CHAPTER XXI

SUPPLEMENTAL ANNALS AND SIDELIGHTS OF SOCIAL LIFE UNDER THE UNION

FOREWORD--MARKED PROGRESS GENERAL--THE EMBRYONIC COSMOPOLIS--THE DEEPENING OF LAKE ST. PETER--FOUNDATION OF PHILANTHROPIES--LIVING CHEAP--THE MONTREAL DISPENSARY--RASCO’S HOTEL AND CHARLES DICKENS--PRIVATE THEATRICALS--MONTREAL AS SEEN BY “BOZ”--DOLLY’S AND THE GOSSIPS--THE MUNICIPAL ACT--ELECTION RIOTS--LITERARY AND UPLIFT MOVEMENTS--THE RAILWAY ERA COMMENCES--THE SHIP FEVER--A RUN ON THE SAVINGS’ BANK--THE REBELLION LOSSES BILL AND THE BURNING OF PARLIAMENT HOUSE--RELIGIOUS FANATICISM--GENERAL D’URBAN’S FUNERAL--A CHARITY BALL--THE GRAND TRUNK INCORPORATORS--EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENTS--THE “BLOOMERS” APPEAR--M’GILL UNIVERSITY REVIVAL--THE GREAT FIRE OF 1852--THE GAVAZZI RIOTS--PROGRESS IN 1853--THE CRIMEAN WAR OF 1854--THE PATRIOTIC FUND--THE ASIATIC CHOLERA--THE ATLANTIC SERVICE FROM MONTREAL--ADMIRAL BELVEZE’S VISIT--PARIS EXHIBITION PREPARATIONS--“S.S. MONTREAL” DISASTER--THE INDIAN MUTINY--THE FIRST OVERSEAS CONTINGENT--THE ATLANTIC CABLE CELEBRATED--A MAYOR OF THE PERIOD--THE RECEPTION OF ALBERT EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES--FORMAL OPENING OF THE VICTORIA BRIDGE--THE GREAT BALL--“EDWARD THE PEACEMAKER”--THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR--MONTREAL FOR THE SOUTH--FEAR OF WAR--CITIZEN RECRUITING--THE MILITARY--OFFICERS OF THE PERIOD--PEACE--THE SOUTHERNERS--THE WAR SCARE--THE BIRTH OF MODERN MILITIA SYSTEM--THE MILITARY FETED--CIVIC PROGRESS--FENIAN THREATS--D’ARCY MCGEE--SHAKESPEARE CENTENARY--GERMAN IMMIGRANTS’ DISASTER--ST. ALBAN’S RAIDERS--RECIPROCITY WITH THE UNITED STATES TO END--ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND THE CITY COUNCIL--THE FIRST FENIAN RAID--MONTREAL ACTION--MILITARY ENTHUSIASM--THE DRILL HALL--A RETROSPECT AND AN APPRECIATION OF THE LATTER DAYS OF THE UNION 195