The morning times., 1895-10-19
SOME OF THE SCHOLARS.

forest sunk in the degradation produced by
centuries of pagansm and vice. The late
treaty with this nation had drawn hordes
of fortune seekers to the great mining
State and their example in truth and
honesty had not been exactly edifying, or
tn conformity with the doctrines oil the
black gown.
But courage, zeal and perseverance are
stronger than ignorance, ma lice, ana
vice, and FIR. De Smet baptized large num-
bers of these Indians, and established mis-
sion houses in various parts OF their reser-
walton. The most important of these is st.
Peters Mission, nestled in beautiful, ro-
mantle spot in the Rocky Mountains on the
main road to Manitoba station.
A FRONTIER MISSION.
The mission lies fourteen miles south OF
the village of Cascade and boasts of post
office, a college, an Ursuline convent, and
many picturesque huts, or "tepees.' The
college is conducted by the Jesuit fathers,
and is square stone building, surmounted
by a ponderous gilt cross. Here the fol-
lowers of the noble De Smet are endeayor-
ing TO give this despised and deeply-wronged
race that so long held sway in this mighty
dominion, something greater and more last
ing than the glorious hills and copious
waters they have lost-the benefits of CIV
lization and of Christian education.
The Ursuline nuns, whom the church has
beautifully styled the Mothers OF Chris
tianity," are the missioners of the children.
Comb and brush, needle and thread, knife
and fork, broom and mop, are strangers
TO whom those little savages need long and
tedious introduction. Not only must they
be watched and directed, but the work will
have to be renewed before them every
day, until at last, their initiative genius
,aff ff1air In
they become adopts in a short time.
The Flatheads and Kalispels, of Wash
ington State, have, since 1S41, been
source of particular maternal solicitude
and care among the Catholic missions.
Up to this date they were notably the most
ignorant and superstitious of their kind.
Unlike the Indians east of the mountains,
they had no idea of future state, of the
great spirit or of a soul. In 1S41 Bishop
Rosati. of st. Louis. sent two missionaries
into this dreary and apparently hopeless
country. Their success is testified to By
q non-Catholic gentleman, Gen. Henry b.
Darlington, U. S. A, who visited the mis-
sions during a military inspection he was
then making. In his official reports, he
writes:
"a week ago attended service at st.
Ignatius' Mission and heard delightful
sermon from Father jerome D'Aste, who
has been for twenty years the untiring
friend and adviser of the Flatheads. The
child-like faith with which these humble
red men receive the Holy Spirit into their
souls and make the Heavenly Father
their everyday companion and friend is
almost marvellous"
On the 21st of February, 1877, Father
Peter Prando, s. J., and one companion
began apostolic work among the Crow
Indians, in the Big Horn Valley of Mon
tana. His agency is now one of the most
important among all the Indian missions,
and is in a flourishing condition. The
Crows have been from their conversion
wonderfully simple and earnest in their
faith At their last great feast day, that
of st. IgDatius, celebrated on July 81,
after many of the tribe had heard mass and
received holy communion the chief asked
permission TO make a speech. Standing
by the altar railing. he said, with great
earnestness and solemnity:
30 God. believe all the words your
black gown has SPOKEN, and so do all my
people. o God. when. after n long life
shall have to die. I want you to take the
key OF heaven and omen the door. so can
get in and see your face. o God. pity US.
we are poor people. Let The grass grow
high, our ponies be fat. our COWS have
many calves. the potatoes be big, and