In The Early Times, We Find
This Famous Seat Of Learning Playing A Prominent Part In All Public
Pageants; Its Annual Examinations And Distribution Of Prizes Called
Together The Elite Of Quebec Society.
The leading pupils had, in
poetry and in verse, congratulated Governor d'Argenson on his arrival in
1658.
On the 2nd July, 1666, a public examination on logic brought out,
with great advantage, two most promising youths, the famous Louis Jolliet,
who later on joined Father Marquette in his discovery of the Mississippi,
and a Three Rivers youth, Pierre de Francheville, who intended to enter
Holy Orders. The learned Intendant Talon was an examiner; he was remarked
for the erudition his Latin questions displayed. Memory likes to revert to
the times when the illustrious Bossuet was undergoing his Latin
examinations at Navarre, with the Great Conde as his examiner; France's
first sacred orator confronted by her most illustrious general.
How many thrilling memories were recalled by this grim old structure?
"Under its venerable roof, oft had met the pioneer missionaries of New
France, the band of martyrs, the geographers, discoverers, savants
and historians of this learned order: Dolbeau, de Quen, Druilletes,
Daniel, de la Brosse, de Crepieul, de Carheil, Breboeuf, Lallemant,
Jogues, de Noue, Raimbeault, Albanel, Chaumonot, Dablon, Menard, LeJeune,
Masse, Vimont, Ragueneau, Charlevoix, [58] and crowds of others." Here
they assembled to receive from the General of the Jesuits their orders, to
compare notes, mayhap to discuss the news of the death or of the success
of some of their indefatigable explorers of the great West; how the "good
word" had been fearlessly carried to the distant shores of Lake Huron, to
the bayous and perfumed groves of Florida, or to the trackless and
frozen regions of Hudson's Bay.
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