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Show PATHER DE SMET AND LINCOLN. How the Pioneer Missionary to the Indians Became Be-came a C haplain in the Army. IT. E. Robinson, president of the Missouri State Historical society, delivered a lecture at a recent meeting on Father De Smet, in which he related the following interesting story of the pioneer missionary: When Francis P. Blair was elected to the United States senate from Missouri, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Charles D. Drake, Father De Smet took active interest in behalf of Blair's candidacy. As this was rather unusual, he was asked the cause, and gave the following answer: "In 136: our father provincial, at my request, had granted me permission to visit again, after a long absence, my poor children of the forest, the Flathead and Blackfeet Indians. I had fully prepared pre-pared for the journey when I discovered that the United States government had, for military reasons, rea-sons, drawn its line along the entire Indian frontier, and it was therefore impossible to get through without a pass. I was informed that I could not get a pass without going to Washington. I accordingly accord-ingly journeyed to the capital; but ,on my arrival I found that all my friends who had been members of congress at my last visit were either dead or in the rebellion. I had no alternative, therefore, but to call on General Blair, who was then representing St. Louis in the lower house. Having never met him. I went to Iiis residence and introduced myself and the object of my mission, and asked his good offices. He requested me to call on him on the following fol-lowing morning at 10 o'clock, and in the meanwhile mean-while he would see what could be done. I did so, entered his carriage and was driven to the White House. , On the route he was kind enough to say that he had heard of my labors among the Indians, ancl finally asked me if I had money enough with me to reach my destination. I told him that I could get sufficient to bring. me to the borders of civilization, civili-zation, and laughingly remarked that after that I could walk the rest of the way.. After leaving the carriage, and wllen just about to enter the presidential presi-dential mansion, he stopped me and said: " 'Father De Smet, I am about to introduce you to President Lincoln, and to ask from him a favor for you. Please promise me that you will express no surprise at what, either he or I say, but that you will content yourself with thanking him if he grants my request.' "I readily acceded. We found, the president in his room, leaning upon his hand with a weary expression ex-pression of countenance as though he were entertaining enter-taining sad thoughts. His face, however, lighted up at our coming, and after being formally introduced intro-duced we took chairs, and he opened the conversation conversa-tion with this remark to General Blair: " 'Frank, is Father De Smet trying to make a Catholic out of you, or are you trying to make a Presbyterian out of him, which V " 'Neither, Mr. President; but I have come here J to ask a favor for him from you.' "What is it ?' " 'Mr. Stanton tells me,' said the general 'that his regiment I think it is the Fourth cavalry is , stationed out on the northwestern frontier, and that they have no chaplain. I want you to make Father De Smet the chaplain of that regiment, and give him twelve months' furlough, at which time he wants to go into the war.' "The president immediately took up his pen, wrote a few lines and handed the paper to General Blair, saying, 'Take that to Stanton.' "Before I had time to say a word Mr. Lincoln took me by the hand, and in bidding me adieu, remarked: re-marked: " 'You will do more good out there than all my soldiers and commissioners.' "There was pay attached to the position, for I believe I ranked as major, but I never drew it.' Of course I thanked General Blair for the handsome manner in which he had spoken of me, but I never, until now, had an opportunity of doing him a service in return. Now you know why I want to j see him in the senate." j |