The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-06-09
PORTLAND. Ore MAY %. 1892

mental activity. Bathing in the surf and
a side trp to Lower California subject 10
the ocean breeze have proved too much
for ne, at least. and for the last few days
have been lu1uriating in aches and
other symptoms OF bodily distress. Cali
fornia is a paradise, more or less, but it
has variety OF climate which is Devil
dering and quite apt to enforce lesson
of caution
While crossing the Mohave Desert one
cannot help feeling that he has passed
beyond the confines of inhabitable terri
tory. Indeed the valley OF the Colorado
IS fitting introduction to a desert as it
is desert itself, though irrigation has
made it tolerably productive. But The
Mohave Is lava field, Lemmed in by
mountains, rainless, waterless and devoid
Of vegetation excepting the sage brush
and grease-wood which seem to flourish
best where other plants find it most diff
cult to live. Californians dislike to have
the Mohave credited to their state. The
fogs which blow over San Francisco are
known as Oregon fogs." The hot winds
are Arizona Winds Every unpleasant
feature of climate or soil or anything else
has It's paternity outside the state There
never was, and there is not, greater loyal
ty to any state than that Of the Califor-
MAN to his. And there is reason for If, AS
it is an empire In itself both in extent,
variety otin6ustry and enterprise. South
ern California is an orange country and
flower garden. 1t was originally des-
ert and would be so to-day but for irri-
cation, one of the most important move
| ments of the age. Probably no section
of California better illustrates the posi-
bilities of irrigation than Riverside. 1t
| is impossible to describe this city which
| is what William Penn desired to make
Philadelphia greene country towne."
| 1t covers an area of Sc square miles and
| the streets are luxuriant with tropical
| orange groves bordered with eucalypti,
| century plants aad pepper trees. If the
court of the hotel in Coronado Beach ap-
| pears in the evening like a creation of the
| Genius of Aladdin's Lamp, Riverside is a
glimpse of Paradise itself. The people
| speak of Magnolia Avenue as ending in
| heaven and indeed it seems fit roadway
to eternal Joy.
There is an old mission q few miles
from San Diego, away among the noun
| tains. The mission was established in
1863 by an old priest who had the en-
! thusiasm which carried civilization into
remote sections under difficulties which
| nothing bat religious fervor could over
| come. This mission house was destroyed
| by the Indians soon after it was built
| 1t was rebuilt but was afterwards destroy
ed by an earthquake. The ruins remain.
| A mission school for the Indians has been
| built near the old mission. Myself and a
| friend set out for this historic spot while
others were busying themselves with
things more modern and more interest
ing from the tourists standpoint. The
| drive over the old road was interesting
| Fording the mountain streams was IN
experience. The old place was reached
some time before shutdown. The schoo.
has 100 pupils, all Indian children. Moth
ing is taught but English though Span
lsh is the language of the play ground
The ages OF the children range from 4 to
II. The devotion OF the children to the
| sisters IN charge is one of the finest ex-
| amples OF the power of moral force / over
witnessed. There never was time when
L dla not respect the noble women who
have given their lives to charitable and
| benevolent work, but never did their self
| devotion appear more grand than in this
isolated mountain valley amid the ruins
of early effort, working in the interests
Of race having nothing to give in return
and whose extinction is anticipated with
pleasure by those who shape the senti-
ment which governs the age. The youn G
| Indians who attend this school are civil
| lied In the best sense of that term. The
large room In which they sleep is cared
| for by themselves and is kept scrupulous-
ly neat. They are tasty in t.eir dress
very truthful, the sisters assured us. in
| dustrious and obedient All have Span
| ish names which are sweet to the ear.
The sisters are well educatated and their
| conversation has the charm of natural
nesE which seems In keeping with their
surroundings. They stood with us
among the ruins of the old mission until
the stars came out and the frowning hills
| seemed to shut N the valley from the out
side world. One of them slipped away
| and soon the children were singing an
| old Spanish hymn. 1t was inezpressibIy
sweet and as the notes were echoed from
the mountains, 1t seemed as if unseen
spirits were joining in the melody. II
there is religion worthy OF the name it
nowhere finds better expression than
among those grand old hills amid which
the old Spanish priests worked most
l.
ter opponents be found than those sisters
whose good work has in it no element of
seitishness and no hope of earthly reward
and who care not whether the world
knows the good they are dong except in
SO far az knowledge of it may aid In en-
larglng the measure of its benefcence.
The ride homeward was ENJOYABLE be-
cause OF its novelty. The night was
moonless and it was soon found that
neither OF us had the faintest idea of what
course we should take. both believing
that We would return before daylight
died out. Fortunately the owner OF the
horse, alarmed somewhat at our long alb
sence, set out to meet us and before we