A Bon Bain

As Augustin slowly made his way to Sicamous the family back on the farm were trying to organize Renee's return to Canada.  In a letter written by Caroline to her daughter she begins with an apology for taking so long to respond to Renee's letters; "there is always something to do.  The days are too short and once the evening arrives I am obliged to go to bed early".  A plan had been created that Renee would travel to the farm with Uncle Leon.  Caroline and her husband approved with the plan but suggested that Uncle Leon have his cataract surgery done in Switzerland and not wait for the operation to be done once in Canada.  As Caroline explains to see a specialist once on the farm "1. You have to take a wagon 2. Take a train either to Vernon which is 3 hours, Salmon Arm which is 3/4 of an hour or Kamloops at a travel time of 3 hours.  To any of these places you have to stay in a hotel except for Sicamous as it is only 41/2 miles by motor boat. " Caroline then goes on to warn Renee that if Uncle Leon wanted his brother Andre to follow him that it would be very difficult in B.C. for him to live as you need to know English very well.  Caroline and her husband as well as Renee were fluently bi-lingual.  She suggests that he may be able to find work in Montreal in a Catholic business however there could be a problem because Leon is a foreigner and a Protestant which " is impossible to hide. " She explains that "Quebec does not want foreigners".  To find work in an English business you would need to be able to speak English.  She goes on to explain that once in Montreal they could purchase a ticket for the 3 night and 4 day journey to Sicamous.  She explains that with a sleeping car, which is very comfortable, the cost would be $90.00.  She suggests that at the Windsor C.P.R. station to be sure to ask for the Rockies passage as it is a "spectacle grandiase".

Montreal, just a few piles of snow

Caroline reports that Edmond is looking forward to seeing his friend Augustin. They will stay the night at the C.P.R. hotel which is in the train station.  There they will be able to take a "bon bain" - a good bath.  Something to look forward to apparently as Caroline tells her daughter that nobody has baths on their side of the lake.  She explains that Edmond baths in the lake just until October and in the house they have no running water which she feels "should be installed as quickly as possible".   She ends the letter with a promise to help with the voyage as much as possible,  "Mama, Papa C.C.F.L."