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We regret greatly that we
were not vouchsafed the necessary information for a detailed history of
the pioneer settlers of these fine French communities. A special editor,
was, with our hearty approbation, named and appointed to write up these
important settlements of the county. This gentleman was selected for that
work because he was a native of those districts, could speak the language
of the people and interpret accurately their ideals and inspirations; and
because he was highly competent in all other respects to perform
creditably the labors and duties involved. But, unfortunately, this well
qualified co-operator, was not able, owing no doubt to the pressure of
imperative official demands, to attend to this optional and silent service
of patriotism.
We mention this
circumstance not at all by way of imputing blame to the gentleman referred
to. Far from it. We know from experience the vice-like grasp in which
public officials are often held. They are servants of supreme authority.
We know also, that but few busy men among us are particularly prone to
impose on themselves serious voluntary burdens, for no more tangible
reward than "The still, sad, music of humanity."
All the same, for the sake
of this work, for the sake of the noble legions of the North, we deplore
the fact that our esteemed friend could not have been permitted to give us
the great assistance which he was so well-fitted to give, and we were so
eager to get.
That portion of this
country lying between the Harbor and River of Margaree and the borders of
Pleasant Bay is inhabited exclusively by people of French descent. At the
time of the drastic expulsion of the Acadians quite a number of the French
escaped and sought asylum in Prince Edward Island. Later on some of these
crossed over to the northern shores of Inverness county. On the disastrous
day of Louisburg in 1758 many of the French there dispersed into various
ports of possible safety on our Island coast. Quite a number came to
Arichat and adjoining haven's. From these points proceeded subsequently a
goodly number of the early settlers of Margaree and Cheticamp.
The plight of these initial
Inverness settlers of the French race was harder and more pathetic than
that of the Scotch and Irish. The latter races came here of their own
accord as ordinary immigrants, and were prepared to accept whate'er the
fates would give them under their own flag. The French were driven here by
the sword of conquest, and thus the conquered were compelled to seek
shelter and sympathy under the heel of the conquerors. The ancestors of
these French pioneers had long been the owners and masters of Cape Breton
Island. They lost their title and hard won homes and possessions by
ruthless force of arms. And hither they came in flight into the forest
fastnesses of the victors, appealing, as a last resort, from Philip drunk
to Philip sober. Luckily for the county of Inverness the appeal was
allowed; and these defeated and dispersed Frenchmen have become an asset
of value and lustre in our British and Canadian citizenship.
To any man who would ask us
what these people have done in the development of Inverness we should say,
go there and see. Standing there with your eyes open, if you want to see
their monument look around you. There is not a piece of ground in Cape
Breton Island, barring towns created by special and concerted industries,
that maintains so many people in comfort and contentment as do these
Acadian settlements. The people here are true types of the thrifty Gauls
of the homeland. They are quick, alert, industrious, emotional,
resourceful, and polite to the last ditch.
The farms here are carved
into somewhat narrow strips running from the sea about a mile up into the
mountains. On each of these strips there would seem to be three families
located in ranges equidistant from each other. This gives the whole
settlement the appearance of an extended village. These farms are well
worked and cared for. The dwellings and other buildings on the farms are
much of the same pattern, neat but not large, and very strongly built as a
precaution against the violence of the South East storms which, not
infrequently, come rolling and sweeping down the mountains.
The men here would seem to be drawn to the sea
by Nature. Nearly all engage in the fisheries or some other marine
pursuits. In the days of sailing vessels there was quite a number of
schooners owned and captained here, and were busy trading from here to
Halifax, St. John's, Nfld., and other places. The harnessing of steam to
the chariots of transportation and commerce ended the career of that once
useful sailing craft.
Practically all these people are Catholics. In
fact, nothing better illustrates their wholesome vision and high planes of
thought than do their vigor and fidelity in promoting their schools and
churches. In the early days they were handicapped in respect of education.
