 Remember a hallmark card when you carry enough to send the very best. Shakers of hallmark cards bring you an unusual true story. On the Hallmark Hall of Pain. Here's our distinguished host, Mr. Lionel Barrymore. Welcome to the Hallmark Hall of Pain. Tonight we pay tribute to a man whose name has been all but forgotten in the annals of American history and yet had it not been for a frontier missionary doctor named Marcus Whitman, the Oregon Territory might never have become a part of these United States. And so we bring you another true story about real people on the Hallmark Hall of Pain. Now here's Frank Goss from the Makers of Hallmark Cards. When you want to send a card to someone who is dear to you, here's a simple rule to follow. Look for the hallmark and crown on the back of each greeting you choose. Through the years this famous symbol has stood for quality at its best. Quality and craftsmanship in design, in words that say what you want to say, just the way you want to say it. And you can be sure of it, hallmark cards will tell your friends instantly. You'll carry enough to send the very best. Lionel Barrymore appears by arrangement with Metro Golden Mayor soon to release Dory Sherry's production Take the High Ground, starring Richard Whitmark, Carl Mulden, and Elaine Stewart. And now Mr. Barrymore brings you tonight's exciting story on the Hallmark Hall of Pain. Whitman, frontier doctor. The years 1836, the place the juncture of the Walla Walla and the Columbia Rivers, deep in the heart of the Northwestern wilderness. Him in Hogan, Macmedicine. Will you tell him to come out here? No, tell while he Macmedicine. Look here, Indian. You know me. Everybody know you Hudson Bay Company, man. You MacDonald. That's right, I'm MacDonald. And when I tell an Indian to do something, he does it. Now get in there and tell Whitman I want to see him. Quiet out there. Stop that infernal racket. Whitman. Might have known. Have a born depict with you, Whitman. Let's move away from the Hogan, MacDonald. There's a sick woman in there. I'll put it straight, man. We didn't mind you and those other missionaries coming into the territory from the States. That part of it was all right. We'd like to have a few settlers in these parts. And we didn't even mind your nonsense with teaching hymns to the Indians and tending to the railmen. I'm sure that's very Christian of you, MacDonald. But we do mind when you give them heathen savages, corn, and teach them how to grow it. That, my good doctor, is going too far and you'll not be doing it any more. I don't think I understand. No. I'll show you what I mean. Indian. What do you want? It's October, Indian. For a time. How many furs you've got to trade with a Hudson Bay company? No gut fur. No trap this year. No more trap. You hear that, Whitman? Why no more trap? Got hogan? Got cornfield? Fish and river? No more live like gypsy. Gypsy? Where have you learned gypsy what? Whitman's squad, teach me no word. Teach me read and write and pray to Lord our savior. You hear that, Whitman? I hear. And now if you'll pardon me, I'll get back to my horse. I've got two more sick calls to make before dark. I'm warning you, Whitman. We want you out of the territory. You and the rest of your friends. You're ruining the Indians, Whitman. You and your civilizing and that's bad for business. Mr. McDonald. What? Business be blasted, Mr. McDonald. I wish you wouldn't worry about it, dear. The snows are starting now and they can't possibly do anything about us until after the spring fall. My dear Narcissa, I may be a missionary, but I am not a man who leaves things to Providence. But, Marcus, what can you possibly do? One man against a tremendous company in a wilderness without laws or courts or redress of any kind. If I don't do something, no one will. Wait until spring, dear. I'm sure things will work out. I don't think you understand the situation fully, Narcissa. By spring, Oregon may be incorporated into Canada. Should that happen, the company would have a free hand with us. Oh, you mean the border thing? Yes, the border thing. The United States and Canada have established their border from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rocky Mountains. Beyond that, they're still in the discussion stage. But surely the United States will claim Oregon? After all, the only settlers here are Americans. No, no, the way things stand, they won't. They know nothing of this land back in Washington. I don't think there's one man in the entire District of Columbia who has ever even seen the Oregon Territory. But surely they've heard of it. Yes, yes, they've heard of it. Listen to what the learned statesman Daniel Webster has to say about Oregon. He says, Oregon is a vast, worthless area, a region of savages, wild beasts, deserts of shifting sands, cactus and prairie dogs. Moreover, what can we ever hope to do with a coast of 3,000 miles? 