Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-06-22
FATHER SMITH HERE.
Came From West Indian Islands to
Visit Michael Denahue.

lWOnlJ-IWO years pdStOE ut 81 h1LLc,
one of the British West Indian islands,
is spending short vacation with his
uncle, Michael Donahue Of this city.
Father Smith was ordained at All Hal
lows, Dublin, Ireland, and commenced
his missionary labor at st Kits. When
he accepted the charge it was under
stood that it would terminate at the ex-
ptratton Of five years, but owing to the
success he made among the natives ne
was prevailed to remain little longer,
with the result that he remained at
MS post for about twenty-five years,
when he decided to lay down the work
there and come to the United States.
He will leave this afternoon for Fall
River, where he has received an ap.
pointment from the bishop Of that
diocese.
The climate at st Kits must have
agreed with Father Smith, for he is the
picture of good health and nobody not
acquainted with his history would gus-
pect that he had spent so many years
among the laborers of the sugar indus
try at st Christopher.
Through the courtesy of Father Slo-,
cum Democrat reporter had the
honor of an introduction to Father
Smith at the rectory OF the Immacu-
late Conception church this morning.
He said he had become very much at
tached to his people and found 1t hard
to pull himself away from them His
congregation was composed principally
OF Africans, commonly known as Con-
COS, and number of whites, including
French, Portuguese, English and three
Irish families. At the present time
there are only 120 lepers in the island,
considerably less than he went there,
Ia nF I'm ont IA lrr{A
isolation keeping the malady from
spreading, SO that the number of pa
tlents is gradually diminishing and the
hardship in caring for them relieved
somewhat
The census of the parish shows a
population of 5000 souls. The COM
| mon people are very poor and there
are no immediate signs of better things.
Sugar is the chief and in fact the only
industry, and this has been a misera-
Die failure for some years past, and in
consequence 1t is quite an effort ror
most OF the natives to earn enough to
make both ends meet The blacks are
very religious people, but those of
mixed blood are harder to handle and
even when brought under the refining
influences or religion do not make as
/ devout followers of Christ as the pure
black Congos. There are several other
i denominations In the island and all
manage to live In peace with each
other. There was quite a scene in the
church when the bishop, after admin
! 1ster1ng the sacrament OF confirmation
TO a large class of boys and girls and
some adults, announced that their pas.
tor was about to leave for other fields.
Father Smith was able to say in the
language Of the Master himself. n
know mine and mine know me-" and II
was quite natural that the young as
Wen as the old who had learned to
love and reverence their pastor should
nave been shocked to hear that they
We're TO be deprived OF his wise counsel.
But Father Smith had made ND his
mind to spend the rest Of his years in
a more coEgepial climate and left
bringing, with him the good wishes Of
everybody with whom he came In con-
tact during his long stay at st Kits.
Scarcely less interesting than the dis
t1ngu1shed visitor from ST kits is the
gentleman who acted as his chaperon
about town, his uncle. Mr. Donahue.
| who took modest pride In INTRODUCING
Father Smith, his sisters son. to his
acquaintances. Mr. Donahue passed
I the S7th mile stone on the 18th of the
present month, and handled the ribbons
over his horse to-day in manner
which would do justice to the best jehu
In town. He didn't have to be assisted
In or out OF the carriage, either, but
stepped right in and got Off unaided,
and then walked here and there at q
pace that kept his nephew hustling to
keep up with him. Mr. Donahue came
to Waterbury sixty-eight years ago,
when the population of the town num-
bered only about 5000 souls. He came
/ in on the stage from New Haven, strik-
/ Ing the center at. dusk, and, as he hui
4 mOrOusly remarks now when talking
about it, there was something the mat
/ ter with tie electric lights and he had
a terrible time Of it finding his way to
Cornelius Donnelly's on Bucks hill.
/ But he got there all right, and how.
ever they learned of his coming, every
mothers son in town of his race. num-
| bering less than a bakers dozen, were
on hand to give welcome, and a pleas
/ anter entertainment no man could wish
for than took place that night in Don
nelly's house He has lived here ever
/ since and filed several public positions
of trust with credit to himself and to
the entire satisfaction of the communf-
ty, having served with distinction on
the board of education, in the alder
manic chamber and the board of police
1 and fire commissioners. He is one of
| the city's grand old men and everybody
who saw him was Pleased to notice fiat
he was in the enjoyment of good health
and able to show Father Smith the
sights about town and tell him some
interesting "reminiscences of things
that came under his observation since
he came here in the spring of '36 with
nothing back of him but a stout heart
/ a CHI