They were French, speaking no language but their own; the language of the
schools was English; all the teachers available, were English speaking
teachers. But the Acadians struggled, sacrificed and persevered. Today
they have the best school houses, and some of the best teachers to be
found in any of the rural schools of the Island. All the later generations
speak and write English with ease, many among them became clever teachers,
some became lawyers, several became doctors, one, at least, became a
respected member of Parliament, and a very considerable number became
priests. As late as
1823 there were only two priests in Inverness County one a French priest,
Fr. Planchette of Cheticamp, the other a Scottish priest, Fr. Macdonnell
of Judique, and neither of them was a native of the county. At present
there are four resident French priests, and three fine churches north of
Margaree Harbor. In the near neighborhood of each of those churches there
is a spacious Hall for public meetings and social service. The stone
church at Eastern Harbor is, in our opinion, the most stately church
edifice in the whole province. There were two priests in modern days to
whom these people are deeply indebted for religious, moral, social and
educational uplift. They were the late Father Gerrior and the late Father
Fiset. These two departed clergymen were both good men of conspicuous
energy and influence, and distinctly great leaders; and their leadership
was not thrown away on the loyal and devoted French people.
In the seventies of the 18th century an
enterprising commercial firm of Jerseymen came to Cheticamp "Point", and
started a fish business which was conducted and continued successfully for
more than a century. This firm obtained a grant of a large tract of land
at and near "the Point", which was probably the first "Grant" issued and
passed in Northern Inverness. This ''Company", as the firm was popularly
called, struck out, at once, into extensive fishing operations. At first
they had to import some of their fishermen, but as the shores became
settled, the "importations" were weeded out and succeeded by the French
settlers. The "Company" prospered apace. It had no rivals or competitors.
On sea and land it gave useful employment to many of the struggling early
settlers of Inverness county; but, it is said that, having everything its
own way, it treated the French fishermen very harshly betimes. A startling
narrative of such treatment was given us years ago by the late Father
Fiset in his own house at Eastern Harbor. We speak from memory, but what
he told us was substantially as follows:
"These French fishermen in earlier times did
not own the boast, nets, and fishing gear which they employed; the
"Company" supplied them. The French were required to give and sell all
their catch to the Company, and to nobody else. The Company kept a store
of goods with which it paid for the fish, and for which it charged its own
price. It also fixed the price of the fish which the French sold it."
"One certain season mackerel was very
plentiful; the fishermen made large catches; the general market price was
$10 a barrel; the French were required to give and pay to the Company five
barrels of this fresh mackerel, and one dollar cash, for a single barrel
of flour." According to this statement the price of flour to these
helpless fishermen with large families would be $51 per barrel. This very
day we are seeing and suffering the disturbing and dangerous results of
similar impositions, practiced the world over against the humble,
horny-handed hosts of toil.
When Father Fiset came to Cheticamp many of
the fishmermen there were deeply in debt. The first care of this prudent
and practical pastor was to organize these people for their own defence
and benefit. He devised ways and means of raising money to pay off those
debts, and to build and buy their own boats and fishing gear. To break the
strangled hold of the monopolist he entered, himself, into commercial
business, that his people might be free to sell their fish where they
liked, and to the best advantage. He also built a grist mill for the
convenience of the farmers of these districts. His own personal farm, on
which he worked, himself, like a Belgian expert was a veritable
illustration station for his parishioners. The result was that many of the
men, who were heavily in debt when he came had encouraging bank accounts
when he died.
Speaking of the farms of these Northern districts we are glad to say that
many of them are excellent farms. They are not large farms individually,
but what they lack in quantity is supplied in quality There are no meadow
lands or marshes of any considerable magnitude but the active husbandry of
the region leave nothing undone to make the upland give the best that is
in it. The handsome farms are well tilled. Seaweed, dogfish, barn manure
and other fertilizers are applied to the soil without stint. Large crops
of potatoes and oats are raised yearly and a superior stock of horses and
sheep can always be seen there.
