The Portland daily press., 1874-05-13
A Mexican City.
A PORTLAND LADY IN MONTERREY.
MONTEREY, APRIL 2sth, /;

MONTEREY, APRIL 2Sth, 1874.
We lett San Jose on Saturday for Soinas
City, took a stage at that place for Monterey,
the ancient capital of Alta California, the
''Sleepy Hollow of this wonderful country.
Monterey is situated in little nook of the
mountains, ON the southern shore OF The
bay, near its western extremity, at the foot
of the green and purple, and mauve-tipped
mountains, which come down almost to the
waters edge. 1t is a historic, picturesque,
half-decayed city. Dana, Melville and others,
shave sinxssssd the shores OF that famous ohl
Spanish city with romantic charm such
as few localities can boast Of Monterey
is charming, because in complete contrast
with every other place where there is noise
aud hustle, eager striving after gain; turmoil
of business. 1t is beautiful because of this
very quietness-it is full of rest. The hills
and dales are lovely. The town is surround
ed on three sides by beautiful groves of oaks
and evergreens. The Monterey Cypress
grows here, and il is found nowhere else ex-
cept where it is transplanted. The trees
stand grouped around in silent majesty, COW
cred with long trailing boards of grayish moss.
Beneath their shade,-the high waving
grass, like carpet of the brightest green,
studded with flowers of every hue-one
would like to dream for hours, forgetting the
care and turmoil of life in delicious reverie
of the glorious days OF yore Monterey
sleeps by the sea. If Rip Van Wrinkle had
fallen asleep here he would have found moth
ing to surprise him when he awoke from his
long sleep. Everything would have looked
precisely the same as at the first of its exist
ence. The sleepy edifices with their red til
ed roofs, shadowed by the sleepy looking
mountains. The white crest of wavelets
creep lazily to the shore. The weary looking
Custom House, seeming more lugubrious
than ought else as ii it knew its glory had de-
parted forever. l thought of the many dons,
padres, governors. generals and soldiers, long
since passed away; who had revelled in this
dreamy nook of the mountains. Midst these
Arcadian scenes, the corridors of these old
edifices once resounded to the pompous tread
of the Castros, Picos, Gonzales, and the Al
varaGos. Now the pomp and pride and glory
has vanished with the old troops. The old
Mexican residents complain that the dignity
of the C un.ry departed alter its occupation
by the Americans. We visited the old Mission
of San Carlos. The old Spanish ruin pos
sesses peculiar interest to the thoughtful
tourist. 1t was the second Mission establish
ed in California, by the monks of the Order
OF Saint Francis, and second to none in its
wealth. This old ruin was once the resi-
deuce of the devout founder and President of
the Missions, Padre, Junepero, Sierra. He
died the 2Sth of August 1854. He
was buried inside the church, but
the exact locality is not known
The walls of the building are covered with
names of visitors from all parts OF the world
Some very old paintings still hang in the
Church. Several ancient looking images of
the Holy Mother, an Christ nailed to the
cross, are lett there reminder OF what once
was within these old cIumbling ruins. The
old Mission walks maze OF adobe enclose
fine orchard planted more than century ago.
These Holy Fathers deserve more than
passing notice. They founded twenty one
Missions along the coast; their wealth has
grown to be enormous. They were Monarchs
of all they surveyed, and the real founders of
civilization in this State. The Oldest Mission
i'm California is at San Diego founded in
1869. These old Missions have invested
California with a romantic interest which
will never utterly pass away. A more lovely
restful spot than Monterey cannot be found.
But we must leave it,on its intervale between
mount and sea, looking so quiet IN the sun
shine, wrapped in Rip Van Wrinkle nap, to
be walked by the sun of progress, whl will
soon cast its viviying rays over the Castle OF
Incidence. The Salinas Valley Railroad
which broke ground here this week, will be
in running order by next September. When
| next see Montery new life will be infused
into l., ard from . quiet old Spanish town it
will be transformed into bustling American
city. But its romance, its quiet and rest will
be gone forever E. l.. G.