepin Avenue.

HAIL THE T MAN has returned from the East with 15 cased of magnificent gifts to distribute to all who come to shop at his place of business. Hi is disposed to sell at the best prices ever.

Less Expensive Than At Auction

SEGELBAUM BROS now offers spring merchandise at a lower price than the old stocks sold at auction – observe: [There follows a list of quantities and prices for such as cloth for spring clothing, wool cloth in various colors, shoes, short sleeve blouses, underwear, slippers of Irish quality, material for linen table clothes, 3000 yards of undyed cotton @ 5 cents per yard, 4000 yard of printed calico @ 4 cents per yard]

All coats for ladies and children offered at half price. You can’t buy anywhere else at such good prices if you consider the quality of the merchandise. Nowhere will you have the same satisfaction in your purchase than at SEGELBAUM BROS, Nos 257*259 Nicolet Ave., corner of 3^rd street.

[Following is a summarization of various ads, some owned by French-Canadians or trying for their business]

Blacksmith Shop

M. Antoine C. Labreche announces to the public, and in particular, his compatriots, that he has just opened a blacksmith shop at 119 1^st Street, North. He will specialize in horseshoes at which he excels.

Calhoun & Lon[?]

The Northwest Lumberman of Chicago recently published a very detailed review on the products of cutting of pine forests in 1884. [The column continues with several paragraphs telling the amount of board feet cut in various districts of Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Great Lakes. The grand total for 1884 was 8,090,533,654 feet, an increase of about 500,000,000 over 1883. It continues:]

Since 1878 the annual harvest of wood has always increased and today, the supply exceeds greatly the demand. However small this progress continues in the future, it is greatly to be feared that the forests of the state are disappearing contrary to the demand of public interest. The Northwestern Lumberman with good reason, advises to go slowly on the job, to show more economy in the cutting of trees and more conserving of our forests.

Empire Baking Powder

Sold at Z. Demeules’ 1^st Street South and all grocers in the city.

Bank of North Minneapolis

Corner of Washington and Plymouth Avenue

Deposits pay 4% interest for 3 months

Deposits pay 5% interest for 6 months

The patronage of citizens of North Minneapolis and Canadians is especially solicited.

Geo. R. Newdl and Company Corner of Washington & 1^st Avenue North

Merchants of Tobacco, groceries, etc.

Inviting specially French Canadians to patronize this magnificent commercial establishment.

Dictionnaire généalogique des families du Quebéc, des origins à 1730 – René Jetté  (Catalog #Frgn Can CGA 3)

Dictionnaire National des Canadiens-Français , Tome I, II, III – Institut Généalogique Drouin;

(Marriages, origins of colony to 1760)

R.A.B. du Repetoire des actes de bapteme marriage et sepulture du Quebec ancient 1621-1765, 1766-1799 (PDRH)

(CD – Program stored on designated computer)

Dictionnaire Genealogique des Familles Acadiennes: V. 1, V.2 -  Stephen A. White English Supplement (Catalog #Frgn Can CN 03)

Historie et Genealogie des Acadiens, Bona Arsenault (Catalog #Frgn Can CN 01)

Loiselle  Marriage Index – Father Antonin Loiselle; Marriages, 1621-1900’s (Microfishe, stored in locked cabinet by front desk)

Repertoire of marriages & burials in Canada, by Province (see mngs.org catalog for specific Province)

Québec Vital Church Records, 1621-1967

Drouin Collection ( ancestry.com)

French Canadian Families of the North Central States, A Genealogical Dictionary, Vol.  1-8  – Paul J. Lareau & Elmer Courteau

(Catalog #Frgn Can CUG)

Our French Canadian Ancestors, Vol.  1-30

(Catalog #Frgn Can CGA 4)

Library Catalog Numbers/Categories

CA – Alberta Province CU – Canadians in US

(also see MGS Collection) each state

CB – New Brunswick Province

CC – British Columbia Province

CD – New Foundland Province

CE – Prince Edward Island Province

CF – France

CG – Genealogies/Family Histories

CH – Huguenot

CI – American Indian

CJ – Ethnic – other – Canada

CK – Catalogs – Canada

CL – Collections of other Libraries

CM – Manitoba

CN – Nova Scotia Province & Acadia

CO – Ontario Province

CP – Periodicals – Canada

CQ – Quebec Province

CR – Reference – Canada

CS – Saskatchewan Province

CT – Tapes – Audio – Video

CV – Fur Trade/Voyageurs

CW – Northwest Territories

CX – Maps/Atlases/Travel

CY – Yukon Territory

CZ – not classified – Canadian

Catholic Church Record for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis (Microfilm – see listing at mngs.org)

Minnesota County Histories (see catalog at mngs.org for specific county)

Echo de l’Ouest, Minneapolis, MN

Demeules & Laramee, Proprietors,

ER Dufresne, Editor (Microfilm)

French Newspaper Published from 1883 to 1929

Demeules & Laramee, Proprietors; E.R. Dufresne, Editor

(Minneapolis French Newspaper, Published from 1885 to 1929.

