198 VILLEMARIE DE MONTREAL. [1640. 



of rank and wealth is set down as one of the many 

 mu'acles which attended the birth of Montreal. 

 But zeal and earnestness are in themselves a pow- 

 er ; and the ground had been well marked out and 

 ploughed for him in advance. That attractive, 

 though intricate, subject of study, the female mind, 

 has always engaged the attention of priests, more 

 especially in countries where, as in France, women 

 exert a strong social and political influence. The 

 art of kindling the flames of zeal, and the more 

 difficult art of directing and controlling them, have 

 been themes of reflection the most diligent and 

 profound. Accordingly we fhid that a large pro- 

 portion of the money raised for this enterprise was 

 contributed by devout ladies. Many of them be- 

 came members of the Association of Montreal, 

 which was eventually increased to about forty-five 

 persons, chosen for their devotion and their wealth. 



Olier and his associates had resolved, though not 

 from any collapse of zeal, to postpone the estab- 

 lishment of the seminary and the college until 

 after a settlement should be formed. The hospi- 

 tal, however, might, they thought, be begun at 

 once ; for blood and blows would be the assured 

 portion of the fhst settlers. At least, a discreet 

 woman ought to embark with the first colonists as 

 their nurse and housekeeper. Scarcely was the 

 need recognized when it was supplied. 



Mademoiselle Jeanne Glance was born of an 

 honorable family of Nogent-le-E-oi, and in 1640 

 was thu'ty-four years of age. These Canadian 

 heroines began their religious experiences early. 



