Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-03-02
10 the Editors Of the Enquirer.

ta, Editors Uf the Enquirer.
- "' So Eu.vcI:c, CALIroRS1A, JAS. :. lSj2.
,1cssrs Edtor.:-Al,cr terrifying myself WIN sooa
hrc,kfasr sat nut for the Mission, lntcncns 10 W Will
have long wished tc explore the oity mus IN I've 'si y. ~,
Mission An hours walk the good plank road hrou&
me 10 The mission de Dolores and as the ch"ch pens
were ringing thought it fine opportunity to geta sIsht
Of the inside OF thu" ola ch"rc e 81 hal
hu time to get before the senortas and senora were
seen hockng in from all quarters ard aitet alIgI nir
crossing themselves with the holy water advanced ana ZOOS
h. nlaccs in kneeling posture have ever been more
deeply impressed with The Catholic religion ta,i WIN any
other Whether their creed &c the right one kn3" not
bur there is that deep DEVOTION that religion above all things
else that solemn earnesuess ubout IT, that cannot bat nj
the mind Of the bthoic with wonder nwc ara respect
Though OF their ceremonies appear 9oSh anu l'uc
lous 10 u.s. is much IN ihei. style o worship 10 con
m.nd our respeci The walls OF The Church. when arc very
plain and rough nre hung with very small i'amca pictures
representing the persecution OF the saviour ana t cat!
Chris,ians The nuIpit and vicnity rs usual richly,
ard in sumo measure splenddiy decorated Inc Moor IS
pa ei and carprd and presents very udltac'e up
psurancc for knselng TIE space deserved oI Inc "e"or
NAV have seen In Virginia Kitchen woven OF ih9s'L
| I was struck with the contrast between inc rough
and ragged appearance of the church, oztokenhe
nnv,r,y and neglect and the rich and magnificent
dresses OF the senoritas. There they Sal, or "a
hr knee,d wrapped up In their richly lowered ina oI-
lilo ecent 10 pull their heads the aforesaid magnificent
shawl. looking more like statues than living human br!nrs
could never have kneeled on that bare ioof So 'n VIII
mn snmcthog to lean on. During the whole lime MAS IN
The church (aauut hill hOur the muSlc, consisting q"
ct fiddle and brokcndnwn DRUM never ceased except Tor
hn 6dd, to be tuned The old drum sounded like beating
on balrbox The senortas are some Of the lnaeea au
iiiul though but once before saw oeau' hG"
ran woman have but few prcter women ihal some
II The senorilaa saw in that old church Inc walls around
,o church built ci mud have skulls OF cattle 0Glt up IA
them, and present very singular view, NC h'ns psae
spread out and the cattle seeming 10 LOOK III you MS
place may, WIN pfop'leyi oc c"''cu es " " -
h,d Jeff Tie church. and slowly proceeding on my
way to the mountains, when solemn, mouiniu, eouho
l hcft,rs hrarI broke
Sind in awe and as:nnisncn and listened 10 HE 'en
cbpIy music. Ii tic breaking d The ocean upon W
sho,c Not in its fury, not IN madEc5s, nat IN q
s,ornnoi il wss IN that CALM solemn, suen roar, u
which IL asscris conscious superiority over rs utter cnn
Tenn, Of ell .;ings other than what be l'ns 10 lis own S
~ domain Pleased, delighted beyond the ro"et VI WI"
- rn,sa in NV lmpaliencc could not restrain myself
hat sr off in IN though knew HE distance was ,er
r havnr, The VI ission three lnl moun7ins 10 th
~ - hrs. directed rar course, thought II won
- MI. h. tier view I'll the than ihc n'iii a':l '''
l,iry nrov mile commenced he ascent -! Tee mountain
and nov Games the rag OF war Ihon2h /, j. me lae
wiutcr tie prlspta!iom covers Ihy brow "eafly el'
,l s,re, ascent each rYmC" growing stcief AMI hi."i
ond 6nding must rest; make up my mliH 10 o. 81 a.
.nrn NJ can reach ,hsl tempting rocE JUST ao''e ,cr
, s., ,,y,rc nt! breathe Tor 4 fc% moments. alau!ui
do Toll and struggle exert rreT$ power h",, ''; II
If no use. From sheer exhaustion SIM" 80. - ~.
D., nm. .o,u SOUNDING aGo'n :r"f6 ;f1r, H..
VI a.c-.:n az Il where was hal: hour ago.
,,u, nt mighty incentive that sadly m"aa:ig sc!nL, s!
urges me on aud again imd myself, BY an irresistible i'm
rulsc fairly running up the sides OF This steep nnuni,n.
The rucSs hangia almost r nothing; the rays
burning sun, pouring down my head nothing IL.
ching thirst the struggle fox breath, the quick SIM
Of the hot blood through my veins needed nat. Tl>i
On, until again all grG"s dizzy. But now have ncurii
reached t.n suo'nl,, and after lille rc- again
and ;s highest po!1t. Twice had fallen tx
hausied p0wrTess in getting here Weary and uiisnGf
had been my journey here, but rcpnI The v.rw
now have IS worth hal! years p'gI!";,g" Stftcie,
oul before me, in iii its grandeur, IN all its sua!ty
beauty, and anon breaking in 4 snI!y sudden
over The sandJ upon lis shore. innr beautiful stili
in It's awful grandeur, lea The mighty Pacr: Ocean.
Nof ID m and Ian
its own law moaning, within hearings it stands MONUMENT
of God goodness and his power Oh my night the Golden
Gaze opening tic ay to countless inCacnabe
Away The East old DiaGuu raises his cIg2y nwnli,a
head. While stretching far, far Southwark calm aid tans
lucent Summer evenings decline, appears the bauti!
3ay nf San Fancisco. At The foot Of The lies
the Mission Dolores and North Of this The city Gf San
Francisco. il indeed scene I'll for. and worthy Of the
poes pm the painters pencil. before
deeply impressed with The awful grandeur Of Eatus works
The majestic ocean, the towering mountain the Ga7sned
valley the sparkling md dancing waters Of the Ike ., The
mountain base all seemed formed 10 prais" the POWER and
the glory Of The Great Creator descended the mountain
on the opposite side Of that which cane and wound
around the lake nj tie fon: Of H. The lake abpnt halt
three quarters OF mile in length and few hundred feet
wide; feet above the level Of The Ocean. then
clined up another high hill where had better ana
extensive view OF the Though MANY miles distant
ccu! distinctly see the point of termination n! pleasant
ride on horseback, took just six months this day, in
company with ono loved, now ar, far away Then was
happy and joyous full Of peace and newly created hopes and
rrs Homes arising but 10 dashed ground euviay
me htlpes5 dcspGitng and hcartLroSen
than they found me- Then Tic future appeared fair md low
cry, naught but peace and hapincss seemed Tor hu
how changed the scene! every hope blasted every br?: m
aginu,iun bghsd and crushed and every thought o pleas
turned to pain thought cf this day six men'hs ago,
and Of the ptcscn,-E1w bitter the conGs The same
rolls IN its glory and pours is waters the sindi The
shiurs bright and warm now "a did thea; yet
Break. break, break,
1T the lco of thy crage, oh Sen,
Dut tho tender joy OF n DAY tha, is past,
VIE mover bnck 10 mo-"
Slowly and sadly turned from tho spot and Hcnied my
weary way home; enjoyment for the day. There
is Of Importance business IS better. The weather
delightful. A. J. c.