Translated by Bill Horn, Assisted by Kathy Horan-Grambsch.

Additional translators for this project would be appreciated.)

Minneapolis

The ceremony of the receiving of the Ashes [Ash Wednesday] took place this morning. There was a large gathering of the faithful in our two French-Canadian churches in this city.

The civic elections which must occur in the spring already have begun to enliven spirits.

If one believes the opinions of those concerned with commerce and finance in the city, business in general is on the “eve” of returning to its normal course after several months of the depression we’ve had.

After having caused to tremble in London, Canada, New York and other centers of the East, suddenly these good “movers and shakers” [dynamiteux] now turn their eyes to the West. That they would do nothing less than enliven the Tribune of Minneapolis, the mills of Pillsbury as well as the English Consul goes without saying. It then will proceed to Winnipeg which it will reduce to atoms. [This was a difficult translation. I gather they are saying the Eastern interests will enliven our economy. In keeping with the “dynamite” an earth shaking vocabulary, they would reduce Winnipeg “to atoms”.]

A grand banquet will be given shortly in this city for members of the legislature. The city Council and Chamber of Commerce have together nominated committees to make preparations and assure success.

The citizens of South Minneapolis held a well attended and enthusiastic assembly on Monday evening to discuss the proposed construction of a bridge on Franklin Avenue.

The annual contest in elocution of the University students took place last Friday evening. An elite auditor [a master judge] attended the meeting which was of great interest. He ended by choosing a candidate to represent the University of the state contest which takes place in April in St. Paul, where an orator will be chosen to represent Minnesota at the Grand-Oratorical completion of all states taking place in Ohio in May. The subjects treated were all of current and the greatest interest… There were seven contestants and all won the merited applause of the audience. The prize [the “palm”] was awarded to M. F. N. Stacy.

The constant menace and recent outrages committed in London and elsewhere have attracted this mob, the general reprobation of friends of order in the world and the most severe condemnations by civil and religious authorities.

It has been one hundred years the 12^th of February since the first bale of cotton was exported from New Orleans to England. This important event was celebrated with great pomp last Thursday at the universal exposition now on in the capital of Louisiana.

Disastrous Fire and Loss of Life

  Another appalling catastrophe. Another horrible human slaughter. Last Thursday before

8 o’clock in the evening, the fire broke out in the Blackley Insane Asylum in Philadelphia, reducing to ashes a considerable part of their vast establishment and burning alive 18 mentally sick victims in their cells. It is impossible to describe the horrors of that night ever so disastrous for the inhabitants of Philadelphia.

  The asylum held over 600 inmates and there were at the time of the fire sixty crazy inmates in the cells at the heart of the building where it began, of whom 20 were on each of three floors. At the first alarm, the guards ran to open the cells and release the poor unfortunates. They managed to accomplish their job of rescuing on the first two floors, but when they arrived at the third, it was impossible to reach the cells as the flames enveloped that part of the building and they had to flee without bringing help, hearing behind them the cries, the yells of pain, the screams of those whom the fire had already reached.

  James Burke, 57, one of the 18 victims, had killed three companions during his time in the asylum; he had been in chains for 20 years. Another, John Herriges, 48, had been found in 1870 in a hut on Lombard Street, Philadelphia, where he had kept his parents in chains for 20 years.

 The property loss was $150,000.

  Pope Leon XIII celebrated 27 December his forty-eight year as a priest.

  It is an important issue among the merchants of Minneapolis that a new route of communication be given the residents of Fort Snelling to assure the commerce of the inhabitants of the Fort, which has risen to, it appears, $350,000 annually, of which the major part is with St. Paul.

  The construction of a branch line would have interesting views and it is quite probable that this project will begin early in spring.

Deceased

  In this city, February 4, Madame Alexandre Legault, age 25, died after an illness of twelve months, suffered with Christian acceptance.

