Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-04-15
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
Mr. Editor:

MT. Editor:
Iwant to tell your readers some
thing about the old Missions of Cali
fornia. They have great charm for
all visitors and while they have been
rhymed, prosed, and painted by pen
and brush until nothing more can be
said of them, still while yo1 gaze upon
these shrines of ancient worship, you
wish you had a better knowledge of
their history. Italy has its Coliseum
and its Forum, and Spain has its
sIumbering Alhambra whose fountains
have long since ceased to flow. But
these old Missions are the only ruins
of consequence our country can boast,
they are fast going to decay and unless
something is done to preserve them
they will soon be in ruins. California
or the United States government
should look after these old landmarks
at once. What they have accomplish
ed for civilization with the savage
Indians and what they have left for our
consideration and imitation in archi-
lecture and good morals certainly
should be preserved. Although little is
known of the true inwardness of this
brotherhood of monks and friars, they
seem to have done good work here
among the Indians at least. But the
size and Importance of these Missions
when in their prime are little known.
1t seems that these Franciscan CathO-
lies were banished from San Fernando,
old Mexico, for some cause unknown
to me, and that Father Junipero came
to California with a small band of his
brotherhood in 1869, and founded
twenty one of these Missions along
the coast from San Diego to Monterey.
They came here to develop the coun-
try and to teach the savage Indian the
Spanish language, also to work and
walk in the steps of their illustrious
master. The wild Indians were their
pupils and their slaves. History says
at one time they had over forty thou
sand of Indian worshippers at these
Missions, who worked just for their
daily bread. They were taught agri-
culture, manufacture, and commerce.
All the Missions grew rich in these
palmy days. An old record thus de-
tails the daily life of the Mission: CAT
a certain hour in the morning all were
astir and attended mass at the chapel;
a frugal breakfast was then served.
Then each repaired to his or her res
pective labor. There were no drones
allowed in the hive. Every day the
keeper of the granaries distributed a
quantity of grain sufficient for three
meals with a portion of uncooked
meat for the midday meal. The un-
married women lived apart in the |
nunnery which was in charge of some |
one of the faithful. The labors of the |
day were over at 5 o'clock and the |
Fathers evening blessing followed the |
chimes of the Angelus. Each Mission !
had its own particular industry; some
made wine, some Mexican saddles,
titled the soil. The Indians were nat
arally superstitious and were easily !
made worshippers; they were taught to
sing and chant in beautiful harmony"
San Gabriel Mission was dedicated to
San Gabriel, archangel of the earth
quake. The Indian legend concern
ing the good work of the archangel is
as follows: Formerly a demon de-
scended upon the Indian villages from
time to time and carried off their
most beautiful maidens. The demon
then held orgies that were accompa-
MED by destructive earthquakes. The
archangel attacked this demon and
imprisoned him IN cave in the Sierra
Madre mountain sealing him in with
the cross of Christ, then the earth
quakes ceased. The cross is still in
evidence on the mountain side and
the young maidens that had been
carried off were translated to heaven
and now sing in endless alteration of
the Virgin Mary. The Mexicans also
have legend in regard to one of the
bells of the San Gabriel Mission. In
the days when this old Mission was
being built in 1771, two lovers in sun
ny Spain were parted by some cruel
decree of fate. He taking the vows