The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1899-07-20
Dainiani Going Te Brazil.

Kipp, Mont, and Alexander Diomedi, of
North Yakima, Wash, who were the
guests of Bishop John B. Brondel few
days, have left for New York, says the
Helena Independent, where they will
take the first steamer for Rio Janerio,
Brazil. Rev. Father Damiani arrived at
Helena early last week, but was detained
here awaiting the arrival of Rev. Father
Diomedi. Both priests are Je3uits, and
neither knew until few days ago that
he had been ordered to far away Brazil
"F'or Jesust it is all the same," said
Rev. Father Damiani to the Independent
just before leaving. "Whether ordered
to the polar regions or the torrid zones,
he goes and says nothing Preferences?
1t is word we do not allow. We are
supposed to have no preferences, and
what matters it if we have? We are
needed perhaps in the wilds of Brazil
perhaps in the far away Hudson Bay
country, and our superior says go"
We go, and that is all there is to it,"
Rev. Father Damiani was asked if he
knew what disposition would be made
of himself or his comrade afte arriving
at Rio Janerio He smiled as though
the question had only then occurred to
him.
Not at all, not at ALL he replied. "Our
orGer has number Of colleges in Brazil,
and y,a-E, ar,c, trro, will 10 -+,4:-~a - -
of them for time. There is great need
for missionaries, and presume we will
eventually find our way into the field
a broad one there in the interior of
Brazil. Before that is ordered, however,
presume we will be required to learn
something of the native tongues. But
l don't know; possibly it is to do one
thing, possibly another, but whatever
our orders ma y be, we shall try to obey
iEeany soldiers would"
Rev. Father Damiani is a little, sun
burned man of uncertain age. He might
be 40 and he might be 80. His eyes are
bright and his movements betoken en-
ergy and activity. For more than 20
years he has labored among the Indian
tribes of northern Montana. He went
to ST. Peters mission in Cascade county
in 1878. For many years he had charge
OF the mission there and the missions for
the Blackfeet, Gros Ventros and Assinni-
boine Indians. In 1892 the several mis-
sion5 were separated from St. Peters |
mission, each being put in charge of
superior, and it was then that Father
Damiani was transferred to Kipp ST. |
Peters mission was founded many years /
ago by Rev. Fathers Giorda and Imoda
both of whom are dead, the latter dying
in Helena about 13 years ago. Rev. Fa-
ther Damiani had charge Of the mission
school and through his supervision it
grew until many children from all the
tribes in northern Montana were gather
ed there.
"Some day." said Rev. Father Dami-
AMI, '5here viii be no more Indias in this
country. The time is far away, maybe,
but it is surely coming. can see the
changes wrought in 20 years. The
breeds arc increasing, while the full
bloods are decreasing, and eventually
there will be no more Indians. Already
nearly one-half of the Blackfeet tribe,
now consisting Of only 1000 persons, are
breeds. 1t will be as in the east some
day. There Indians are indeed scarce,
and the time is coming when in this
great northwestern country an Indian
WI be a thing to be stared at and to
take the children to see.
"Are they hard to govern? No, No.
Our Indians are not hard to control.
The Indian children are certainly as
good as white children, and it is on them
the future ot the race depends. There
is little use in talking Of civilization in
its better forms to the old men and the
old women. In many ways they are as
children still, but at the same time they
can not be taught and they can not APP
preciate the progressive ideas of the
white people. I do not mean that they
stand still, for some Of the older Indians
do progress; some are becoming farmers
and stockmen. Some, am sorry to say,
are following the lead OF their white
brothers in the more serious vices.
Whisky has long been the curse OF the
Indians and probably will be for years
to come. The government prohibits it
to Ec sure, bat the white mea, for the