Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 07.djvu/475

LEFT QUATROCENTO 397 QUEBEC QUATROCENTO, a term applied to the characteristic style of the artists who practiced in the 14th century. QUAVER, a shake or rapid vibration of the voice; a shake on an instrument of music. Also a note and measure of time, equal to half a crotchet or the eighth of a semibreve. QUAY, a landing place; a wharf pro- jecting into a stream, harbor, or basin, to which vessels are moored for the pur- pose of receiving and delivering freight. QUAY, MATTHEW STANLEY, an American legislator; born in Dillsburg, Pa., Sept. 30, 1833; was graduated at Jefferson College, admitted to the bar in 1854; entered the Union army in 1861, was promoted lieutenant-colonel and as- sistant commissary general; received a congressional medal of honor for ex- ceptional service; became State treasurer of Pennsylvania in 1885; and was a United States Senator in 1887-1899. Early in the latter year he was placed on trial on charges of misappropriation of public funds, and on April 21 was ac- quitted. Governor Stone appointed him United States Senator ad interbn. In 1901 he was re-elected to the United States Senate. He died May 29, 1904. QUEBEC, a province of the Dominion of Canada, fomierly called Canada East; bounded on the N. by Labrador and Hudson Bay; on the E. by Labrador and the Gulf of St. Lawrence ; on the S._ by New Brunswick, Chaleurs Bay, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York; on the S. W. and W. by the prov- ince of Ontario; gross area, 706,834 square miles; pop. about 2,500,000; cap- ital, Quebec. The surface of the prov- ince is varied, being diversified by moun- tains, rivers, lakes, and extensive forests. The chief mountains are the Notre Dame or Shickshock Mountains, with peaks rising to the height of 4,000 feet; and the Laurentian Mountains, or Lauren- tides. The chief river is the St. Law- rence, which flows through the entire length of the province. Next to it in importance is its chief tributary, the Ottawa, over 700 miles in length. There are many beautiful lakes, the chief be- ing Grand Lake, Temiscamangue, and Lake St. John. Minerals. — Copper is mined in Brome and Megantic counties; gold in Beauce; i^-on ore in St. Maurice; and nickel in Pontiac. The other mineral productions include asbestos, apatite, plumbago, mica, slate-stone, etc. Fisheries. — The total value of fish sold in 1917 was almost $3,000,000. The catch consisted principally of cod, mack- erel, lobsters, salmon, and herring. Vol. VII — Cyc Agriculture. — About half of the pop- ulation of Quebec is engaged in agricul- ture. The chief products include maize, buckwheat, tobacco, peas, turnips, barley, wheat, oats, potatoes, and hay. Spruce and pine are exported and the other for- est products include ash, cedar, cherry, oak, elm, maple, birch, and beech. Cat- tle, horses, swine, and sheep are the principal domestic animals. Government. — The affairs of the prov- ince are administered by a Lieutenant- General, appointed by the Governor- General of Canada, assisted by a respon- sible executive council. There are two Chambers, the Legislative Council, com- posed of 24 members who hold their ap- pointments for life, and a Legislative Assembly, which has 81 members, elected by the people for five years. Education. — The school system of Quebec provides for compulsory attend- ance between the ages of 5 and 16. There are three universities: McGill, Lennoxville, and Laval, and over 8,000 elementary and other schools. There is a total enrollment of about 500,000 pupils. History. — Quebec was the earliest set- tled part of Canada. In 1534 Jacques Cartier explored Gaspe Peninsula and the Bay of Chaleurs, and in the follow- ing year he explored the St. Lawrence river as far as Montreal, The city of Quebec was founded by Champlain in 1608, who later established trading sta- tions and forts at various places. The French governed Quebec till 1759, when General Wolfe won the battles of the Plains of Abraham, and the English gained control. Prior to 1841 Quebec was called Lower Canada, but in that year it was united to Upper Canada. It was made a province of the Dominion of Canada {q. v.) in 1867 by the Act of Confederation. QUEBEC, a city and capital of the province of Quebec, Canada; at the con- fluence of the St. Lawrence and St. Charles rivers, and on the Grand Trunk, the Canadian Pacific, the Lake St. John; the Intercolonial, the Quebec Centi-al, and other raih'oads; 180 miles N. E. of Montreal. The city is built amid beau- tiful scenery, for the most part on a nar- row, elevated strip of land. It is di- vided into two parts, called the Upper and Lower Towns. The former is built on the highest part of the plateau and is surrounded with a wall and strongly protected in other ways. The latter, which is chiefly given to trade, occupies the base of Cape Diamond, the exti-eme point of the tableland. Here much of the rock has been cut away to make room for buildings. Owing to its ira- 26