© 2007 Institute of Current World Affairs
The Institute awards long-term fellowships to develop a deep understanding of an issue, country, or region outside the US and to share that understanding with a wider public.
Institute of Current World Affairs - Home Page

Below is a hobbled text version of a PDF document.
In order to read the actual document please click the link below and register if necessary.
(One-time registration is free and very quick.)
Read article

4/5/1943 - The French Canadian Mind by Marine Leland

SMITH COLLEGE NORTHAMPTON MASSACHUSETTS DEPAITMNT OF FRENCH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE April Mr Walter S Rogers Director Institute Current Vlorld Affairs Fifth Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Rogers I enclosing etter French 0anadian chracter It sketchy analysis I I sending summary preent state rench Oanadian universities sketchy provide terial necessary these first remarks I variety things which general information which directly nected French Canada I finished The Arabis Awakening I India___ _Today Kch Mr E A Oorbet Director Ault Education Oanand which entitlea Th__e North_ Plain 0hangi World I pleasure seemed eminently sensible In other Words I found several ideas Moreover preparation Professor Short Is coming lecture Canada I Oan_ad_a T_ which I glanced through hitherto Small voltage which published under World Peace Association which deals Canadian American relations The thing I which direct bearing French Canada French Canadian regiments brief skdtches their respective histories I found great interesting material connection I received Montreal pamphlet subject Free Masonry Province Quebec written Jesuit I known personally Masons Montreal never attention Now I perused which written almost comic animosity I I ahould French Oanadian lodges Province Quebec As I wandering But these chance encounters I views subject which seems rather settled times I received Eugenics Province Quebec And I should volume study Of legal system French Canadian lawyers It rather expensive I whether Institute think worth while I think I could borrow Montreal Public LibraxT Last Wednesday Mrs Vera Micheles Dean oreign Policy Association I I chance length She interested trips Canada asked information which I fortunately She suggested I office I New York order their Canadian expert Forei Policy She asked letters people wishes Mon treal I promised whatever little pamphlets French 0adian affairs I again touch other since college She excellent lecture pleased tters Y0 easily understand encouraging since after little experience whereas Mrs Dean great We instuce necessity educating Americans mature andveofoown traditions before expect United States effective world affairs This beenveerypQhereaboutstilveryrecently But Iambeginningtonote aSlitCge whatnot therightdirection Fellowcitizenswho lookonea rabbidntionalistarenowveeringmyway I received letter Mr Moo concerning Lacourciere later another Gugenhelm Mason Wa suthor biornphy Parkms reard project which csrry thleyeaanwhich involves hisiti history development intellectl inGsince We talked ofwhichheapoloIzeforstaylnsolonysitthe thohtove alonefoasoliyes thsthesoppytofindsomeone Thi filla sodto esanyouIiderstw I cabot oftendhowmof thins which about If I begin enerate themk sletterwodbeverymuchtoolo But Ifeelthatyouvegiven modern world meato IreceivealetterfromtheOfficeofWInfortioninMontreal Mr Robb there little about Can He mpestobeinterested however lookingforwdtoseeir I Cordially SMITH COLLEGE NORTHAMPTON MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTL NT OF FRENCH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE April Mr Walter S Rogers Director The Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Rogers Here I regard certain fundamental facts about French 0analian works They platitudinous someone accustomed studying different races I heard I nonsense talked subject French Canadians I Come believe these commonplace facts clarifying situation In thinking French Canadians should borne lrench their characteristics which baffle English nothing French characteristics In America English speaking people thinking Oanucks nowhere Just hppened Canada chief purpose causing trouble seems important stress French Canadians tained their French characteristics almost without perceptible change By illustration I should enumerate these charactdristics their effect modern Oanadian scene The French France everybody knows primarily intellectual people The which ideas The intellectual aspect question important practical aspect 1hereas another platitude English moments crisis satisfied muddle through situation though realize perfectly absurdities about theench temperament impossible They argue criticize They csmnot themselves For reason French believe letter rather spirit This I remember Cause misunderstanding between French English League Nations Now Canada rench trait survived T French Canadians criticize print measures being adopted Ottawa their criticisms couched directness which characteristic French speech entirely foreign English As matter Of general Character criticism cisely which would occur English speaking person I heard myself English Canadians precisely marks certain measures which French Canadisn papers latter these always interpreted refusal French Canadians cooperate effort The racial element always creeps Moreover mJority English speaking people French Oanadian newspapers Their Just echoes garbled versions appears For stance early years French Oauadian press especial L_e began small populat gigantic perform feeding arming mpire could provide enormous This question which population eleven times Oanada asking today But there racial issue consoription Therefore question discussed without arousing animosit which excited Another result ideas growth political parties French Oanada itself This result extreme individualiam France something fourteen polltical parties based scale shades opinion several which could scarcely distinguished other This individualism French Canadians another extremely important point discussion bearing means further rapprochement between races Canada The French Canadians individuals thins their They desire adopt English American In I struck although I always known their desire influence It noted people Re Oros ffort Canada French Prance They their relief system whereas Belgians Greeks Norwegians nglish mention Yuglisli French Oanaians willing their efforts together If French Cansliane orrow anhing French borrowing precisely their adaptation borrowed their needs The French Canadians unaware contributions unquestionably valuable For instance admiration library system prefer France On other ideas birth control This merely religious matter often believed The French Canadians other Latins modern France actually large families selves ulterior purpos keepin French ulation The French Canadians likeeerybody They entirely religious patriotic ideals What French Canadians percentage infant mortality whereas Will follow Anglo minded sociologists mtter birth control follow their modifications health grams I intend subject French character Very deepl today characteristics intellectualism individualism which I Just mentioned X should third which difficult English speaking people understand French humor To French quest satirical mterial which amuse amuse nothing sacred I English Were often larme shocked certain attack either government various aspects tende treason Of interpret French Canadian Jokes course nothing farther truth Anyone acquainte trsxlition Pari Cafe Ooncert feels instantly French Canadian concert If English reassurance point might remine Oatholic church comes heavy share satire national acteristics msethe subject devastating cruel jokes There course subject rench Canadian character For instance French Canadians Ths fault perhaps their greatest enemy Moreover lived isolation often rules which other people playlng They extreme timidity extreme forwardness Those lived American Saxon world middl course between these extremes Not French Oauaiau He between inferiority complex which fully desire overcome The resulting impression outsiders French Canadiau TO thinking fundamental racial charac teristic rather result isolation which these people lived Sincerely yours