[sulte] origin of the FRENCH CANADIANS 117 



rciucml)er also that tlie facts in question happened nearly fifteen year.-:^ 

 before La Hontan's arrival in the co'untry. and that he places them about 

 1653. The statements are all wrong. 



The statements, too, from other sources, that Canada was peopled 

 by discharged prisoners is quite untrue, for the Supreme Council of 

 Canada exercised the greatest care in the selection of settlers, and the 

 whole details of this case are found noted in the deliberations and corre- 

 spondence of this council. Such items as — "two needle makers having 

 come out with the last party of immigrants are not desirable settlers," 

 are constantly to be found. A small number of persons of doubtful 

 character are noted in the same archives for the next vessel which will 

 return to France. The utmost precautions were taken in this priest- 

 ridden colony to eject the objectionable immigrants. These are glaring 

 facts not to be disputed. 



XL On the subject of that uniformity of language which is so 

 remarkable amongst the French Canadians, we may observe that it is 

 the best language spoken from Eochelle to Paris and Tours and from 

 there to Eouen. Writers of the 17th. Century have expressed the opin- 

 ion that French Canadians could understand a dramatic play as well as 

 the elite of Paris. Xo wonder to us since we know that theatricals were 

 common occurrences in Canada and that the Cid of Corneille was played 

 in Quebec in 1645; the Tartuffe of ]\rolière in 1677, and so on during the 

 two following centuries. The taste for music and the love for songs are 

 characteristics of the French Canadian race. The facility with which 

 they learn foreign languages is well known in America, where they speak 

 Indian, Spanish and English as well as their own tongue. 



Was there any patois used by the original settlers? Probably some 

 A word or an expression styled " patois " in the French language is one 

 that has no place in the authorized dictionary of the race. We have 

 none of that class now. Ancient words, though, are often employed, even 

 by the educated people, but they are only obsolete; they belong to the 

 dictionary of the 17th century and, therefore, rank as correct terms. In 

 fact, they add to the picturesqueness of the language and double the 

 resources of the tongue. 



As a rule, the women that came from France could read, and a 

 large number of them knew iiow to write. That accounts for the schools 

 intended solely for girls which were established so early as 1639, whilst 

 the boys only got theirs a long time afterwards, and not too regularly 

 either. The slang, the patois, must have disappeared mider the above 

 influences, coupled with that of the clerg}% during the first generation. 



Let us sav a word about the two main regions of France from where 

 the Canadians came. 



