OFF TO QUEBEC 1908 17th installment

Marion Nicholson, about, what, 6 years old. So 1890. I used my website picture, but I have the original studio photo somewhere.

While Edith baked, that hot July in 1908, Margaret sewed. She loved her sewing machine and seldom let anyone use it, other than Edith or Marion.

It was purchased in 1897, and it was the popular Singer model 15, but she loved it better than the newer models in the Eaton’s catalogue. Or so she told Norman.

A sewing machine is a simple machine, she said, and there was no need for all the new mechanicals they were putting on the new models. Just more things to break.

That was good as a new Singer Sewing Machine cost $….Her sister Isabella had just purchased the new Model 66 Singer. She raved about its enclosed needle bar, and she didn’t even sew that much, having the money to have her apparel made by others.

Margaret, on the other hand, sewed, everything except suits.She sewed in a room off the kitchen, where there was good morning light. She made shirtwaists from scratch, stamping out the new pattern or using an old one. She lengthened and let out skirts and dresses. She repaired most of everything. She was proud of the fact she had never had to purchase a Montreal dress for her daughters in all their years. Suits, for men and women, were purchased, but they were laborious to make and the styles changed with the wind direction.

As Marion was getting her work warddrobe, two new shirtwaist suits, made by a professional seamstress, Miss Biron of Kingsbury. the French lady, who charged 8 dollars a piece, Margaret’s time was freed up to sew up a new ‘silk’ herself for her trip to Quebec on July 22 and, time allowing, a skirt to Flora’s trip to Boston in August.

She sewed from daylight to nightfall and took breaks with Edith on the porch. She stopped only to make the scones for lunch. A busy person doesn’t have time to worry.

Father has written that I am to leave on the 10:15 on July 21st, she told Edith. He sent me 100 dollars.

It’s too bad you will miss the re-enactment of Champlain’s discovery of

Quebec on the Plains of Abraham, Edith said. It is to feature 0ver 500 actors in period costume, and some real Indians from Caugnawauga. The Witness has the complete program. It’s amazing, just a few months ago there was talk of postponing or cancelling everything.

Yes, it appears it has come together at the last minute, Margaret replied, pressing down the creases in her apron with her palms. Those poor Indians, they are still grieving I imagine for all their casualties on the bridge.

Margaret was referring to the collapse of the Quebec Bridge a year before. The Bridge had been in construction and was to be the longest cantilevered in the world, but something went terribly wrong, and over 100 workers, most Mohawk were killed.

A short time later Norman got his job as Inspector on the Transcontintal Railway, in La Tuque. Margaret suspected it was no coincidence. The bridge had been a component of the railway.

Margaret was missing the beginning of the fete, including, much to her relief, the open air Roman Catholic masses. On the 21st, Margaret would take the train to Levis, across the water from Quebec City and meet her husband at the Kennebec Hotel. They would spend the next two days in Quebec and then they would both return to LaTuque, where Margaret would get to see where Norman worked. She had been anxious to see his place of work, for it was well known railway jobs were dangerous.

Edith: Well, you will be arriving in Quebec with the Prince of Wales It says here is is coming by water, on the Indomitable battleship on the 22nd. And you will see the military pageant, the 5th Highlanders will be there from Montreal.

Yes, Tobin has not been able to get us tickets for the grandstand so we will have to watch from the sidelines.

But you will have a front row seat for the pyrotechnics, which are fireworks for dignitaries, I guess. They are being held the night of the 23rd, in Levis.

And so the two parted company and returned to their respective chores.

The real reason Margaret was going, wasn’t to see the Prince of Wales. Although she was loyal to the monarchy, as a good Canadian. The personage she most wanted to see was Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the Prime Minister,and if possible, she hoped, although it was a slim hope, that Norm was hoping to meet up with E.W. Tobin, the Member of Parliament for Richmond-Wolfe. It was an election year and he was not in any position to help out the Liberal Party, out at end of steel. She hoped he could get leave to return to Richmond for a few weeks.

So her dress and hat had to be stylish, just in case. Over 100,000 visitors were expected for the event, Canadians, Englishmen, French and even the American Vice-President.

Flora had listened in to the conversation f from the living room, where she practiced a slight little piece on piano listlessly. She felt sorry for Edith who loved history and would have loved to visit Quebec, too. It didn’t help that Flora was playing a wedding song in the Ladies Home Journal. In the Twilight Garden. Poor Edith. dolce and cantabile. “Flowers of high Heavn that glow and bloom for aye, by these my constant heart I plight, Not for life’s swift years, but sweet forever, While heaven’s above and stars give faithful light, stars that with glory crown our bridal night.” Her last recital had been in March, she had sent Henry Watters the programme and now Henry expected her to play for him in August.

He must have a piano. A piano and an fancy automobile. Wouldn’t it be fun, she thought, to be married to a doctor.