  She left to suffer her loss her husband and three young children.

  The funeral took place February 6 at Notre Dame of Lourdes amid a gathering of family and friends

  Madam Legault was the sister of Madame Louise Tuscany of Minneapolis.

Births

In Minneapolis February 13 a daughter was born to Dame Theopile Baudette.

In St. Pierre les Becquets, Quebec, January 22 a son to Dame Joseph Rousscan.

The Mind of Others

   The Episcopalian Church recently held a congress in Detroit where they discussed the establishment of confession in that sect.

  A protestant newspaper, The Face Press of Detroit, reports: “It was a lightning bolt for the majority of the Protestants here to note the near unanimity with which the Episcopalian clergy at their last congress declared in favor of private confession.

    “In truth nearly all the arguments made were regarding the timing and practicality. The basic philosophy supporting it was clearly approved and its spiritual authority recognized. The Catholic Theologians themselves had difficulty speaking with more eloquence on the benefits of the practice then those clergymen of the Episcopalian congress who were its defenders. (From the Journal des Trois-Rivieres.)

Patriotism and Union

  Each nation carries a secret fire, ardent and sacred which attaches it to the soil of its birth, makes it venerate its saints and ancient tradition of ancestors, preaches moderation in its dissensions and fortifies it, embraces it with a heroic ardor if the enemy is at its gates. The clan of national piety, which the bards-of-old were pleased to sing their plaintiff elegies and which poets celebrated in their pompous verse is the echo, the fruit of a sublime virtue which each citizen hold hidden in the folds of his soul, and which supports and cultivates the heart of the true patriot. This indulgent virtue, readers, you understand, is patriotism. Patriotism is for all ages, for all generations, it engenders the great feats of arms and the heroic actions; no barrier can stop its march and whatever be its obstacles, the pitfalls and the numerous difficulties it creates, it tames them, it renders them surmountable, and, if ever outnumbered and the fortune of combat is fatal to it, it sacrifices itself generously on the altar of the fatherland and marks a glorious phase in the annals of the nation. It is that which in the meleé, gives strength to the weak, boldness to the timid, and bravery to the cowardly, it makes them face death with a firm eye and a calm face, happy that they are sealing with their blood the destined saints of the fatherland. If we consult history, we will see that in the most remote times, patriotism was honored and even ranked with the divinities, they raised altars to it, made offerings to it and how many voluntary immolations have been given it. The memory of Leonidas and his three hundred Spartans in the defile of Thermopily is still very much alive in our memory, no need to mention. Among us French-Canadians, we also have our heroes, our national glories. Our people are still young and radiant acts, fruits of a sublime and ardent patriotism number in the hundreds. From Dollard and his brave men [*] to the grand and glorious Montcalm. What a [more] beautiful page for the history of our country than the bravery of our Canadian Leonidas and, if the last ruins of the old fort [at Quebec] can retell to us the final words for these noble martyrs of the French-Canadian nation, they would be imprinted with the purist patriotism and self-sacrifice the most complete. Patriotism has not only manifested itself at the feast of battle, but one finds it also in the walls of parliament. Who does not remember the efforts of Frontenac and Beauharnois. We have our heroes of war and of letters, and in either case, what was the great motive of all their work, of all their fatigues and vigils they imposed on themselves. It was patriotism, the great devotion to the cause of French Canada. For us, descendants of these gallants who sacrificed so generously their lives to maintain her and affirm our religion, our language, our nationality, let us lean to keep intact and free of soiling the sacred heritage they willed us. They have sealed with their blood the sublime pact of nationality where they have placed their fate under the powerful aegis of the God of Nation. But alongside their patriotism marches a virtue no less sublime and of primary use for advancement and the success of the great national cause: I wish to speak of union, of good accord – Yes, we are united in the field of battle, grouped in close ranks close to the vigilant eye of their chief, they are united in the parliaments, in the public assemblies and always they have been successful, sometimes they have returned to combat, harassed, exhausted, broken, but never vanquished. What a source of enlightenment for us! Let’s follow their footsteps, copy their virtues, and above all let us be friends and we will soon see the foreigner recognize our strength as nationality. For, we don’t need to hide it, we need the tightest unity, the tightest one [repeats] and the absolute necessity to become again a whole number [This is whole as opposed to fraction. I think it may be translated as “a unity”.] If we wish to give value to our legitimate pretentions among governments which run the country. To have the prestige to which we have a right among the heterogeneous nationalities which surround us, we have to rid ourselves of the disagreement which undermines our society at its base and inevitably will make it collapse, caught in the fall of dreams, pretention and hopes. Let us show ourselves as the zealous possessors and the faithful guardians of the sacred tradition bequeathed us, and we will not have to deplore the loss so painful which awaits all peoples torn apart by divisions and prejudice. Let’s not have shame about ourselves which French Canada exhibits and tries to personify as soon as possible the type of perfect citizen, the true gentleman [I believe a criticism of trying to Anglicize]. Let us speak our language and force ourselves to acquire useful acquaintances and make ourselves knowledgeable of the glorious past of our Canada. Favor ourselves as often as possible with the formation French-Canadian clubs of which the principal purpose is to enjoy oneself and instruct, to make known and appreciate our natural glories and reunite under the same banner all our population, to rid ourselves of dissensions and quarrels and, so, strong in number, we will be able to march securely and courageously to the assertion of our legitimate pretentions and of our sacred rights, and we will have the satisfaction of not having forfeited the dictates of ardent patriotism and interests that our ancestors left us intact.

