The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-15
70 SAVE old MISSIONS
Club Formed on
the Pacific Coast for
Their Preservation.
SPANISH : AMERICAN REyIyALs.
Magnificent Art Treasures and
Relics Rxhibited-Catholic
News.
: AMERICAN REyIyALs.

" Ao1S AoI3HS0 IuStOIlCdl duuindi hS
IN California ave been for years slowly
going to decay, the abode walls falling
away beneath the winter rains and crum-
bling in the summer sun. until, as in the
case of the mission of San Diego. there is
little left but old walls and mounds of
earth to tell the story. The mi ,sions were
the stepping-stones in the political evolu-
ton that resulted in the opening up of
this part of the country. and its subse-
ouent development. Recognizing their
value in an historical sense, a society has
been established in Los Angeles. called
the Landmarks Club, with the object of
preserving these and other California
landmarks. The club has a large mem
bership all over the country, hundreds of
persons who lave enjoyed the old missions
IN this way contributing to their preserva-
ton.
So far the work of preservation has
been attempted at San Juan Capistrano
alone, some restorations being made ex-
eetly on the old lines, and simply sufficient
to arrest and prevent further decay. no
innovations being permitted so that the
artistic beauty of the building has been
preserved. The next work the club will
do, will be on San Fernando, where a fine
series of arches are rapidly falling into
ruins. The mission of San Juan Capis-
trano is a fair type of these ediices in
California, some of which are seen wher-
ever the Spanish fathers settled, even in
India. The mission covered several acres.
an enclosed portion being faced by a beau
tiful series of arches. The church of this
mission was destroyed in 1872. The padre
was holding mass when an earthquake
shock was felt, the roof falling in upon
forty or fifty Indians and other worship
pers. The part over the altar remained
intact, and the padre was not injured,
which was considered a miracle due to
Divine Intervention.
Among the interesting features of the
landmarks Club lave been several enter
tainments given by the Pasadena branch
of the club in Pasadena for the benefit of
the movement. One which occurred re-
Gently was in the nature of a revival of
the old Spanish-American times and GUS
toms, presenting a picture, or series or
pictures, of real historical value. The en-
tertainment was given in a large hail, one
side of which was converted into a facade
Of the old San Fernando mission, for
whose especial benefit the ladies are work
tng. In the arches booths are placed,
where were sold various articles relating
to the historic time of the mission. Near
Ny a q 6AOap VA 4lAOld1 OAhCN IA u
whom, ninety-1ye years of age, was one
of the ~neophytes of the San Gabriel Mis-
sion, and remembered Father Sanchez and
others who were the powers in the last
century under Spanish rule. This aged
woman did not look over seventy, and
displayed her agility in dancing her native
makers producing the native lace of the
country, while In another part of the hall
was a woman making tortillaS for the
edifcation of the Eastern visitors.
~ HiQfnrfaa1 fnforaSf aena~nd IN 0anfro in
a loan department where were exhibited
many of the treasured relics of Southern
California families. and among the au,
dience were representatives of these old
families: Donna Mariana Coronel, the
Yorbas, Estudillos, Sanchez, Domingues
collection of mission paintings, loaned by
Father Joaquin Bot, which have been
hidden in one of the thick stone rooms
indeed remarkable, display, and were
copies of Murillo. Velasquez and other
elesiastical subjects, ranging from fifty
TO two hundred and fifty years old. AS
works OF art many had little or no value. |
art two centuries ago, and the art that
found its way into the churches and
interest.
The paintings included many of the |
saints and some copies of the old masters
citation of the color and beauty Of the or
iginal. With these, by permission of the |
Bishop of Los Angeles, were exhibited
renowned Father Junipero Sierra. The
were of heavy brocade. orna-
mented in gold and silver. and the lace
marvel of the lacemaker's art, the figure |
work representing the church, many of
the objects which accompany the forms |
of worship being ~roduc in the lace, |
which was of a most intricate and beau |
tiful pattern. Hanging near by were
years ago, some black. others yellow, with |
the splendid floral decoration SO much adj |
mlred by these people.
In one end of the room an archaeology |
cal department illustrated the stone age |
81 California. or the condition of the Mis- |
SION and California Indians at the time
to within fifty years. The objects were
all of stone or bone. beginning with a fat |
bowl of stone or s~teatite. showing the |
complete evolution of the vessels; a COL |
lection suggestive of artistic tastes and a
elled vessels of the kind out of hard |
stone with only stone implements. With
them were series of stone grinders or
pestles Of all shapes and kinds; some
long n stout for Hounders-suggestive.J
Of a war club, others slender, while
stone mortar. Weighing nearly 200 pounds,
Pico. the last Governor Of 6aiifornia un-
vessel of stone that was once used by |
Rojero, the last known living San Fer |
nando Indian. and in the audience, in |
trousers, a derby hat and |
four-in-hand tie. was old Rojero him
self.
On a small table were a number of an
Gent relics, among which were a pair of |
shears, used for sflearing sheep in the old
days; an adZe, and a gigantic pair of
spurs, dug up on the Kings Highway be- |
tween San Gabriel and San Juan Capis-
trano. The collection which attracted
most attention from strangers was the
h IL nj nd10 III c0 ~t11 - - 1
tiEtic that 1t seemed almost impossible to |
believe that they were not the work of |
some cultivated weaver of today. They |
ranged In form from the rough Indian |
grain basket, made Of twigs, to the huge |
basket capable of holding several adults, |
finely and beautifully woven. The collec-
tion of California Indian baskets has be-
ordinary prices are paid for some of
them. One. small collection in Pasadena
is valued at 5000, another at a much |
price. The baskets exhibited be- |
TO tie IsoMae collection and were
of remarkable size and design. There was
q Collection of MoQu1 baskets, rich
N c~olcrlng3 9n9 large basket that would
lqus sutn. IS baskets go; The interest in
these were the fseusehold goods of the
Indians; their dishes, water YES |
sels, grain bins, seed ~sifters, etc, each |
telling the story of a e-emi-barbarfc race |
with artistic tastes. Among other ar
ticles exhibited were saddles Of carved
worn by Spanish-American gentlemen In
last century.
During the afternoon a presentation of
the old spanish dances was given by thej