The San Francisco call., 1904-06-19


whose water is said to be the coldest
in all the country round-which is
something of a reputation where the
thermometer goes to 115 degrees with
an ease born of habit.
Last year, when W. D. Shea, the
architect directing the restoration; Jo-
seph r. Knowland, the president of
the Landmarks League, and a pretty
of friends went down to attend the an
nual feast of San Antonio, great were
the lamentations of the people from
the hills and valleys round about be-
cause of the lost joys of the unused
well. But through the energies of the
workmen this year its nectar will allay
the thirst of many who drank the first
draught Of childhood from its dark re-
cesses.
To-day will witness a sight not
duplicated elsewhere in America.
From fifty miles away, from down the
valley and up from it, from over the
mountains blue-rimmed in the dis
tance will come horsemen and rigs of
all descriptions, bearing down upon
the mission to celebrate in old Span
ish fashion the natal day of the patron
saint. And as I recall the scene last
year it brings to mind a picture of
the mission in its prime when gray
clouds Of dust in the distance told of a
wayfarer seeking hospitality and
what he sought for always found. for
in all the wide world there was no
hospitality like unto that of the
halcyon days of the missions pros
perity.
MASS ONCE A YEAR.
Since the death of Father Ambris
in 1880, the last custodian of the mis-
sion, mass has been said there only on
this day. AS the years wore on time
dealt hard with the church, assisted
ably by vandals, who tore from the
sacred structure its massive doors, its
pulpit and its hand-carved altar rails
when the restraining hand of good old
Father Ambris was stilled. And for
many years-ever since the roof fell
in-the service has been held in the
VI tibule, where a rude altar was built
by loving hands. Thither the old
statue Of st. Anthony is reverently
borne and blossoms from the patio
gathered to grace the shrine. Here, at
this crude altar, Father Garriga sings
the mass and is answered by Antonio
Gomez, a man of some 60 years, who
has served as acolyte in the mission
since his early youth.
The service over, the fun begins.
The river bed, cool and shady, beckons
the people thither. Soon snowy cloths
are spread, baskets disDossessed of
good things to eat and drink and the
feast is on. Songs are rising from
every group, guitars are tinkling mer-
rily, and the days before the gringo
came are with US once more.
What a sweet perfume that pastoral
picture waited to us Of the busy city.
That is lifeI
GRAVES OF THE FOUNDERS.
1t is not generally known that with
in the ruined chapel lie the graves of
the founders-of all save the sanity
Sierra, who rests in San Carlos de Bor-
romeo, in Monterey.
When the league set to work to clear
the debris from the church-and tons
Of 1t there was-the sepulchres Of the
priest-pioneers were disclosed, In fact,
evidences Of ghouIism were observed,
after which discovery the Indian la
borers refused to work about the tombs.
The truth Of the matter will probably
be revealed to-day, when the Francis
can historian, Father Zephryn, and
Father Garriga will make an official ex-
animation of the sepulchres.
Here lie the bodies of Fathers Buena-
ventura Sitjar, who passed away Sep
tember 3, 1903; Francisco Pujol Pujol,
who died by poison in 1901, strangely