Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-25
QUAINT EARLY CUSTOMS
IN CATHOLIC CIRCLES
Interesting "reminiscences as Re-
called by a Devotee of the
Pioneers Church

Alice ]. Stevens, in a special review
issue of the Catholic Tidings, con-
tributed a well written story. which
is given herewith In part
"a glamour Of romance clings round
the old days. the pueblo days of Los
Angeles, when, like Sleeping Beauty
she slumbered, peacefully, dreamlly'
awaiting the awakening kiss of the
Prince Charming, who, when he came.
came I'm the guse of Yankee capital
and enterprise. and the beauty aWoke,
to sleep and dream no moro, for the
rush aud hurry and endless turmoil OF
great city throbs through her heart
today
but back in the dreamy old days
ah, Il was so different them The day
began, not with the shrill whistle Of
the boiler works or the factory. but
the man Of the house would lift his
head from his pillow at the first red
flush Of dawn in the east and lntone'
Sin pecado original conceYida.' The
wife would respond. Viva Jesus-viva
Maria-Muera cl pecado,' and then,
still in their beds. they would begin
the recitation Of the rosary in unison
throughout the entire house, whether
large or small
"If visitor came TO your house he
didn't ask II it were for sale or rent,
or urge you to buy city lot. but he
doffed his sombrero and said rever-
emily, Ave Maria purisima en- esta
cosa.' and surely the pure Mother
of God kept ward and Watch
over those homes where hospi-
tality was written in living letters
on the entrance gate. and where every
guest was greeted as a brother. Think
Of spending a whole day in going on
long visit out into the country. clear
down to Eleventh and san PEDRO
streets! That's what more than one OF
the 'old-timers' can remember-but
oh, these "old-timers!" When you ask
them to tell you the story of those old
days they just gasp and exclaim, Sc
me olvidor It's only when you catch
them off their guard that the strings
of their tongues are loosened. Just ask
them about Padre Sanchez if you want
to get them started. Every one OF
them has the dear old padre canonized
in their hearts, and all remember MN
as the gray-garbed Franciscan VINO
looked like St. Anthony and wore san
daIs but no stockings. and slept with
n stone for a pillow. And how he used
to stand in the streets and watcn the
little BOYS play marbles. and JOIN IN
the game until it was finished; then
gathering them about him like flock
of chickens, he would take them INTO
the church and hear their confessions.
II
can recall his first confession made
under Just such circumstances to Padre
Sanchez. He used to stop in doorways
or alleys or any convenient place
along the street and listen to the con-
fession of some penitent sinner. 1t
was a familiar sight and ELECTED no
comment.
THE LANGUAGE OF THE DAY
Everybody spoke Spanish those
days. 1t was the language of the
country then. One little American girl
they called them Gringoes-learned
to read Spanish before she did English
She used to attend the Old church, as
we call it now. down by the Plaza;
It was the only church then, and
around the arch above the sanctuary
was this inscription: 'Nuestra Sonora,
Reina de Los Angeles, ruega por No
sotros,' and she spent her hours of de-