Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-03

SUI 70 hlN lAdu AhAp wv bAA
time OF the missions, the American romance
of the Argonauts, and the distinctive period
of the boom, Perhaps in no section OF the
union has the aggressive side of American
character been so strongly shown as in the
almost complete extinction of tho Spaniard
in California. To Junipcro Sierra, u devout
Franciscan monk, belongs the credit OF ex-
ploring the country and founding the famous
chain of missions, the ruins of which are
now objects OF increasing interest to visit
ors. Sierra was fifty-six years old when he
set out from Mexico in 1867, with a party OF
sixteen persons, for the then comparatively
unknown country. The party reached San
Diego in Ave months, and at once began the
work of converting the Indians, founding
missions and enjoying the fruits of The earth
in abundance. During the succeeding sixty
five years eighty thousand Indians were
brought into the church. These natives
were most proftably employed in the mis-.
sions and attached industries extending from
San Diego northward 200 miles. The won
in making the Indian slaves toll in their
vineyards brought the missions to a
point, early in the century, that the
products netted a profit OF s2,OOO,OoO
q year. And when the Mexican govern
ment confiscated the spoils in 1884, the value .
OF live stock alone was $1,000 600, OF all
this toll and struggle and suffering, naught
but the ruins remain. There were no re-
suits. Scarcely one hundred OF the Indians,
living in wretched huts and wandering
through the state, still finger as evidence of
the thousands who greeted Sierra when he
laid the foundation of a fated civilization.
| Yet arouu the missions Of California is an
atmosphere which all the winds cannot blow
away, which is unique IN American life,
and of which tho ruins seem TO afford the
only taste.
The forty.niners, a distinctive California
| class, no longer form an element of coast
life. The sand and grit which ena-
bled them to forsake their homes and
brave the rigors Of a trip across the
plains or isthmps or round the Torn; has
petered out and the few remaining linger
I around their old haunts, grizzled mementos
of the old time (which tried mems souls"
He is misplaced in these times, but in his
day the writer truly says "he was the repre-
sentative of that sturdy valor which Is now
decaylng in wealth and luxury; of that cour-
| age which then regarded danger and diff
1culty as incidents Of daily life, and Of that
magnanimity which grew from the sharing
of a common lot. There will be no more
of him while the world stands"
The boom period is an incident of yester-
day, too recent to detail. though its results
arc visible on every nand.
The volume is well printed and bound, and
literally illustrated. published by the Bel
ford.Clarke Company, Chicago.
Under the title, "Foot-Prints of Christi
| Rev. William NJ. Campbell clothes in new
colors the boyhood of Jesus; his character
istlcs, labors, lessons, methods, and the
striking scenes that made up his busy life
are SO depicted as to awaken new interest in
the Hero Of the Revelation. The authors
style Is n happy combination of vigor and
simplicity. The book is presentable in APP
pearance, admirable in spirit and excellent
in moral tone and teaching. Published by
Funk & Wagnalls, New York.
Notes.
Looking Forward q paper-covered
sketch of the worlds fair held in Chicago,
comes from the press of f. Il. Nicely. The
fact that Chicago has not yet se-
cured the fair does not prevent the ma
tives from gleefully contemplating the profits.
A translation of TIL. Bentzan's "Expira-
tion," q delightful story of French life and
manners, is published by WEIGH, Fracker &
Co., New York. They also publish Edith
Sessions Tupper's story of social serpents,
"By Whose Hand: The reader is supposed
to solve the conundrum.
The Penn Publishing company has issued
several small, yet valuable books, among
them the "Handbook of Pronunciation and
Phonetic Analysis by Joha H.. Bechtel.
"The Elocutlonist's Annual" compiled by
Mrs. j, w. Shoemaker; ''Tableaux, Cha rades
and PantotnImes,'' and a fresh crop of Jokes
Il pathprea nv Horny Eirtb Wnn5