3,000 miles, gentlemen, rock bound, cheerless and not one harbor on it. Gentlemen, I ask you, what use have we for such a country? What use have we for such a country? I really don't see how he can say that. There are no deserts in Oregon, and that's for cactus. The point is that he is saying it, and they are believing it. And by spring they'll have thrown this great beautiful territory away, thrown it to Canada for the exclusive benefit of the private traders. And so, gentlemen, there you have it. Dr. Whitman, your generous offer to make the necessary journey to Washington is, of course, welcomed by us all. But I should like to point out that you can't cross the Rockies until late spring, and by then Congress will have passed their acts and stand adjourned. I plan to leave tomorrow morning. But Dr. Whitman. Tomorrow morning, Dr. Fortice. No man has ever crossed the country in winter. Why, in the mountains of snow is drifted 20 or 30 feet deep. The temperature is many degrees below zero, and there are savages, wolves, bears, rivers to cross, and blizzards. Dr.... Marcus, my friend, do not make this journey. It... No matter how you may be devoted to the Oregon Territory and your work in it, you'll be going down into the valley of death to attempt this thing. Marcus Whitman. Doctor of Medicine, man of God, and American. In later years, Horace Greeley wrote of him... Marcus Whitman once seen was a man not to be forgotten. He was of medium height, more compact than spare, and his stout children a large head covered with iron gray hair. He carried himself awkwardly. He seemed built as a man for whom more stock had been furnished than was used systematically and gracefully. He was not quick in motion or speech, and there was no trace of the fanatic in a man, but he was a profound enthusiast. This, then, was the man who set off in October to span the continent in the dead of winter. The feat never before accomplished, and Marcus Whitman was doing this not for gold or for fame, but for the love of the land and the way of life. The Hallmark Hall of Fame. Another day, I picked up an old book from my library shelf and discovered this passage written on the flyleaf. He alone has lost the art to live who cannot win new friends. It seems it was written by a half-forgotten American author named Silas Mitchell almost a century ago. And yet the truth of these words is evident and timeless. For one of the great joys of day-by-day living and of traveling, too, is the joy of meeting people we like and keeping in touch with them through the years. Now, even though most of us can't visit our friends as often as we want to, there's one wonderful way to let them know they are in our thoughts. I mean by sending Hallmark cards on holidays or birthdays or whenever you want to say hello there, how are you today? At a fine store where Hallmark cards are sold, you will find special greetings for every occasion and for every friend, old or new. It takes so little time to select and address an appropriate Hallmark card. And you can be sure each one you mail will be received with joy and remembered long after. Just look for the Hallmark and crown on the back of the card you choose. It's the famous symbol that tells your friends you'll carry enough to send the very best. And now Lionel Barrymore brings you the second act of our true story of Marcus Whitman. He took with him one man. General A's a love joy. A reliable friend and an experienced traveler. He also took his dog and two extra pack horses. They left the mission on the 15th of October 1836. Struck to the east moving as fast as was humanly possible. They were racing the weather, racing for time and for their very lives. And Samoritans! Samoritans! Fifty miles in only eleven days. If you could recommend a guide, we'd be much obliged. Somebody hanging around. I think I ought to warn you, General. That's come in yesterday from east to here. They said the snow was already twenty feet deep from some of the canyons and drifting a whole lot deeper. We must go through. Dr. Whitman had an idea which we discussed on our way here. He thought of a new route to the states going by way of Ewingham and from there striking south between the ranges leaving the Great Salt Lake to our right and heading for Santa Fe. Say Santa Fe? That's right. Santa Fe, eh? Never heard nobody doing it though. Yes, but could it be done? How about it, Pedro? Well, I don't know. Could try. Will you guide us? Sure. But I want a lot of money. It's a long trip, I might not come back. It's dangerous. Yes, yes, we know that. But how much do you want? My feet, they hurt me when it snows. Lots of snow between here and Santa Fe. Please, Mr. Pedro, cuánto, cuánto. A thousand some miles soon. I want, uh, $15. I've met very severe weather. Incidentally, in winter, as you may have guessed, there's now the state of Utah. They passed the Great Salt Lake and turned south. General Lovejoy kept the journey in this part of the journey. On a trail toward Grand River we encountered a terrible snow storm that held us to seek shelter in a deep, dark canyon. Here were we entrapped for ten days. On endeavoring to leave, we met with winds of such celerity that the animals became blinded. Maddened. Our guide stopped us. What is it, Pedro? Where are we? I don't know. I never see this place before. Are we lost? I don't know, General. I think maybe we are. But we must keep on. Stay here all winter. And you're... You are a priest? Uh, in a manner of