The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-05
CALIFORNIA NfTSSTONS.
Their Early simplicity. TAlelr Prosperity
and Their Decline.
FROM ne ViIldge.

TNNN ~ NNtNaVNs
The oldest California mission 10 that ae San
Diego. founded IN i7oS. By the end Of the
century there we're seventeen more missions.
and three others followed later. IL was their
purpose TO instruct and ciViliEe the Indians.
The founding OF a mission was very simple.
After a suitable piaoe had been selected In a
fertile valley a cross Was set up. a booth Of
branches built. and the ground and the booth
were consecrated By holy water and chnstened
In the name OF a saint. II there we're Indians
In h vicinity they were attracted to the spot
by the ringing OF bells wun on the limbs OF
trees. and presents of food. cloth and trinkets
we're given them u win their confidence.
Each new mission had at first only two monks.
The booth and cross were In. their charge.
Indians of the neighb0rhOod. Several sol
dlers and perhaps a few Christianized Indians
served as a guard and helpers. The com.
and some tools and seeds. and with this
humble equipment those In charge we're ex-
Dected TO conquer the wilderness and as
The missions were established at about a
days journey apart on the natural route OF
travel along the coRat. and they we're. the
usual stopping places for travellers, When
ever one of these -sOjOurners arrived he was
welcomed with the hospitality OF the Bible
away TO the stables and the man escorted 20
n bath. .Afterward he was given q plentiful
meal and a comfortable bed. and he was az
AAS2AN w tNAI ~ NthA W -. @AA0
The maximum of mission PROSPERITY was
attained in the first quarter Of the nineteenth
century. The friars and their neophytes
owned countless herds of cattle, horses. sheep,
goats and swine. and produced from the
ground all their simple needs required, Az
each mission were enclosed gardens ana or.
chards where grew "a considerable variety OF
vegetables and many fruits, Including ngs.
oranges, olives and grapes. But
Nettlers were increasing, and contact with them
tended to corrupt the Indians and TO make
them less easily controlled. The greed OF the
missions In land and herds, and In 1888 they
Influenced the Mexican Con xFess TO pass a
law spculariZinR the missions and turning
over their property to public purposes, except
for some small allowances to maintain the
churches. This enabled the politicians OF the
period 20 plumber the missions very thor
Oughly, and the administrator who were
appointed wasted no time In getting the
tangible property into the hands OF themselves
and their friends. .
So serious was the desOlatiOn wrought and
so evil were the effects on the Indians that
the law was resCindcd. but the mischief had
been done. and the missions were not able TO
American conquest, and the few remaining
Indians were driven or enticed away. That
they and their ancestors had been culttVating
the In nds for t~hree-quarters OF a century made
no difference. The Americans wishing to
preempt claims did not regard the presence
a deterrent than they would have so many
coyotes. What cared the rude frOntiersmen
for missionary frtars or civilized Indtans2
They ca me to squat on public lands. and they
not only took such tracts as pleased their
fancy. but " some cases the mission structures
tiles and other building materials that were
IN Them