                                                                                                                        V. Vinet

[Can’t find any Vinets in the US 1880 or 1900 censuses except in Louisiana where there are many. The 1890 census was destroyed.]

[*Adam Dollard des Ormeau, an early colonist and soldier died in 1660 at the Battle of Long Sault. In 1635, He was leading a group of sixteen Frenchmen, aided by about forty Huron, who were overwhelmed by seven hundred Iroquois warriors. Louis-Joseph de Montcalm-Goron, Marquis of Saint Veran, commanded the French in the Battle of Quebec, 1759, where both he and the opposing general Wolfe died.]

  Three large cities of the U.S. have Irish Catholics as mayors: Mr. J. Grace in New York, Mr. O’Brien in Boston and another O’Brien in St. Paul, Minnesota.

  So honors to the Irish and the Catholics of the United States!

  In December 1882 Leon XII will celebrate his fiftieth anniversary as a priest. The Catholic Societies of Italy have already begun to prepare to make the anniversary the occasion of lavish manifestations of loyalty to the Holy See.

  Lt. Col. Timothy Sheehan, of Albert Lee has recently been appointed by the government in Washington to be agent for the White Earth Indians.

  A sensation was created last week in Washington by the confirmed news that Mademoiselle Constance Edgar, daughter of Jerome Bonaparte, will take the veil about Easter tide. [Napoleon’s brother Jerome came to the US and married Elizabeth Patterson. He later had the marriage annulled and returned to France. Their son Jerome V lived in America and was an army officer.]

  The Northwester Chronicle of St. Paul, in its last week edition, put the Catholics of Minnesota on warning against a “lady of business” of the highest level, disguised in costume of a Franciscan sister, who collected alms for the Little Sisters of the Poor in St. Paul. This false sister rigged out in religious clothes has already, it appears, succeeded in collecting a considerable pile of money among the Priests and laity of the diocese.

  It goes without saying to recall on this occasion that in the diocese of St. Paul, among others, no Sister can collect money or any other things without having an “ad hoc” letter by the ecclesiastic authorities.

  It is reported that in the USA there are 16,000,000 children of school age, but only 10,000,000 attend. The number of teachers is 290,000 and the annual cost of schools is $91,000,000.

  Of 32,000 Indians in the Dakota Territory, 30,000 speak English.

  Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Larpenteur and their daughter Minnie of St. Paul, and Mr. Charles Larpenteur of Minneapolis left last week to visit the Exposition in New Orleans.

  Personal tax collections in St. Paul was very light this year. Of 7,000 names, only 1,000 have satisfied their obligation and there are only nine days of grace remaining to pay the tax.

