The record-union., 1891-07-16
HISTORIC SPOTS.
Scenes About Point Lobos, in Monte
rey County.
A Sacramento Matden's Examinations
Down by the Seattle Old
GARNER Mission Church.
"On this bold brow, lordly tower;
In that soft vale, lady's bower;
On yonder meadow. far away.
vi y yOIIUtI IIItdNUN, III away,
The turrets of cloiSter gray.n

In that soft vale, a ladyis bower;
On yonder meadow, far away,
The turrets of a cloister gray"
Point Lobos (or Seal Point) situated
some five miles southwest of Monterey,
is just the place where one might wish to
erect castle or build hermitage and
dwell apart from all mankind. So
thought party of tourists, who, visiting
it for the first time, were deeply i'm
pressed by the surrounding grandeur.
Already, ION yonder meadow, far away" !"
rose historic San Carlos Mission, the sec
ond church erected on the coast. Sur
rounded by fertile fields, well watered,
and f1anked ON one side by the ocean and
on the other by high hills, one sees why
this site should have been especially
chosen.
AS the ancient Greeks, fleeing from
Troy to Latium, carried with them their
Glars and penates," so the enthusiastic
traveller rarely leaves Carmel Valley
without bit of the Missions adobe wall,
or piece of the old roof tiling.
1t is to be regretted that a modern shin
gle roof covers the structure and that the
time-mellowed walls revel in bright
coat fpaint, but such was deemed nee
esSary to preserve this landmark
There died in Monterey County, about
| year ago, an Indian known as "Old
Gapriel,' to whom Father Sierra taught
the art of stonemasonry, and who helped
to build the Mission. There appears to
be plenty of evidence that this man at
tanned the remarkable age of $50 years,
and it is related by those that knew him
| that he became very childish and took a
great fancy to have a Joseph's ''coat of
many colors," using every available
scrap for this purpose.
AS we walked over the bare earthen
floor, beneath which SO many famed in
CALIFORNIA; early history sleep, we could
scarcely realize that one hundred and
twenty years have passed since this old
structure was begun.
Through the colored, deep-recessed
windows, high up in the wall, rays of
sunlight filtered, dimly lighting gloomy
interior, devoid of all furniture save
few wooden benches. Near the sacred altar
adorned by dim figures and paintings,
the remains of Father Sierra and many of
his followers are inferred. 'ReQuieScdt
1n pace"
That bell, whose ''deep peals' COM
manding tone should wake in yonder
islet lone, a sainted hermit from his cell -
hangs idly in its turret, and. except once
year, on st. Carlos day, no bell is heard
and no service held.
The Point Lobos excursionists, having
feasted on sights, repaired to a shady
grove where eatables were bountiflllly
spread and delicious coffee served by the
hostess of the day, Mrs. w. S. Leake.
| There is to be a new town, Carmelito (or
Little Carmel), built at Point Lobos, and
it is with this in view that the Carmel
Land and Coal Company have taken such
pains to point out the surrounding beau
ties to tourists.
All around are excellent hunting
grounds, and both salt and fresh water
| fish abound. Soon there will be erected
hotel and lighthouses, a PRESBYTERIAN
church, and all the necessaries IF fine
summer resort. A beautiful cypress park
of twenty-five acres has been donated
the prospective town, while all around
glimpses of bay and ocean can be had.
In many places the dropping branches of
cypress form vast canopies and arches,
| as some say unequaled in beauty save in
the Holy Land.
A tour Of the surrounding country re-
vealed such natural curiosities as Devils
Wash-boiler," Elephants Back" ''The
! Chinaman,' and many other of natures
well-named freaks,
$50 wondrous wild the whole might seem
The scenery Of a tairy dream"
E. G. B.