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27
There must have been considerable night life Thursday because we slept late Friday, which was unusual, and didn't breakfast at Mme. Hoeckx until 11:30. It was another beautiful warm day and we continued our sightseeing right in Quebec. We started in with the Basilica where we were particularly impressed by the beauty and the reverence of a young girl dressed in white who was moving around the great church and [[sic]]worshipping at each Crusifixion painting. A sight like this drove home to me the power of the Catholic faith over so many of these people--how deeply they feel their religion. I should imagine that a great many of them are much happier as a result. In fact, I think I should be much happier if I could believe in a hereafter where I'd see again all my friends and loved ones some day. Unfortunately, I can't talk myself into that belief so I try to console myself with the idea that utter oblivion is nothing to worry about even if it is something to regret before it occurs. Another small religious item which we observed with some interest may have happened that same day. A drunken man who was extremely unsteady on his feet and virtually staggered up the steps of one of the multitudes of churches, looked back when he reached the top and swore a blue streak at some imaginary irritation, then turned and wove towards the door, but as he passed through it, he carefully removed his hat. He had no compunction about taking the Lord's name in vain a half dozen or so times in his tirade but had great compunction about entering the church with his hat on.
The point finally arrived when we could no longer restrain the girls from going on a "feeling" expedition that was the real thing and they could spend some money. The only store referred to specifically in my diary is Paquets and Willie advises me that it was a large department store. Willie bought some Scotch tweed material and so did I. I remember that mine was a light brown and it made up into a beautiful suit which I think the Colonel gave me for Christmas. Also we ^bought  some exquisite wood carvings which sounds like extravagence for us at that time but as I recall, they were small figures and not expensive. However, the diary refers to the "disappearance of $50" which I assume is what we spent during the "feeling" expedition. I might well explain that this expression is one originated, I think by Charlie because it sounds like him, and refers slyly to the ladies' proclivity for going into a store and feeling many kinds of goods as they pass through even though they have no intention of buying anything.
After the "feeling" we took to the road again and visited the famed Quebec Bridge which carries a highway and a double-track railroad (I think Canadian Pacific) across the St. Lawrence. Charlie got a good picture of it, which is included. It is the bridge which was designed by Ralph Mojeski to replace the ill-starred structure which collapsed during construction and fell into the river with the loss of many lives. As the