speaking. I'm a Protestant clergyman. Well, then I think maybe you better say a little prayer for us. You'll never forget the sight. Dr. Whitman Neltoness known prayer. It was bitter cold. I am not a very religious man and I don't hold much faith in miracles, but as Marcus Whitman prayed, a very strange thing happened. One of the back animals turned and started their way from its companions. Hey, hey, come back here! Pedro, where is he going? Dr. Whitman. Dr. Whitman. What is it, Pedro? The mule. The mule. He knows our way out of here. What do we do? We follow him. Doctor, you... You make a pretty good prayer, huh? I think maybe you better teach me that prayer in case I ever get lost without you. Our forced camp had exhausted our supplies. Pushing ever southward through desolate canyons and deepening grits, we subsisted on bitter roots and bark, pine needles. Game there was none. Saved the wolves who followed our trail. We slaughtered one of the pack animals and ate it. The following week, near crazed with hunger, the guide and I secretly killed Dr. Whitman's faithful dog. It was a deed for which I shall ever be ashamed. We ate him secretly. And if the doctor suspected what we did, he never said a word. He endured his privations with great fortitude. He was a man with but a single gore, which he expressed immediately upon our arrival in Santa Fe. Have they had any news from Washington? Harry Clark says they've heard nothing for 12 weeks. From Santa Fe, they struck east toward Bentzfork in what is now known as Colorado. A cheerless, dreary plains journey. Day after day, they were trailed by great packs of silent grave wolves. Four days' journey out of Bentzfork, they met a mule train bound for a puzzle. They say there is a company of 50 packers leaving day after tomorrow for St. Louis from the fort. Wouldn't be another trip until spring. Day after tomorrow. Horses can make it. Take four days. We can do it any faster. We've got to travel with that train. Listen, Pedro, general, my horse is still good. I'll go it alone and have them wait for you. Marcus, you can't do it. You don't know the country. And those wolves, señor, they like to get you alone. Never mind that. Just you tell me the way. I had myself rode into Fort Bentzfork. The pack train had not yet departed. Dr. Whitman may have seen nothing. The man had never arrived at his destination. I spoke to Colonel Benton. He sent out his best scouts in the search. Myself, the guide, one of the scouts, followed the banks of the Arkansas River for 100 miles, knowing that if Whitman were alive, he would make for the river. Every night, our camp would be surrounded by hungry... When Marcus Whitman, he was lost in the mountains. And when they brought him in, although he was very weak in his fever, he insisted on joining the packer's train. And he traveled with him to St. Louis. And what about the treaty, sir? Has it been signed? You mean the treaty with Canada? Yes. Oh, been signed for months. Heck, doctor, they signed that treaty just about the time he was leaving Oregon. It can't be. It is, though. Seems pretty. Hadn't come all the way to St. Louis. Just find that out. But tell me, did they extend the border all the way? Does it reach the Pacific? Nope. The part they signed about runs only as far west as the Rockies. They'll get around and straighten up the rest of it next week. Hear that, General? Saddle up, man. We're going on to Washington. And risks me very much, doctor, but frankly, I don't see what I can do. Mr. Webster, there's one thing you can do for me. You can notify your fellow senators that you were mistaken in your pronouncements, your pronouncements on a territory which you have never seen. My dear fellow, you're a doctor and a missionary, and I have no doubt you perform your functions with gusto. But politics are not your function, and, moreover, I would advise you not to dabble. It happens that we have a strong ulterior purpose in the disposition of Oregon. And what is that? Off the record. We intend trading it to England in exchange for the banks of Labrador. You're out of your senses. In Moscow. Quite so. See, I'm wasting your time and my own, Mr. Webster. I bid you good day, sir. A relatively small-owned population, and if a private citizen had the determination, he could take his problems to the White House. That's what Marcus Whitman did. It was a curious meeting. The President of the United States and the Reverend Dr. Marcus Whitman of the Oregon Territory. Dr. Whitman, how do you do, sir? I've heard of you from Secretary Webster. I have no doubt of that, Mr. President. And in view of his report, I'm rather surprised that you're granting me this audience. Not at all. Not at all. You know the President's in a funny spot. He has to keep in touch with the people, even those who are out of the country, and not in a position to vote for him. Well, incorporate us in the United States, and I'll personally promise you the vote of every missionary in Oregon. All 14 of us. Is, sir, the President's in a funny spot? Yeah. I like Daniel Webster. I like to listen to him talk. But that speech he made about Oregon. You know where he got his information? No, sir. Got it