The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1897-08-15

New YORK Ter INV "a A~-
Colonial manors, which are heldin reverent
remembrance OF the early ia Us Of civiliza-
lions invasion upon the abongines Bur,
while English and French came In by the
Eastern gate, The Spanish came through the
Western gate, and the monuments of their
first struggles with the primevai conditions
OF natuye and the red man are found in
remains OF tie old California missions
From the year 1863, on the feast OF the
Triumph Of the Most Holy Cross. when the
mission or San Diego de Aleaia was found
ed. nntil s35, when the edct 81 secuiad
zstian was promulgated and took away
frcm the influence of the pioneer padres
tie colony OF their neoph ytes, there We're
established about twenty-five pI1nctpai mis-
sions Tie earlier missions were vigorous
and potenUsal. but the shadow of seculariza'
tjCn was cast before iU in the failure OF
the last mission, especially that or San
Francisco Solano. which died of hamilton
The work OF establishing mission was
a tremendous undertaking in the early
days ~ CALIFORNIA; discovery TO the OPP
porlunity Of civilization Only brave,
rugged, enduring characters, with single
ness OF purpose, holiness of motive ana
desire Of maItyrdom could accomplish
what they did against the existant condl-
tons The padres and their associates
went into the heart Of the Indian nations,
brought with them the materials at great
expense and incalculabIe labor, and built
the missions, which were homes for the
Colony Of catechists and for the catechised
as well Then in another and more spir-
ituaI sense, they began the patient labor of
their other mission, TO transform the saw
age into a civilized man, TO teach him the
arts of peace and open his souls eye To
the Deity and Immortality.
Thes,. missions are now spiritually in
atsivc. The religious workers have passed.
from this sphere OF action. The mission
buildings are ruins monuments OF the great
usf,reer past. Laura Bride Powers has
written a little book on THE Missions Of
California which is interesting and Talu
ablein the quality gifts rare historical mat
ter. Tie author designs her bookto ava ken
"A interest in the ruins OF the old mission
houses that they may be restored, not as
active factors III the line OF their original
endeavor but as monuments OF the con
spicuous and great work which they ac-
comD.ished, as part OF the poetry of our
history. and for their inustr alton OF civil
izstions process
Size appeals with worthy motive aud
sust aims her appeal With volume which
should awaken appreciation of the beau
tiful characters of the padres and desire
10 preserve their missions. Reyer sion TO
such primitive colonies as these controyert
the indictment often lodged against us
that we have no history. In the history of
The Missions of California we have a
page OF glorious highly colored romance, a
htaiucl OF the nook OF martyrs, companion
tales To the chroniclers OF medieval Eu-
rope. ana as fun of vaior and yiTacity as
the fictions &C the ronIancist.
ShimIneTing in the sun are the brown
adobe mission houses, dismantled, decay
ing. passing utterly away, but appealing pa
rheticaliy, IL mutely, for preservation from
times complete oblite ration. Everywhere
there are State historical societies which
give active attention to such restorations.
California is large, rich commonwealth,
but the advent Of Mrs Powers book would
indicate that with ali its fiscal and his
rofical wealth the Golden State has no
historical society which should make the
mission restoration its pride, or, having
one. iU Is pItifully inactive Perhaps her
nol,leIittle book will appeal TO the National
Historical Society or may suggest a 80
ciety for the restoration of the missions,
as there was inauguraUed an Independent
society for the restoration Of Mount Yer
non.
IT must be sad indeed to roam through
the silent gardens of the deserted missions,
where no longer any fountains play, nor
any prayer is chanted, nor any blossoms
laow. Briars have smothered the roses,
the owls hoo-hoo is heard over the graves
of the departed padre, the moon alone in
the passive stiffness of night comes TO add
a touch OF beauty to the ruin. No human
hand has had the pity Of the moon to add
some some touch OF beauty To the crum bling
walls.
Perhaps the lack OF interest in the cid
missions comes from a lack of appreciation
of their work and accomplishment. Mrs
Powers book gives you a good insight
into the daily life of the mission in its
DAYS of activity.
Before daylight al the colony of the
mission was awake and active In the
chapel mass had been heard, ana in the
refectory breakfast had been dispatched
and the sun coming over the mountains
saw the red men, under their Spanish pre-
-
arts OF civilization Breakfast consisted
mainly OF kind of ground barley callcl
aiole, and this dish was found again q
the midday neal, served between IL and
IL, but a leg OF mutton was given with
1T At this meal, too, was often fount
the Spanish friaoles, hut milk was lux
ury. and CnIy the sick and aged had &c
Al 6 O'Clock the evening meal was eaten
and TO at0le the neophytes We're free Il
add nuts and wild berries, which had beer
gathered in large quantities and store,
away.
The commissaTy department seems t
have been carried on in a modified com
munistic style Each morning the ma
vera, or Keeper of the granary, distributes
TO each individual or family sufficient foo.
for the day The unma rried males carrie'
theirs TO the pozolera, where it was pre-
pared and partaken of at common table
The Benedicks carried theirs 20 their re
epective rancherias, where they shared thei
atole with their families. This was the frs
lesson which the padres taught the native
IN the establishment of the corner stone -
civilization, the institution of the famil
circle.
At5o'clock the lahors of the day came q
an end.
1.-The lowing herd winds slowly DER the 'es
weary way
At SHUTDOWN the Angelas called the faith
full to prayer; the neophytes, the workme
ani the priests repaired othe chapel, wher
the Iltanv was sung and the evening bless