St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-06

will amuse you with stories of the old
settlers which make you laugh. and you
wonder If the old fellows are not living
to you, and yet you may be OF the same
opinion of Senator Ramsey. who claims
that an old settler is always reliable ex-
cept on commercial paper.
Some days ago one OF these old moss
back fellows inquired of me il l ever
knew Capt. LOUIS Robert. Answering
the question himself, ana continuing, he
said: "ln early days he owned and
controlled line of steamboats, which
ran between st. Paul and st. Louis,
and between st. Paul and Mankato.
This was before the day of railroads
and express companies, and when the
captain of a steamboat was expected TO
do all the chores at intermediate and
terminal points on the river where his
boat ran for his customers, from the
purchase of dozen of eggs TO threSh-
Ing machine, when required, the cost
and commission to be added TO the
freight.
"One day Bishop Cretin, meeting the
captain on Third street, said, Captain,
when the Greek Slave goes to st. Louis
again, want you to 90 to foundry
and get bell for our church on Wa
basha street." giving the neces-
sary directions as to weight
and cost. The captain was
pleased to receive the order. On the
next trip OF the Greek Slave to st.
Louis he went in person to the foundry.
Meeting one of the prOprietOrs, he
said, Il want to purchase bell for our
new church at st. Paul. The proprie-
tor understanding the situation said,
Captain, will show you one that will
just suit you. made for one of the lead
ing Catholic churches in st. Louis. If
it will suit you they must wait, and l
will bill it to you at cost
The bell was purchased. The
captain brought it to st. Paul one
Saturday evening on the Greek Slave.
The next morning being Sunday, Bishop
Cretin announced to his congregation
that Capt. Louis Robert had presented
to the Catholic people of st. Paul bell
for their church. and that OH next Sun
day the same would be consecrated.
Monday morning came, and Capt. Robert
hearing that there had been an an
nouncement to the effect that he had
| presented bell 10 the church, with too
| much pride to question the statement OF
| the gift. he simply said, The next bell
| with 1t, must be paid for in advance
| nv nSNb oPlihP an OiONbIpii was
held to vote upon what was called
the Maine Liquor Law The
captain was opposed to the law, and
was very much interested in its de-
| feat The night of the election, when the
returns from the county of Ramsey
were in, which indicated a majority
against the law, the captain was jubi-
liant Speaking to some of his French
friends. he said: Go up to the church
! and ring the bell; let the people know
we feel glad With that some forty or
fifty Frenchmen marched up 10 the
brick church on the corner OF Sixth and
| Wabasha streets. About the time they
reached the church Father Ravoux,
who had been advised of what was go
ing on, came out and gave them to I'M
derstand that the bell belonged TO the
church and that it could not be rang
for any such purpose as they had in
| Dictated. They skipped away one by
one until all were gone, returning TO the
! captain and reporting Father Ravoux's
reception and the outcome of his order.
| The captain said, Don't that beat hi
that man cannot ring his own bell%
w. u. MURRAY.