Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-03-04
WOMEN'S DEPARTMENT.
EDITED BY BELLE MEADE SMITH.
The San Fern an do Mission.

Ivisited the time-honored spot one dul
morning last week, and the shadow
light in which l viewed it produce'
an impression upon the camera OF IN.
mind which nothing can ever efface
The ruins stand in the greenest ant
most isolated section Of the rich an,
beautiful San Fernando Valley, ant
have for their background an un
broken line of emerald hill
above which the blue mountains
tower up to meet the sky
To the left of the road which leads ou
of the town, a row Of tall willow treel
are swayed to and fro by the wind
amid them and directly in front OF
the best preserved wing of the build
ing, is the fountain that in the long
long ago, sent forth showers Of the
crystal waters which abound
in the locality. A little further on the
blacksmith shop and the substantial
stakes of the Porter Land and Water
Company revive the present and
slightly dispel old past; but the in
slant the tourist turns his back upon
these evidences OF progress, he again
becomes subject to the wierd spell
which the scene weave5 about him. In
one end of the long gallery which
faces the highway is the primitive
chapel in which services are held
every fortnight; while in another
dark and mouldy room Chinese res
taurant is in operation. Next to it is
a chamber devoted to the nocturnal
use of the Celestials. 1t contains two
comfortless beds, rusty stove and a
bench and number of grain sacks
heaped in a corner. Adjoining this
apartment is another large, but dingy
room, in which quantity OF grain is
stored and where a number of birds
have built their nests. At the sound
tf every football upon the walk
without, one or two or more
of them start up and flutter
out into the air. Indeed, it is impos-
sible to move anywhere about the
Mission without alarming some of the
feathered tribe, who seem to have
more affection for it than man, even
though he is, and they are not. aware
of its antiquity and its associations.
In fact, it is shocking to learn that
within the past year and a half some
vandals, doubtless to obtain the lum-
ber, have torn away much of the
original sanctuary. In therea of the
gallery, the rugged and irregular out
lines of the remainder OF the structure
present a ghostly aspect which ais
greatly augmented by the drove
Of sheep which wander amid
its shadows and the tall date palm trees
which gravely stand in memoriam of
the days and faces so long covered
with the ashes of the past. Except
the twittering of the birds and the
chattering of the Chinese at work
about the kitchen, not a sound breaks
the profound stiffness which character
ICES the place; while, with the excep-
tion of the occasional team which
drives by, or the tourist who on foot
wanders amid the scenes, no one is to
be seen but now and then a Celestial
bearing upon his shoulders rod on
which is suspended two baskets or
buckets. Somewhere near the
Mission, though, lives an old
Indian woman who more than
ninety years ago helped to
build the walls and who can re
call much of the early history of the
Mission and its founders. But she is
said to be reticent except when con-
versing with those with whom she is
we'll acquainted, 80 that the stranger
can obtain from her little, if any, infor-
nation. There are also scattered about
the town andIthe valley, the half breed
descendants OF some of the original
Indians and SpAniards among whom
the first, untiring fathers labored.
Some of them are curious specimens
of humanity; Whitehall of them are
more interesting on account OF the
traditions which cling to them, than
because Of any personality OF their
own.
The People We Meet ON the Cars.
The first who attracted my attention
a day or two ago were mother and
son who were travelling for pleasure
through California. She was a we'll
dressed, austere looking woman with
a number of gray hairs and even more
sour looking wrinkles. He was a
mischievous looking lad of about Is,
who was firmly convinced that he
had seen great deal OF the
world and that he was connois-
seur of fem mime beauty. Evidently
his mother entertained a different
opinion, for with her back half turned
to him she either tried to read or look
out of the window. But he did not
proposed to be thus ignored and either
to tease her or to be heard he kept
pulling at her sleeve and asking her a
great variety of questi ons. Some
times she curtly answered him, 9TH
ers she petulantly demanded to be
let alone, while again she would per-
NIT his nonsense to pass by unheed-
ed. He was not desperately inter-
esting, it is true, but what a cal
lous heart mother must have who
cannot bring herself down to own the
hobble-te-hoy-hood of her own boy.
Besides, when in after years, he finds
"metal more attractive" and she,
tired of herself and too continuous
round of pleasure, sees that he is no
longer the troublesome urchin, but
the man of the world, and SO seeks to
secure his companionship, will he not
remember how she once spurned him
and pay her back as she deserves, in
her own coin? A red-haired family
consisting of a father, mother and
two children next claimed my notice.
The little girl wanted to sit quietly
and look out of the window, but the
boy, who was about 4 years old, and
who seemed to have monopolized
all the animation of the house
hold, somewhat interfered with her
engagement by tearing her auburn
locks out by the roots and rambling
pell-mell into the corner she occupied
over the back of the seat. Upon these
amusements lhis mother looked with
~ L e. IL