24

NATURAL RESOURCES OF QUEBEC

province, the French-speaking element is gradually gaining ground. Indeed,
 the French-Canadian population has overflowed into the New
England states and forms a large portion of the operatives in the textile,
shoe and other manufacturing industries there. The new settlement
districts of the province are attracting a predominantly French population.


The Habitant —The rural French Canadian, known as the habitant,
has long been famed in song and story sharing honours with the picturesque
 voyageur. But under modern conditions they have both greatly

Spinning wheel— Baie St. Paul

changed. An influence that has contributed much to modernize the
younger generation is the accessibility of the cities by automobile. The
spinning-wheel is often removed to the attic and the ‘étoffe du pays’,
is seldom seen except in certain districts where the demand for homespun
by American tourists has revived interest in the industry. Always a
steady, industrious, thrifty home-loving individual, strongly attached
to his church and fond of political discussion the habitant is known as
a practical farmer. He reads the city and agricultural papers, is a member
of a co-operative dairy or cheese factory, wants a rural mail and good
roads. Although much of the boisterous enthusiasm of the old-time
“Rouges et bleus” has disappeared, the habitant has remained a keen
politician and there is yet a weak spot in his heart for a good orator.