A peculiarity of the farm work here is that a
great deal of it is performed by the women folk. In summer the men are
fishing, and thew men heed the call of the farm. These women are strong,
home loving, and true. They go to the farm work willingly from sheer sense
of duty, and they do that work faithfully without neglecting the necessary
claims of the household. They work modestly, quietly, and obscurely. Not
for them the tempting glamour of notoriety. Unlike the suffragettes and
petticoat M. P.'s of modern times, these dutiful dames and damsels believe
implicitly that woman's Kingdom is her home. They are intrinsically
domestic in soul and service. Wise women! Long, long ago the great
Athenian, Pericles, declared and said that woman's finest and rarest merit
was never to be heard of.
These French people of the Margarees are
uncommonly keen and clever in respect of things political. Nowadays they
are well informed as to the vital public affairs of our Dominion. They can
read our political literature in French and English, and are quick to
grasp the meaning of problems inviting public attention. The knowledge of
both languages gives them a tremendous advantage. We must know these two
languages to know Canada. These people are strong in their convictions,
and blessed with the temperament of the Latin race; but they are not what
might be termed crass partizans. They are swayed by reason and deeds of
Justice, not by the unreason and devious discourse of the ever wise party
preacher. During the whole regime of Sr. Wilfred Laurier they lined up
strongly with the Liberal party. That is capable of various explanations
that are not discreditable.
But at the federal election of December 1921
they gave surprising support to the young candidate of the Farmer-Labor
party. This shows that, in the presence of large issues, they are able, to
change their minds, and rise aboon the mere passions and prejudice of
party. That portion
of this French territory called Cheticamp won a prominent place on the
political map many years ago. In 1832 there was an election in the
district of Juste and Corps. This district comprised the ground which now
constitutes the County of Inverness. Just an Corps was carved from the
County of Cape Breton, then the only county on Cape Breton Island. The
candidates at this election were Sir William Young and a Mr. Smith, an
official of the General Mining Association at Sydney. During the campaign
excitement ran high culminating in a memorable riot at Cheticamp. We have
given the details of that riot elsewhere and shall not recount them here.
(See Chapter on our Public Men and Politics). Ever since our politi-cans
of all shades appeared to feel that Cheticamp was a place to conjure
with,—a place to fight for.
The French people always took a lively
interest in the education of their children. When our common schools
system was introduced in Nova Scotia, these Acadians carried out its
principles actively and well. School sections were carefully established,
appropriate and creditable school houses were erected, the best available
teachers were employed, and plains were taken to see that the children
attended school. Good Reverend Father Gerrior, a native of Tracadie, and a
Parish Priest of Cheticamp, gave a distinct impetus to this educational
movement; and in no part of the county was the result of that movement
more noticeable and satisfactory than in these French districts. And they
were equally solicitous concerning their church organization and progress.
The influence of the church and schools among those people is self evident
everywhere. Cheticamp
was the first section of these districts to have a resident priest. We
have said elsewhere that In 1823 the whole county had but two priests',
one a Frenchman Fr. Planchette, the other a Scotsman, Fr. Alexander
MacDonnell of Judique; but we are not sure that Fr. Planchette was the
first priest of Cheticamp. The next section to have a resident pastor was
East Margaree where, we think, Rev. William Chisholm was the first
regularly stationed priest. Now there are four French priests in three
large well organized parishes here, namely: Rev. Fr. Cormier, a zealous
young Priest of East Margaree; Rev. Fr. Broussard, a venerable pastor of
modest mien and great piety, at Friar's Head; and the sternly straight and
strenuous Fr. Le Blanc, with his curate, at Eastern Harbor. All but Fr.
Brous-sard are natives, and young natives of these districts.
The people here would seem to have, not only a
solemn and sincere appreciation of their Church as a divine institution;
but, also, to take a perfectly proper pride in the decent upkeep of their
sacred places. It impresses everybody passing along to see the neat, clean
and respectably kept condition of their church buildings and premises,
including their cross-gleaming grave yards, — the dormitories of the
Resurrection. Sic itur ad astra. |
