The morning call., 1892-09-09
The Desk on Which 1t Was Signed
Now at the State Fair.
AlsY OTHER CURIOS on EXHIBITION.
Los Angeles Has by Far the Largest and Finest
Array Of Relics in the Historical
Section.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

written at the desk on which the con stitution
of California was signed at Monterey. The
desk is a rudely constructed affair, with
slanting top, covered with worn. faded and
tattered blue baize. 1t rests upon an cid
cedar workbench of the early mission days,
which brings it just to comfortable height.
The old desk has rival claimant for this
honor, in the form of an old mahogany
table, with one leg gone, but still splendid
piece of San Domingo mahogany, black
with age.
This table was used by the first Napoleon
at Elba, and was taken on board the Natalie.
the vessel on which the little corporal made
his escape from the island. The Natalie, as
we know, was brought into Pacific waters
and was wrecked In the bay of Monterey.
The table was taken ashore from the wreck
and was long used as a mess-tabie by the
naval officers, ard its present owner, Carlos
de la Guerra of Santa Barbara, states that
upon it was signed the memorable first
constitution The historical committee,
however, have placarded the desk, lin let
tiers large" as the genuine, take-no-o ther
article of furniture in question, and have
probably good and sufficient reasons for
doing so.
The surroundings OF the old desk are OF
interest Here is the flagstaff, or part of il.
from the old Cust0m-house, and beside 1t
are tiles from the old mission roof; an old
Mexican cannon, an old wooden cartwheei,
made in one solid piece, number of old
paintings brought from Spain by Father
Juniper0 Sierra in 1770 and wonderful
collection Of relics of the missionary era.
San Diego sends to the historical exhibit
some gorgeous vestmentS worn by Father
Sierra at tire mission there. These were made
by Spanish women of note for the missions in
the New World, and are wonderful masses
OF solid gold and silver and richly colored
embroidery, as bright and untarnished to-
dav as they were hundred years ago. The
bells from the mission, four in number. are
also on exh bilion. All but one are badly
cracked. From Santa Clara Mission Is
great chair Of Spanish cedar. sent from
Mexico 10 the mission and used by Junipero
Sierra during high mass There is also
volume oil sermons that he used, and which
he brought from the library Of San Fer
nanGo College, Mexico. 1t bears the date
of 1917, and Is curious old black-letter
volume. There is also q huge book, some
three feet in length and much more across
when opened, this dainty triie being q
hymnal used by the Indian converts. Santa
Clara's exhibit is also rich in relies Of
pioneer days.
The Santa Barbara collection is we'll clas-
siied. the curios being arranged IN groups
according as they belong 10 the aboriginal
c. Ford has sent twenty-four admirable
water-c0lor sketches Of the old missions
adobe buildings, uniquely framed in baG-
boo, which are an interesting feature OF the
exhibit. There ara also some ancient paint
ings of different saints, brought from
Spain, and a unique wooden statue OF
Santa Barbara herself, beli-wheel used in
the mission in 1895, and big bell, said to
date from 1875.
Los Angeles has by far the largest and
finest exhibit in the historical section.
Aside from the county historical commit
tees exhibit, the Native Daughters have
fine collection Of curios In charge of several
of their members. a prominent feature OF
tie exhibit is set OF wonderful paintings
made by the Indians OF San Gabriel repre-
sentiDg the passion Of Christ. There are
fourteen OF them. and while the aboriginal
conception Of Hebrew and early Roman Gus
toms and characteristics may not be such
as the civilized mind has been led to enter
tain. the views are none the less interesting
on that account. In the scene representing
the descent from the cross the sorrowing
mother is seated at the foot of the fatal
tree, holding the Savior of the world upon
her knee as one might a small child, and
the Blessed Virgin Is unmistaka bly, squaw.
Mr.. and Mrs. Antonio L. Coronel have
sent their fine collection OF the books and
papers used in the early schools of Los
Angeles. They are printed In Spanish, the
earliest date saw being 1909 Most Of them
are dated about 1924. There are a number
of copy papers in the collection, covered
with the lsborious pothooks of the little
school children of that early day. The bell
wheel used by Father Salvidio at San
Juan Capistrano. and the good fathers con-
fessiOnal box are here, and one could make
a column article of the Interesting collection
from Los Angeles alone.
OF the American regime there are relics
in tslf afn Dar ntor w ia In
full Of trophies of the early gold days and
MarshalPs discovery. His tripod and level
are here. that he used in laying out Suffers
Mill and the town Of Coloma, and whole
array OF tools and utensils. he was
handy fellow evidently and gallant to the
ladies, making for them tubs, clothes
Founders, molding-boards and similar
utensils of vertu. from lumber that cost 81
per foot. He seems to have had a particu-
larry tender regard for certain Mrs.
Werner, cook for Suffer. and two different
collections boast washboard made by him
for that lady from this costly timber. His
vest Is also shown, with big hole In the
lining, an effect OF the close cal essiDg of a
substantial, fiat black bottle, which still
Bestles costly in the pocket.
Wells. Fargo q Co. have an interesting ex-
hibli, comprising among other things one of
their huge mail coaches. l saw two big.
sun-burned, elderly men, in rough clothes,
peering curiously into the old vehicle. shak-
ing the boot and kicking the big hubs.
Looks like old times, don't it JIM" Don't
II, though" was the response. and the two
gray chin-beards wagged meditatively as
their owners surveyed the old coach. In the
railroad annex is 10 he seen valuable OBJ
ject lesson. Here is the Governor Stanford
Engine of the Central Pacific, which went
into service November 6, 1863. The STAN
ford looks small enough to modern eyes.
but was good little engine in her day. with
q hauling capacity OF 900 tons of cars twenty
miles an hour On level track.
Near this engine is the c. j. Huntington,
another iron horse that went into service a
month later. The Huntington. as became a
lesser lumlnary, Is somewhat smaller and
lighter weight engine than the STAN
ford, with a hauling capacity OF only
321 tons of cars, but opposite these
huge bulk shadowing them both. The COM
pound was built last July, and has haul
ing capacity of 1898 tons Of cars twenty
miles an hour on level. Now. the South
ern Pacific missed the hit of its lifetime in
not calling that big engine the combine in
stead OF compound. 1t shows so admirably
what compromising has done for the con-
Germ that owns California.
One Of the little yellow coaches that pio-
neers Will remember so we'll on the old Sac
ramento Valley road is coupled TO the Hunt
lDGtoD. The coach was built at Cambridge,
ud55's III ioot, DIOHRHt dlOuHu buo morn
and put in service in June. 1856. / went in
and sat down in one of the botte-green
leather seats, gazed from the little rafting
window and tried to play pioneer with but
small success. Opposite it stands big
modern coach, built for the company this
summer by the Pullmans. There are also
two freight cars, showing the same violent
contrasts between old and now, and the big
rotary plow is also on exhibition, very
behemoth of engines
The pavilion was thronged tonight with
the hrst approach to crowd that there has
yet been. There has been good deal of
dissatisfaction expressed at the action of
the committee in doing away with season
tickets, and it has been thought the single
admission rule has kept great many
away, who would other wise have bought
season tickets and attended.
This was the night set apart for the an
nual address of the president of the Agri-
cultural Association Senator Cox who