The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-12

? having meantime served as an inStructo
d in the new University of St Louis, HI
o health becoming infrn, he was sent t
y Europe TO solicit recruits for missionary
K service ia the West ard also to procure
70 books apparatus and other equipment
a for the ever charging work OF the univer
1 -lty In this service he continued till the
end Of 1887 The following year his first
! active missionary work began in the ar
, Establishment OF mission among the Pota-
watomeS. then situated. with remnante OF
certain other tribes. on the Missouri River
near Counc, Bluffs, la. From this date
his time was given, tall infrm health in
teryrned. TO almost constant service with
the Indians. or SPECIAL commissions in Eu-
rope, in behalf OF the ever increasing in
terests that he represented. A might be
surnieed, the underwriting and multi
plying demands rade upon him gradually
40 undermined his strong constitution that
Of various times, in his later years. he was
Obliged to suspend all effort After severa
premonition-, death finally anne to him.
at his chosen home. the University OF st.
Louis. May 20, 1873
The second year of his residence at Coun-
cal Bluffs mentioned in the preceding para
graph Father DE Smet assembled the Mis-
Fur Trading Company, to negotiate a ces-
sation Of hostilities between the Dakotas
and the Potawatomie. In this voyage
/ unbeknown 10 himself he began the tYofold
Office that he was henceforth to discharge
/ among the Indians-a forerunner in mis-
sionary work among them, and an ambas-
sador Of peace between unfriendy tribes,
Soon after entering upon this double Nun
try !, "A
ever after maintained with friends and
superiors IN this country and in Europe "a
long-continued series Of letters which
ended only at his death 10 assemble
arrange and render accessible to readers
Interested these early records OF the char
acter and history of the great West and
lts original occupants. is the commenda BILE
purpose Of the volumes under oonsi Iteration
Devoid entirely OF any thought OF display
on the part OF the writer in this correspond
ence, frequently penned in haste. under
conditions adverse to anything like attrac-
tive or finished composition, will be found
almost always an easy. natural presenta ton
OF local and personal details observations.
differences and interpretations charming
for variety and simplicity, vet with no
intruding disconnectedness or carelessness
The writer possessed to a high degree an
eve TO see and poetical sense to appreciate
the attractive, suggestive and ever varying
features of virgin country, ar well az HE
picturesque and impressive traits of alb
original life. while both were as yet essen
TALLY unmarried or deteriorated by the
malign presence and influence OF the noble
white man These documents. manifold
in manner and in theme, the editors of the
volumes under consideration have with
excellent taste presented as nearly IA pos
sible In the form and order in which they
came from the hand OF the gifted writer,
"a man highly endowed with the humane
elements of sincerity simplicity and al
most chldlike anna bility. The footnotes
appended are always appropriate and con-
else the work OF men who, by actual in /
vestigaton. are Familiarity conversant with /
the regions and inhabitants amid which |
the author so long lived. moved and had |
his being.
noteworthy fact may perhaps at this
point be appropriately mentioned In the
later writings OF Father De Smet an occas-
ional, almost casual note OF sadness that at
first glimpse seems ncongruous, is here
and there met. In this trait. however. the
writer il quite stf-consstent The scenery.
whether on the b,'aad prairj4s or amid the
rugged mountains. Ia Characteristic sur
face features Of each their diversified fora
and fauna. well the manifold phases
Of aboriginal life. the personal traits do
mestic usage religious beliefs and observ-
ances. the laws OF hospitality, the chase.
and the warpath were ever matters inter-
esting and suggestive TO the good father
But unfortunately few years we're passed
with the Indians, ere he was made aware
that in them an ill-starred change was hay-
ing place. The presence OF the intruding
white man was narrowing their domain
and contracting their resources their abun-
liant game was dsa ppearing. their vitality
was Weakening and their character was
ieRenerating. Hence came the sombre re-
Elections that almost unawares ntruded
upon the missionary and with them the
ealiling sense that he was helpless to avert
he impending results In writing he seems
% have suppressed utterance unless almost
Incidentally. Of the results Of the cha nge~
hat were surely taking place With friends
n later years he occasionally spoke more
Freely, and they sometimes attributed his
health in part to this great dsap-
continent Of his fond hopes
A more vivid and comprehensive view Of
he value Of these volumes NAV be glined I
I We present as an example Of his many
ours aud labors his experiences and meth
DDS Of work among the Indians, a resume Of
ais first extended tour Of exploitation in
s4O-l In the far West March -. upon a
,teamboat crowded with passengers Of
many nationalities and colors and tongues,
floating Babel in miniature. as it We're
most Of whom we're seeking homes upon
he fertile shores bordering upon the Mis-
our1 River, he set out from the seminary
It St Louis. As they assembled the stream
MS alert eve was charmed by the sight OF 7,
he diversified forests on either hand in ,
which he recognized the OAK. ash elm ,
ycamore. walnut, maple, sassatras cotton
wood. cherry, dogwood. ironwood. mag.
lolia redbud, mulberry and hickory. with
requent immense grapevines a single
me often enveloping several trees. all :
Nothing themselves thus early with uuuri-
mt foliage The cTlmbling banks and con-
family changing channel Of the stream. =
n places rendered dangerous by reason Of
hiokset snags at times inspired caution =
nd anxiety for the safety of the passengers
nd boat. Ten days Of such voyaging !,
rought him to Westport then the favorite
~ b,t Ill L. ]