La Salle and the discovery of the great West - North Central ...

8 CAVELIER DE LA SALLE. [1666.chants, living more like nobles than like burghers;and the boy received an education answering to themarked traits of intellect and character which he soonbegan to display. He showed an inclination for theexact sciences, and especially for the mathematics, inwhich he made great proficiency. At an early age,it is said, he became connected with the Jesuits;and, though doubt has been expressed of the statement,it is probably true. 1La Salle was always an earnest Catholic ; and yet,judging by the qualities which his after-life evinced,he was not very liable to religious enthusiasm. It isnevertheless clear that the Society of Jesus may havehad a powerful attraction for his youthful imagination.This great organization, so complicated yet soharmonious, a mighty machine moved from the centrey a single hand, was an image of regulated power,full of fascination for a mind like his. But if it waslikely that he would be drawn into it, it was no lesslikely that he would soon wish to escape. To find1Margry, after investigations at Rouen, is satisfied of its truth(Journal General de VInstruction Publique, xxxi. 571.) Family paper*of the Caveliers, examined by the Abbe' Faillon, and copies of somaof which he has sent to me, lead to the same conclusion. We shallfind several allusions hereafter to La Salle's having in his youthtaught in a school, which, in his position, could only have been inconnection with some religious community. The doubts alluded tohave proceeded from the failure of Father Felix Martin, S. J., tofind the name of La Salle on the list of novices.If he had lookedfor the name of Robert Cavelier, he would probably have found it.The companion of La Salle, Hennepin, is very explicit with regardto this connection with the Jesuits, a point on which he had nomotive for falsehood.