Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-11-26
F father Palladn1o, Who Came to Montana When Indians
Were Supreme, Completes History Of Great Northvves

IALOED by years of service
among the Indians and whites OF
the primitive northwest, Father
Lawrence Palladino, s. j., who is CON
fined through infirmities and conse-
quent indisposition to his room at IT;
ratrick's hospital in Missoula, still
retains a great interest in world af-
fairs. although the more active minis
trations Of his ~rricstly offices have
been resigned to younger hands
Father Palladino is one Of the few
remaining links binding to the present
the pioneer days Of the northwest.
and especially western Montana. when
hardship was as ever present az ones
shadow, and the practice of Christ 8
teachings as difficult as the fight for
existence waged against tremendous
odds. Yet despite the trials Of the
wilderness and the fast o~n-croWdlng
events of more modern days, the ven
cradle priest ~notonly has kept abreast
of the shifting sands Of human exist
ence but has retained in a remarkable
degree his remembrance of the time
when trials through the mountain
passes were followed on foot or on
horseback and before the iron Orders
Of modern transportation had invaded
the jungles and revolutionized the
ideas Of distance.
The history of the northwest. as it
was before civilization had forced into
submission the valleys and forests.
which he has just completed after
years of faithful toll, is proof of his
soundness of memory, his attention to
detail and his ability to grasp impor-
tant, events, even at the age of 50.
when most men have lost their phys
zeal and mental viger and are waiting
patiently for their Masters final sum
mons.
Clear of eye and painstaking of die
ton, the aged priest greets and vel
comes his many visitors in the hospital
where he has done most Of his writing
on the historical volume which is to
perpetuate for coming generations
I"cts and incidents of a time fast slip
ping into oblivion. Here are his books
aud papers, the intimate things of his
present life and relics of the days of
his stern activity.
During his idle moments, and they
are few, he sits by his window watch
ing the comings and goings in the
street below. Up to him ONE the
voices of childhood, on their way to
or home from school. or while at
play; there is the purr of the motor
anu Tue TdLlIe bI lEOuC4du NuEGIS. olA
in the distance can be heard the clang
of the streetcar bell. From the inside
is heard indistinctly the muffled tread
of the sisters and nurses as they pass
hurriedly through the corridor in
their ministrations to the ills Of
humanity. But such periods of in
activity are few. for while his hands
are III repose his mind is wrestling
with important subjects or he is
reading, a pastime which occupies
considerable OF his waking hours.
Father Palladino, foreseeing the
time when he would need the funds
to publish the book upon which he
has been working, devoted consider
able time to chronologizing personal
experiences into Odds and Ends
and these are ready for publication,
awaiting only the completion of the
censorship by higher church digni-
taries. These are the leaven which
gave life TO the events of more serious
momen which he has incorporated in
Indians and Whites in the North
west" From the proceeds of this
little volume he expected to finance
the publication of the more pre-
tentious book. but the work of Rev.
Father Joseph Stack in this regard
and the assurance from John d. Ryan
that this expense would be taken care
of, have relieved Father Palladino of
this worry. However, he will proceed
to have the odds and Ends printed
as soon as the permission is granted.
Among the many incidents chron-
icled in this little volume are recoi-
l~ections Of his native village in the
Businesses of the Appenine mountains,
remembrances of his family and the
y, rractnrc roinnI of itS Hiffnrnnt
members as a boy, a visit he made to
Genoa. Italy, and his life in America.
An incident which took place in
Helena he enjoys recalling. He says
he has found it a good practice IN con
centration to close his eyes n shut
out from vision distracting scenes. He
still practices the habit and in his
conversations with his friends fire.
quently his lids will drop. During his
pastorate il the Capital city there was
Il diocesan meeting attended by many
priests. With two others he sat in one
corner of the room and, listening to
the addresses, his eyes went shut. One
of the fathers stated to the chair he
would like to make certain remarks,
but as the person to whom they were
to be directed was sound asleep he
would remain silent. A few minutes
before tUb seSSioI tLlhcd w a SUI
prise of all present, Father Pafladino
took the floor and replied to his
friends intimation that he was asleep
ct his post.
1T does not usually happen that a
historian can relate the primitive times
of a barbarous country. not less than
its complete transformation by the
hand and magic of progress. and be
likewise a personal witness of both its
civilization and barbarism.'
These are the introductory lines 10
the historical work entitled Indian and
White written by the Rev. Father
l.. Il. Palladino, $, L.. which was
printed in 1894. and now out Of print.
it possessed absorbing interest for the
PEOPLE of Montana. since il was in this
state that the author labored and
where lie gathered his material through
a period Of years extending from the
first puny attempts at settlement down
to 1891.
There is much JOY for students gen
orally in the recent announcement that
this highly-prized work. amplified, re
vised and brought up TO date by the
reverend author, after years of ardu-
Gus toll. is to be published through the
activities Of the Rev. Father Joseph
r. Stack, S. j., of Missoula, and the
financial support Of John ID. Ryan.
Ryan Saved Day