from a man whose brother is owner of a large fur trading company. I know. Because the man told me the same thing. Lately, I've heard different though. I hear Oregon is something more than a desert. Desert? Well, there's no desert in the whole territory. There's no sand, excepting that which sparkles on the Pacific Ocean. Oregon is fertile, sir, fertile, and just begging for pioneer Americans to come and turn her soil. That may well be, sir. But what could be mispronouncements on the Oregon Territory? Public sentiment is pretty much against the place. I can't help you personally, but I can send you to a man who can. Well, I'd appreciate it, Mr. President. Yes, sir. I think you better go up to New York and see the editor of the New York Tribune. He'll help you. Names? Horace Greeley. Thank you, Mr. President. Whitman, this nation can never repay you for your brave effort to save the Oregon Territory for the United States. I like you. I personally am going to take your story to the people of this country. Thank you, Mr. Greeley. Labradora. The moon took public opinion, formed it into a club, and dealt the skeptics a blow which they never forgot. And when the United States and Canada established their border for all time, the Oregon Territory became a part of America. And those magnificent, wonderfully beautiful states, they were the women of the day. Thanks to the will and courage and determination of the man of medicine, the man of God, and the man of the American people, Marcus Whitman. Old woman we're honoring next week on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. She was a woman of amazing courage who defied all opposition and marched right into American history. But first, Frank Goss wants to tell you about a smart little lady of six years. This morning I had a phone call from my little niece who celebrated her sixth birthday yesterday. I asked her to tell me all about her birthday party, and she said, well, the gains were nice and the cake was nice, but the presents were best of all. You know, Uncle Frank, some of them were as pretty on the outside as they were on the inside. Well, I couldn't help thinking just how important gift wrappings really are to little folks and to grown-ups too. Obviously, the papers and ribbons you use on a gift box are the first things to greet the eye, and they can show your care and thoughtfulness as surely as the gift you choose. That's why I think you'll enjoy selecting all your gift wrap items at a fine store where Hallmark cards are sold. You'll find that Hallmark gift wraps beautifully designed and crafted in colors as fresh as a rainbow. There are small prints for tiny boxes, big dramatic prints for the largest gifts of all, and styles for many different occasions. So next time you want to make a special gift, a thing of beauty to receive, look for the wrappings with the Hallmark and crown on the label. It's the symbol you like on your greeting cards when you carry enough to send the very best. And now here again is Lionel Barrymore. Frank, you're certainly right about the excitement on the youngster's face when he reaches out for a gift all wrapped up in pretty paper. And as the youngster grows up, you'll find that these added signs of thoughtfulness help make our daily lives a whole lot presenter and happier. Yes, knowing how to give graciously is more important than the contents or the price of the gift. Well, Frank, I thought today's story was an adventure and a colorful tale, didn't you? Yes. It made doubly exciting because it actually happened. Now, next week we have another true story of outstanding personal bravery. This time we're honoring a woman, Mary Ann Piccadike. I guarantee you will remember her story for a good and long time. Yes, next week the Hallmark Hall of Fame honors Mary Ann Piccadike, a woman of the ladies' aid in Galesburg, Illinois who set off with a trainload of supplies for our Civil War troops. She took one look at the suffering of the soldiers and remained as the first woman in the front lines. Amazing generals with their unflinching courage, energy, and boundless compassion. I hope you all be with us next week on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Remember, you're also invited to the Hallmark Hall of Fame on television on Sundays, starring Miss Sarah Churchill. Until next week then, this is Lionel Barry Moore saying good night. That are sold only in stores that have been carefully selected to give you expert and friendly service. Remember a Hallmark card when you carry it up and send the very best. Our producer director is William Gay. Our script tonight was written by Wilbur James. Marcus Whitman was played by John Stevenson, featured in our cast tonight were Charlotte Lawrence, Alistair Duncan, Lawrence Dupkin, Ted DeCorsia, Harry Bartel, John Boehner, Tony Barrett, Holly Barron, her Butterfield. This is Frank Goss saying good night to you all until next week at the same time when we present another true story of an inspiring moment in the life of a famous person. Next week we honor Mary Ann Vickerdike on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. This is the CBS Radio Network. This is KMBC, Kansas City, Missouri.