Alice of Old Vincennes

								

trapping and missionary work, were late finding out that war existed
between 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, domestic implements,
blankets and intoxicating liquors to the Indians, whom they held bound
to them with a power never possessed by any other white dwellers in the
wilderness. Father Beret was probably subordinate to Father Gibault. At
all events the latter appears to have had nominal charge of Vincennes,
and it can scarcely be doubted that he left Father Beret on the Wabash,
while he went to live and labor for a time at Kaskaskia beyond the
plains of Illinois.
It is a curious fact that religion and the power of rum and brandy
worked together successfully for a long time in giving the French posts
almost absolute influence over the wild and savage men by whom they
were always surrounded. The good priests deprecated the traffic in
liquors and tried hard to control it, but soldiers of fortune and
reckless traders were in the majority, their interests taking
precedence of all spiritual demands and carrying everything along. What
could the brave missionaries do but make the very best of a perilous
situation?
In those days wine was drunk by almost everybody, its use at table and
as an article of incidental refreshment and social pleasure being
practically universal; wherefore the steps of reform in the matter of
intemperance were but rudimentary and in all places beset by well-nigh
insurmountable difficulties. In fact the exigencies of frontier life
demanded, perhaps, the very stimulus which, when over indulged in,
caused so much evil. Malaria loaded the air, and the most efficacious
drugs now at command were then undiscovered or could not be had.
Intoxicants were the only popular specific. Men drank to prevent
contracting ague, drank again, between rigors, to cure it, and yet
again to brace themselves during convalescence.
But if the effect of rum as a beverage had strong allurement for the
white man, it made an absolute slave of the Indian, who never hesitated
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 in the end a well filled
bottle or jug appeared as his reward.
Of course the traders did not overlook such a source of power.
Alcoholic liquor became their implement of almost magical work in
controlling the lives, labors, and resources of the Indians. The
priests with their captivating story of the Cross had a large influence
in softening savage natures and averting many an awful danger; but when
everything else failed, rum always came to the rescue of a threatened
French post.
We need not wonder, then, when we are told that Father Beret made no
sign of distress or disapproval upon being informed of the arrival of a