The San Francisco call., 1904-06-06
BY LAURA BRIDE POWERS.

At no time in the history of men has
there been a greater need for a con-
templative pause in the mad rush for
a living Goaded on by the necessities
or the ambitions of life, men have al
most forgotten the process of refiec-
tion-the emery wheel of character.
Herein lies the urgency of object les
sons that they may awaken men to the
higher obligations of life. And the inn
portance of maintaining ideals in the
lives and deeds of men who have left
us legacies of noble characters grows
daily more imperative. With this as
an underlying incentive the California
Landmarks League has set itself the
task of perpetuating the famous old
missions of the northern part OF the
State-perpetuating them not only in
song and story, but in reality.
In September last the league under
took the restoration of Mission San An
tonic de Padua in Monterey County,
over the mountains from Mission San
Miguel. This old sanctuary is without
question the most picturesque spot in
all California, from the viewpoints OF
situation, Aof romance, of history, or
architecture and of atmosphere.
Situated in the oak-studded valley of
the San Antonio, at the foot of the pur-
pie Santa Lucia, it is even in its ruins
a proud structure. When the league
undertook its work the roof had fallen
into the chapel, the rains had washed
away fully quarter of the east and
west walls, thus left unprotected, and
tons of debris filled the sanctuary, COW
ering the graves of its founders.
When in November the winter rains
compelled the cessation of labor. all
the debris had been removed, 1000
adobes (each weighing fifty pounds),
had been laid in the broken walls,
bringing them up to their wonted
height, and thirty feet of the shake
roof laid The walls were then care
fully protected from the elements, all
the ancient tiles and adobes gathered
together from off the acres of mission
land and the lumber stored away in
the chapel to await a resumption of
work in the summer or fall.
In carrying on this labor the Land
marks League succeeded in obtaining
lumber at almost one-half of the mar
ket rate at a small mill in the noun
tains, twenty miles to the west. Six
weeks labor was generously con-
tributed by the people who live about
the mission, many of whom are de-
scendants of the early children of the
mission. In this manner the Land
marks League succeeded in accom-
plishing about twice the amount of
work for the sum of money expended,
amounting up TO date to 1885 65.
OF this the laborers received 81 a
day and were fed at a provision camp
established and maintained by the
league at a minimum cost. The su-
perintendent, ]. Alonzo Forbes. a life
long resident of the Jolon Valley, a
practical builder and a student of the
mission affairs, received 50 a day,
small sum for the services rendered,
which were offered in the spirit of pa
triotism, that the work be not ham
pered by the scarcity of funds.
On the 18th of this month Senator
Joseph r. Knowland, president of the
Landmarks League, Father Theodore
Ahrens, provincial of the Franciscans
on the Pacific Coast, Father Zephryn,
the famous historian, and many league
members and friends are going down
to the celebration in the old sanctuary
of San Antonio's day-a scene that
perhaps cannot be duplicated to-day
outside of Mexico.
For fifty miles about. over mountains
and valleys. come horsemen, gayIy ca
parisoned, and vehicles of every type
bearing types of people not to be found
in many parts of our country to-day
They are passing fast, these people
of the mission days, and the pictur-
esque costumes are passing with them.
On the 18th the graves of the Won
derful men who founded this mission
in the wilderness in I'LL will be opened
by the friars of the Franciscan order.
and the bodies identified There are
supposed to be five padres inferred
there, If ghouls have not disturbed the
sepulchres in search of gold-a suppo-
sition that obtained much credence in
the '5Q's and SOS.
Work will be resumed on the mission
just as soon as funds are available
when the shake roof will be completed
and the century old tiles laid over it
this to secure the durability of the roof
Other than this. the restoration is pro-
crossing exactly on the lines of it's
founders.
The board of directors of the league
will meet on Wednesday at Native
Sons Hall (secretary's office at S:15
o'clock p. m.