Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-10-23

'Iicrc is Il letter TOR Bou, fatbcr"
wholly occupied with their trading.
trapping and missionary work. were
late finding out that war existed be-
tween England and her colonies. Nor
did it really matter much with them.
one way or another. They felt secure
in their lonely situation, and so went
on selling their trinkets. weapons. do
nestle implements, blankets and in
toXicating liquors to the Indians, whom
they held bound to them with power
never possessed by any other white
jewellers in the wilderness. Father
Beret was probably subordinate to
Father Gibault. At all events the lat
ter appears to have had nominal charge
of Nincennes. and it can scarcely be
doubted that he left Father Bcret on
the Wabash while he went to live and
labor for time at Kaskaskia beyond
the plains Of Illinois.
1t is curious fact that religion and
the power of rum and brandy worked
together successfully for Il long time
in giving the French posts almost abb
solute influence over the wild and saw
age men by whom they We're always
surrounded The good priests dcpre-
Gated the traffic in liquors and tried
hard to control it, but soldiers of for
tune and reckless traders were in the
majority, their interests taking preced-
ence of all spiritual demands and car
rying everything along. What could
the brave missionaries do but make the
a.
But if the effect of rum as bev-
erage had strong allurement for the
white man, it made an absolute slave
of the Indian, who never hcsitated for
a moment to undertake any task. no
matter how hard. bear any privation,
even the most terrible, or brave any
danger, although it might demand
reckless desperation, if in the end
we'll filled bottle or jug appeared as
his reward
OF course the traders did not over
look such Il source of power. Alcoholic
liquor became their implement of al
most magical work in controlling the
lives, labors ana resources of the In
dams. The priests, with their captivat-
in" story of the cross, had large in
fuonce in SOftening savage natures
and avertng many an awful danger,
but, when everything else failed, rum
always came to the rescue of threat
ened French post
We need not wonder. then. when we
are told that Father Berct made no
sign of distress or disapproval upon
being Informed of the arrival of Il
boat loaded with rum, brandy or gin.
1t was Rene de Ronvlle who brought
the news, the same Rene already men
toned as having given the priest q
plate of squirrels. He was sitting on
the doOrsll of Father Bcret's hut
when the old man reached it after his
visit at the Roussillon home and held
in his hand "A letter which he appeared
proud to deliver.
"A Dattcau and seven men with q
cargo of liquor came during the rain"
he said, rising and taking off his Gu
rious cap, which made of an animals
skin, had tail jauntily dangling from
its crown tip, land here is letter for
you, father. The batteau is from New
Orleans. Eight men started with it,
but one went ashore to hunt and was
killed by an Indian"
Father Beret took the letter without
apparent interest and said:
THANK you, my son, sit down again;
the door log is not wetter than the
stools inside; will sit by you"
The wind had driven a food of rain
into the cabin through the open door,
and water twinkled in puddles here
and there on the floors puncheons.
They sat down side by side, Father
Beret lingering the letter in an absent
minded way.