, 1872-12-22
charms of fhe Country---Seculariza-
tion Of Church -Property---
a Miracle.
Music and the Ladies---The
Battle Of San Pascual,
The Harbor Of San Diego.--The Two
ToNns---Eyening Bells---The
Past and the Future.

OF lingering fevers and wasting agues. It need
hardly be said that
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
u the country here referred to. Some people
visit it who are in the last stages of consump-
zion, and do not know that it is at all strange
ehat they are not cured immediately, for the
probabilities are, that such people will never be
cured this side of the dark river, But this does
saot initiate against the balny climate, nor dcca
1t prove anything adverse to the healthy land
which is washed by the waves OF the eyer-bluo
Pacific. Fer days and days, and weeks and weeks
together, the days are golden sunshine. and the
weeks as lovely as can be imagined. So bright
and charming everything appears, that life
seems to have had new beauties added to it, and
strange longing comes over ones mind that
eternity may set in, and the scene, With all its
surroundings remain unchanged forever. Say
what ne mag, do what ne may, there is
Aw1Enp sPEll
nbout all this Spanish-Ame1ican countries which
Is beautiful beyond the power Of words to de-
ecribe~ It is is no wonder the natives do not
wish to 1eave their hozees to roam about over
Ehe world, for earth does not possess a fairer
scene. Perhaps there never will be dense pop
ulatlon herc, and maybe there will not be very
enterpr1sang one,-the people can be happy nev-
erthalesB, though some Americans are utterly
unable to understand it. There is no such
thing as hurry in this fair land, Nature being
left to take her own course; and the couse-
Guence is, there are trees of match1ess beauty,
nzange~groves filed with golden fruit.
and vineyards OF great extent. Flocks and herds
cover The grassy plains; and, way out near tho
Monte Diab1o, are 6ne farms and ranches, sup
porting contented population, Who dread tie
names even OF Snow and ice, and are coutented
pnly beneath the bright sunshine of Southern
Cahtornla, OF the lovely starlight nights there
Before the revolution in Mexico, the NUM-
ber Of
U GaAtqrnla wss twen5y-one, all Of which were
annual salary Of $500, in addition to donations
Ind bequests, from the living and tue dead,
which constituted fine sum Of money. Be-
sdes deeaso this, the priests had the labor Of
near the Missions we're kept IN =
thorough state OF cultivation. After Mexico be-
came to be Republic, the lands belonging to
the Catholic Church were declared to be national
property; they were neglected. and the cattle
N 1924 Some show Of respect was maintained
b the General Government toward the kind
Fathers until 1886, when the Californians them
selves took everything into their Own hands,
and made clean sweep. They threw of eli
show Of allegiance to the Mexican Government
and, being 80 remote from the Capital, were en-
nbled to do as they pleased. The Missions we're
'secularlZed with 3 vengeance. The Mexican
Government WAS furious, and threatened dire
wrath upon the Californians. The latter, how
aver, took everything in very cool way, and,
aftor 3 time, agreed to acknowledge the supren-
acy Of Mexico, provided they were left to do as
they thought best, and we're let alone in every
TaY.
The Missions, in old times, we're pleas-
ant, indeed, andj the Indians round about
we're as happy as any people On earth. Az
usual,
MIRACLES WERE PERFORMED
and, when the site Of the Mission Of San Gabriel
near Los Angeles, was being selected miracle
as said to have been wrought. Padres Pedro
Cambon and 8omera, escorted by ten soldiers
appeared upon the ground, when vast multi
tnde Of Indians, well armed, moved toward them
determined to prevent the establishment Of the
Mlsslon,-at the same time uttering horr1d cries.
The priests, fearing that war. would ensue, took
out q piece OF cloth on which there was the
Image OF Our Lady, and held it up to the view
Of the savages- This was no sooner done than
the whole became quiet, being subdued BY the
sight OF the image; and, throwing down their
laid the beads which they had worn round their
necks at the feet OF the Sovereign Queen, in
token OF their tender regard. The rest followed
them, and all the barba1ians we're, in due time,
EO4tt1k5A u t4Ilht1du1L4- EfEu HUM LILO
MISSION OF SAN GABRIEL
Is beautfm place, being surrounded By we'll
cultivated fields and gardens, in which there are
numerous bitches filled with running water; and
here may be found grapes, oranges, limes, olives,
That almost anything can be raised in this
vicinity, 80 rich is the soil and 60 delightful the
climate. The Mission Church is noble edihce,
adorned inside with fine pictures, and in better
condition now than the day it WAS finished. Near
khH Ehnrch fhhra RI Indiana Gyi0e WIN
Ere far better off than they were in their old,
benighted days Of barbarism.
In many Of the houses Of the old Spanish resi-
dents, may be heard
THE MUSIC OF TIE GUITAR
father, mother, and children all playing and
singing and, to their praise be it said playing
nothing but the fandangoes, seguidillas, and
ballads OF Spain, the tr'lest, purest, and most
touching of all music, worth a thousand-fold
more than the heavy music of the Germans, or
the long-winded and laborious brayuras OF tine
Italians The Spanish music is the most re-
fined, and yet the most natural, in the world.
THE LADIES
hare sparkling black eyes and glossy hair,
while their fair figures exhibit fresh graceB at
every step. They are by far the most indus |
trious portion Of the Spanish people, and are
noted for their thrift and housewifely qualities.
They are fond Of ornamenting their handsome |
persons, and arc among the most courteous |
and polite Of mortals. In their balls and par I
ties, they manifest q stately grace which is
CNalQliuE- IL di&S nGEA EaI0 A4At Ill Cpd1lSl
eople conduct their balls with as much decorum |
and solemnity is il they we're funerals, and |
days and days together are spent IN preparing |
cakes and dutces for them.
Back Of San Diego, some 80 or 40 miles, on |
the road to Arizona, is Warmers Rancho, and !
near this place, during the Mexican Var, was
fought the
BATTLE OF SAN PAscuA1.
General S. ". kearney, after crossing the |
Continent with portion OF the Firat Regiment
Of Dragons, was quietly making his way to
San Diego, with his escort when: on the 9Th of
December, 1877, at daybreak, the enemy was dis
covered, about l6o strong under command Of
General Den Andres pico, brother Of the Me1i-
IL P9a npan
they gave way. General kearney followed,
.ith Captain Moore and the other dragons;
when, the Americans becoming somewhat scat
tered. the Me1icans turned rapidly and nne1-
pectedly upon the prisoners, and most bloody
eonhict ensued,-the Mexicans infictlng danger
Gus wounds with their long lances, and
having an immense advantage over our men
in the fact that their horses we're fresh,
- rEy |