St. Paul

Diocese of St. Paul Rules for Lent

1. All days of Lent except Sunday are days of fast.
2. The precept of fast implies abstinence in food with the exception of one meal a day and it does not permit meat at that meal.
3. However, by special permission, meat is permitted in this diocese at a single meal every day, except Wednesday and Friday every week, one Saturday of the week, and the four last days of Lent. It is by a special indulgence from the Holy See that it is permitted all the Saturdays of Lent this year as for all the Saturdays of the year.
4. It is forbidden to have fish and meat at the same meal.
5. Necessity has authorized the use of animal fat and lard to prepare food.
6. A snack not exceeding a quarter of an ordinary meal is permitted in the evening: one can use fish, butter, cheese and eggs at that snack. Custom also permits having a cup of coffee, tea or clear chocolate with a piece of bread in the morning.
7. The precept of Lent is obliged under penalty of grave sin. For special reasons, the following classes are exempt from fasting for a single meal per day: (1) all who have not attainted the age of 20 (2) the sick (3) those who are engaged in hard labor or fatiguing work (4) pregnant or nursing women. Those who excuse themselves or seek to exempt themselves of the obligation to fast must satisfy their conscience that their difficulty is from a real incapacity and not from the spirit of good eating. In all cases of doubt, they should endeavor to the supplant the non-observance by another penitence, devote themselves to prayer and meditation, and to do, conforming to the spirit of the Church, during this holy season, acts of contrition and sorrow for their sins.
8. The precept of abstaining from meat is obligatory for all except children.
9. Those exempted from fast because of age, infirmity, hard labor, etc. can have meat, etc. All meals on the days where abstinence is not enjoined. On the other days, except in the case of illness, they should observe the rule of abstinence.

The pastors will conduct in their own churches special teachings of devotions, on fixed days, during Lent. Instructions of a nature specific to Christian duties, the nature of the sacrament, and the preparation required to receive them with dignity, should be given during these lessons.

  We recommend earnestly for all Friday evenings of Lent, the devotion “The Stations of The Cross.” [“Chemin de la Croix”]

                                                                                                            John Ireland

                                                                                                            Bishop of St. Paul    

St Paul, 10 February, 1885

[Fast for Lent was very complicated and one can see why it has almost disappeared. Interesting that the observance is now “alive” in the Orthodox Anglican Churches as well as Catholic]

Notice

  There will be a meeting of the members of the Literary Club of young Canadians of Minneapolis at 7 p.m. sharp in the hall of the French-Canadian Association.

  HALL THE T MAN has returned from the East with 15 tons of magnificent gifts for all those who shop at his establishment. His is planning to sell at better prices than ever before.

  The news from Fall River, Mass. Dated 14 October, informs that the Church of Notre Dame, as a result of troubles between the Irish priest McGee and the Canadians, has been interdicted by Bishop Hendricken. [The congregation’s complaint was that a French speaking congregation was sent an Irish priest (This was the subject of an article in a previous issue). Interdiction could be a removal of control of their parish or even forbidding the sacraments. It is not clear if it is the church or the unfortunate Irish priest that has been interdicted.]

Canadian Gatherings

  On Monday evening there was at the home of M. and Madame J. Ginchereau, of this city, a well-attended and brilliant meeting of friends: they were celebrating Lundi Gras [*] “à la Canadienne”, just as in the good old days. Music, song and dance to a late hour into yesterday morning brought pleasure to all the guests the most agreeable recreation possible.

  Yesterday evening, another gathering of friends at the home of M. and Madame Z. Demeules. There was a large group. The evening was a series of the most dignified and appreciated amusements in Canadian circles: games, song, dance and music.

  At the stroke of midnight, when they had regretfully to depart, everyone retired enchanted by the magnificent reception by the Demeules, carrying the sweetest memory of these hours of intimate enjoyment.

  There was also yesterday evening, numerous companies at the home of M. and Madam F. Florent.

[*Lundi Gras-“Shrove Monday”, “Fat Monday”, the day before Mardi Gras; see Wikipedia for further information]

  The Canadian volunteers to the Nile Expedition left Alexandria last Friday the 13^th and will arrive in Canada early in March. General Wolseley gave them the greatest praise. [These men had joined a multi-national force sent to rescue General Gordon in Khartum. It arrived too late.]

For Sale at a Good Price

  146 acres of land in Medina, Minn., a mile from the Lenz Post Office near the French Catholic Church and 15 miles from Minneapolis. They harvest there 120 tons of prairie hay. There is abundant fire wood such as oak and maple, etc. For more information, address Z. Demeules, 27 1^st Street South.

  It appears from the quarterly report of the Treasure of L’Union Francaise of St. Paul, Louis Demeules, that the state of that good Canadian Society is quite flourishing. The figures speak for themselves: on July 1, 1884, the society had in hand $4,681.18 and the January 1 balance was $4,963.53 which means a gain of $282.35 in the last six months. We are happy to congratulate our compatriots of St. Paul, members of L’Union Francoise.

  M. Ed. Langevin, Mademoiselle Emma Langevin, M. and Madam Achille Michaud of St. Paul left last week for the Exposition in New Orleans.