Loyola University Chicago - Loyolan Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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I The LOYOLAN-1925 I 'T lflilf discharges its waters in Virginia, and we think rather that is has its mouth in California. If the savages who promise to make me a canoe do not break their word to me, we shall explore this river as far as we can .... lVe shall visit the nations dwelling there, in order to open these passages to such of our Fathers as have been awaiting this good fortune for so long a time. This discovery will give us a full knowledge either of the South Sea or of the lYestern Sea. However, the time for this enterprise was to be put off for some time. The Sioux, the Iroquois of the North, who seem to have been the Ishmaels of that day, were at war with everybody and danger threatened the Upper Lakes. The Hurons and Qtttawas who comprised Marquette's parishioners feared to be actively embroiled in the possible conflict and determined upon migration as the solution of their difficulty. The Uttawas went to Manitoulin and the Hurons to Michilimackinac, better known as the world-famed summer resort, Mackinac Island. Here nature had exerted herself tremendously and a prodigal display of beauty was the result. In the latter part of 1670 the Jesuit Dablon had founded a mission there-the famous St. Ignace, now commemorated by a peninsula on the mainland. Hither Marquette removed to attend to the wants of his Huron Hock. Sixteen hundred and seventy-one is the generally accepted date for Marquette's change to St. Ignace, wihere he remained for over a year. His time was well occupied, what with taking care of the temporal needs of his people as well as reminding them of the existence of spiritual ones. To instill ideas of gentleness and forgiveness into the hearts of these warriors, cruel and vindictive, was hardg to make them believe in a fairth that could surpass their savage, yet admirable stoicism was a task worthy of Paul. Despite these discouraging features of his work, Marquette persevered, founding a college at St. Ignace. the only one west of New England. However, the time of deliverance was at handg not, however, thatt Marquette felt or desired that he should leave his labors, or that they were unwelcome. In 1672 I,ouis Joliet arrived at lllichilimackinac. Joliet was the son of an artisan and a former aspirant to the priesthood, having received the tonsure and minor orders at seventeen. Later, however, he gave up his idea of being a cleric and turned, instead, to fur-trading. Here he made a success and was chosen to be the one who should advance the fleur-de-lis southward. Marquette was to be his companion. Marquette's journal is eloquent on the fulfillment of his hopes and he speaks thus about Joliet's arrival: The day of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin, whom I had continually invoked, since I came to this country of the Ottawas, to obtain from God the favor of being enabled to visit the nations on the river Mississippi- this very day was precisely that on which M. Joliet arrived with orders from Count Frontenac, our governorg and from M, Talon, our intendent, to go with me on this discovery. I was all the more delighlted at this good news, because I saw my plans about to be accomplished, and found myself in the happy necessity of exposing my life for the salvation of all these tribes: and especially of the Illinois, who, when I was at l.'oint St. Esprit, had begged me very earnestly to bring the word of God among them. Joliet remained with Marquette through the winter, discussing ways and means for the monumental journey before them. To Joliet, the extension of New France was t'he all-importankt thing, although he did not slight the im- portance of a further dissemination of Christianity: Marquette was a loyal and true Frenchman, hut, for him, the conversion of the natives was ten times lPage 221

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l'lu l.OYOl,AN-l'1Jw in 1666 he set forth for New France. 'l'he voyage took over three months-a hardship well comparable to any present-day voyage of exploration when we can contrast traveling conditions of that day with those that now prevail on the floating cities that cross the Atlantic in less than a week. Finally the arduous and monotonous voyage was over, Marquette was on the threshold of a new life. He took up his quarters in Quebec. the seat of both French and Catholic power in the New Wlorld. Here he applied himself dili- gently to the study of the Indian dialect, a task, in those prenatal days of philology and multitudinous textbooks, enough to discourage even the stoutest heart. For two years, until 1668, under the able tuition of Father Druillettes, Marquette continued his labors, and so well had he worked in preparing his tools for his forthcoming ventures, that within a few years he was master of six of the barbarous tongues. J THE IXIAYORYS Commirree AND THE STUDENTS XVHO Exixcrizn THE AIARQUETTE ,loL'1iNev, DECEMBER, 1924 In 1668 he was appointed to his lirst mission, among the Ottawas. The result of this appointmenlt was the founding of a mission at Sault Ste. Marie, the lirst in what is now Michigan. Here he remained until September, 1669, when he was transferred to La Pointe. It is during the time of his mission at La Pointe that we get the first hint of the future labors that were to immortalize him. In a letter to the Superior of the Missions he speaks of the uphill work in trying to learn the language of the Illinois among whom it had been settled he was later to establish a mission. In another letter he speaks of the Illinois Indians coming to the mission, who had to cross a great river which is nearly a league in width, Hows from north to south, and to such a distance that the Illinois, who do not know what a canoe is, have not yet heard any mention of its mouth. He continues to speak of this river farther along in the letter: It is hard to believe that that great river lPage 211

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I lit I,QYOl.AN-l'J.f' 'limi I'1a.x1 li I'.x1'r lili'l'WIil-.N Rlx1:ot'14:1 1'14g .XXII 'rum lxnrxxs more lllll1Ol'lZlllf than the acquisition nf new land, even though it rivaled fahnlous Cathay. Despite this ditference in aim, there was no contlictg each recognized the other's province and realized the inseparahility necessary for hoth projects to succeed. Finally all was ready on the SL'VCIlfC6IlIll of May. Provisions, canoes and men were ready. Only one thing was tu he done. .rXhove all, says Marmpiette. I placed our voyage under the protection nf tl1e Holy Yirgin lniinacnlate. promising that, if she granted ns tl1e favor of discovering the great river, l would give it tl1e 1181116 uf tl1e QiUllCCI3llOl1.n This done, l1e set sail Zlllllll the acclaim of tl1e natives. Their route led tirst along the llUI'IllXYZll'll shore of Lake Michigan, and this they followed until tl1ey catne to lireen l-Sav. llere tl1e Fox River enipties and it was up this stream that the travelers continued until Illlj' reaclied llll' site of what is now Portage, XX'isco11si11. Un tllK'lI' way to tl1is point they l1ad niet niany Indians, all of whom joined together to warn thein of their liztrfliltood in attempting a trip down the Mississippi. According to the savages, tl1e hanlts of the river were lined hy ferocious 11atives who killed all strangers, friendly or otherwise. Moreover, a dreadful ClCIllUl1 dwelt on the hanks of the river and l1is voice could he heard for niiles. The white men bllfllllll stay and not expose theinselves to certain death. Truly a fearful array of ohstacles other than natural stood in IllL'll' way, hut the French were not lllSllCZll'lL'llL'fl. Carrying their haggage and canoes they made the portage Zllltl arrived at the Xlisconsiii River. This flows in a sonth- ll'age ISI