104. THEISLAND ACADIANS

teachers and educated people were frequently accused of preferring to speak English>.

The Catholic clergy, who had considerable influence over this lay elite, did not form a unified group. The clergy included priests of Québécois, Irish and Scottish descent who were far from agreeing on the Acadian question. Their attitude with regard to the Acadian culture and the French language varied greatly. Therefore, the influence of the clergy on Acadian leaders was not consistent. So it was under the direction and influence of a rather varied leadership with differing opinions that the Acadian community began to emerge from its cul- tural isolation.

In order to hasten the evolution of their people, Acadian leaders advocated changing some of the popular values of the time. In their opinion, the development of the Acadians was being hindered by certain traditional values. Consequently, they conducted a propaganda campaign in an attempt to prove to Acadians that they would probably benefit if they modified their attitudes and abandoned some of their old customs. Needless to say, this elite stressed the importance of education. One of the most stirring pleas in defence of change ap- peared on the front page of The Summerside Progress in 1868. The author who identified himself merely as “An Acadian” entitled his article: Manners and Customs of the French Acadians in PE. Island. — Reform. He wrote with conviction that if the Acadians did not change their lifestyle, they were likely to remain an insignificant people:

Acadians! You deserve praise for your virtues; but to remain in your present condition, wedded to traditions of the past, holding in reverence antiquated notions of exclusiveness, and hugging to your breast old manners and customs, will not conduce to your material prosperity, respectibility or happiness! [. . .]

If you do not avail yourselves of the advantages of education, —if you do not assimiliate [sic] your manners and customs to those prevailing around you, —and if your women do not conform in some near degree to the fashions in dress, and become more susceptible du poli [sic], you will continue a separate, and, as a matter of necessity, an insignificant people.

Think of it, Acadians, and wake up!®

This anonymous writer urged Acadian women to abandon their traditional costume in order to conform to the fashions of the day. He does not appear to have been the only person to advocate this change, because within a few years most Acadian women on the Island