The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-09-25
LETTERS AND ANSWERS
San Antonio. Texas Son+ :,

my correspondence The last time wrote 70 -, 7
Nas IN ARIZONA | am and have been for OIL
'nO0e year IN San Antonio, the Alamo c;+, A.
mos historic city Of the south, situated on tho
banks Of the winding San Antonio river O-i 'i0
WINE ia the city are many interesting nIooos
the most interesting to me- are tho AS pIS
C@'Ieural- As the story of the Alamo is know, -
all need not repeat it. It is rather nla; III
me exception of the carved pillars and door The
statues are gone from the inches around the door
way, 10 look at It's cid gray walls YOU woud NOT
think that it was the scene Of such great
ere q brave men on March s. 1896
Ire Alamo and Alamo Plaza presented vary
GlHefent appearance Oh the 31st of last July when
lI.ousIes OF men and women gathered to pay trib
Ute to + :. O'Reilly, who is carving an ipH;+o+;
to President Taft. Owe ask our Chief to come and
see our old historic walls" O'Reilly is Kngbt of
Columbus . AshU OF
Adjoining the Alamo is the old convent of
Wnlch Ine Alamo was the chapel. Through the eff
forts OF the Daughters of the RepubIic of Tnvoe
de Lavala chapter), posters which have detracted
from us appearance and a wooden porch which oava
Il modern aspect, have at last been removed The
Alamo Is situated on Alamo Plaza one of the three
original plazas; now San Antonio has % parks and
plazas. anu
Inc San Fernando Cathedral, built in 1872 is
situated on the Main Plaza. 1t is substantial
stone structure, the front and towers are compara-
lively new compared with the rest. This addition
was built to repair the damage done so or 60 wears
two centuries ago, except that portion of the roof
has been recently repaired as it was necessary
but upon the belief that "a stitch in time saves
nlne' 1t was upon this roof that Santa Ana. the
Mexican general, placed his cannons and fred the
Alamo This is still the principal church for the
Spanish-speaking people
/ shall always remember the first time I en-
tered IT. Coming from the sunlight of Main Plaza
into the dimness of the old Cathedral. it was
while before noticed the beautiful paintinps hang
he ha 6 Al.
shone through the stained glass windows and fell
on the carved figures of the stations of the Cross
In the Cathedral there FIVE affairs, the Main,
Blessed Virgins, Sacred Heart. st. Joseph's and
Holy Sepulcher- Candles are constantly burning
before statue of St. Anthony (San Antonio),
placed there by the de7out Mexicans. 1t is in
charge of the Sons of the Immaculate Heart of
Mary.
Among the other churches are St Mary's. in
charge of the Oblates: ST Patrick's Sacred Heart
St. Henry's St. Josephs (German), st. Michaels
(Polish) and St Peter Caver's for colored people.
This town is considered the best educated cen
ter in Texas. The oldest of these institutions is the
Ursuline academy. which / attend. 1t is beautifully
situated the San Antonio river. 1t is conducted
by the Ursuline who noted for their learn
ing. ! attended this school last year and a
gold medal for mathematics.
ST. Mary's and St. Louis college and the Theo-
logical Seminary for young men, the Lady of the
Lake Academy of the Incarnate Word, Sacred
lie schools.
Oh. the old Missions! What grand monument
they are 10 the old Spanish Friars, who sacrificed
position wealth. power and even life itself, to con-
vert this land "for the glory of God and the honor
Of Spain!"
Near here are four missions. The first, Mission
Conception was founded in 1713 Twenty-one
years were required in Its construction. The front
Is square, with two towers at either side. one OF
which was used for a baptistry and the other as
LII. A., l,ol tbprn
triangle beneath which is the coat of arms. The
Altar is of stone and is badly defaced. The floor
is tiled This is "'Where the Indian knelt and the
Angeus rung ere Liberty's bell struck one Joyous
peal"
The San Jose Mission was built in 1718. This
mission has only one tower The main entrance Is
macrifcently carved Around this door originally
we're six statues now remains st. Josephs, st.
Nanoa's St Domingo's and St Joaquin (headless).
The other statue which Is gone, was that OF 81
Ann On the side of the mission is window rich
" carved which is said not to have It's equal even
in Europe The front yard was used as burylng
ground: and still to beseen the headstones bear
ing the names of the early Spanish settlers
In 1871 the San Juan Capistrano mission was
built This mission is of different style than the
others 1t looks more like fort than church.
It Is long and narrow and the windows high up
from the ground This mission has lately been re-
paired and rededicated. During times of war these
missions were places of refuge and forts and con-
sequently there was bloodshed ana nuroer. 1here-
fore they had to be rededlcated
The other mission is the San Francisco De
T1e,ada built In 1880. 1t is the smallest OF the
,o;ssione II Is in a good state of preservation.
After had left the San Jose mission, | paused
on rustic bridge before crossing the San A An
tonic river. looked back at the old mission The
setting sun formed lovely background for its
+er and numerous arches. 1t looked SO beautiful,
-,"gr roI,J 60 magnificent. yet so old But age
% gF only to have lent it new dignity and grand
sur. It made me feel so proud to know that these
great monuments of the past were erected by men
IF orr faith ] felt that indeed
err,oeo rrere the DAVIS when Spain was great
, "a tl,o Church led on the ship of state,
And bIazed the way for another race,
Who fain would GUST from its honored place
~ Neither Church and the mother tongue