176 OVER ON THE ISLAND

His dreams are not in vain. In 1821, he is granted amnesty and, on his return to France, he is reinstated as general. In 1830, Louis Philippe returned to him the marshal’s baton and restored him to the Chamber of Peers. In 1847, the old exile died in his homeland at St. Etienne. Fate has been kind again.

There are so many pages to the history of North Rustico. Here was situated the Island’s first summer tourist hotel. It was built and maintained by a Norwegian, then sold; later, it was burned. Down these roads rattled one of the strangest contraptions the Island has ever seen. Cows and horses, idly grazing in the pasture lands beside the road, fled in terror at its approach. Children peeped in wonder- ment from a safe distance. Farmers with fine rigs shook their heads gravely and declared with one voice that what was good enough for their fathers was good enough for them. Even the birds scuttled and scolded in the trees. Rattle, bump, shake, bang! Prince Edward Island’s first automobile is on the road. A new era dawns .

It is a lovely affair. An old man, who had seen it go on its initial appearance, described it to me.

It was at a picnic on the twenty-fourth of May, about 1865.

“The cannon she was fired. Dere was terrible reports. The whole people was scared. Then, Father Belcourt brought out his motor wagon. ”

“Then they were really scared. What was it like?”

“She was a wagon with high wheels and a steering wheel, too. At the back was a steam engine fired with wood. She went about half a mile dat day and den stopped. It was the steering wheel dat went wrong. She was painted red. ”