The Irish standard., 1905-09-09

dustrious, prosperous people. From
the time he offered the first prayer On
the beach of San Diego until the mis-.
sions were abolished by the Mexican
Republic, in 1884, he and his successors
at San Diego mission baptized 6,63S
Indians and, according to the records,
taught them the following trades:
Farmers. herders, horsetamers, sad
dlers. blacksmiths. millers, carpenters,
bakers, silversmiths, coopers, candle
makers, winemakers, shocmakers, hat
ters. guitar makers, ropemakers, paint
crs. masons, stone-cutters, musicians.
soapmakcrs, tanners, tilemakers, weav
crs. fishermen. BARRIERS. basketmakers,
potters. wood-carvers and other civil
lied occupations.
Some of the finer arts taught by the
monks still remain-such as basket
making, lace and drawn work, leather
work and embroidery in gold and sill
yer thread--and considerable revenue
is derived by the Indians in selling
specimens OF their handiwork to curio
dealers and tourists. The records
show that 100000 cattle, 10000 horses,
several million sheep and an immense
number of domestic animals, valued at
millions OF dollars, were grazing upon
mission pastures at the time of the
secularization-that is, the suppression
of the monasteries by the Mexicon
Republic. The total average income
OF the missions at that time was more
than 100000 year. 1t is stated that
at the eighteen missions there were
1880 communicates. Practically all
this property was wasted and destroyed
and stolen. When the padres saw that
the politicians intended to confscate
their farms and cattle they converted
them into money as rapidly as pos
sible; but at most places there was no
one to buy, and the property was
seized by the avaricious Mexican
authorities.
You can get the best account Of
those times and of the disgraceful in-
cidents which occurred thirty five years
later, when Upper California was an
nexed to the United States from era
mona.' novel written by the late
Helen Hunt Jackson. 1t is pathetic
and distressing story nothing but
tears and trouble-but it is said to be
the most accurate and graphic descrip-
ton of the conditions and customs of
those old days that was ever written.
1t is immensely popular in this coun-
try. too, and the name Ramona" is
seen as often in the southern counties
of California as that of Cleopatra in
Egypt Everywhere you go, places as
sociated with "Ramona" are pointed
cut to you. and there are several
spirited disputes concerning rival
claims.
'"Therc's where Ramona used to
live is familiar expression. Many
,, people believe that the book is gen.
uine history. but it is. I am assured,
pure fiction. although several of the
events and incidents have actually oc-
Cured in the experience of different
people, and nearly all of the places de-
scribcd can be identified. I do not
know of any other story that has a
stronger hold upon community than
this distressing narrative OF a poor
falf-brecd girl. Much OF the novel,
too. is local history, particularly that
part which relates to the persecution
OF the Indians. and to bring those facts
before the public. Mrs. Jackson wrote
! it.
Those who have read Ramona"
will be interested to know that the
ranch she describes is still in existence
and is called Guajone-the home of the
frogs. 1t belongs to an influential
Mexican family named Couts. 1t is
perhaps the most typical and extensive
OF the old-fashioned Mexican ranches
now remaining in California. The old
padre-the finest character in the book