The San Francisco call., 1910-03-06

NJ counts we listen to, we of Cali
fornia turn with ever fresh
Interest 10 aught that pertains to
the old missions that lie scattered up
and down the coast of our long state.
Is it because in all this land Of youth
and newness, they alone are possessed
Of historic association; they alone
dream only Of the past unmindful of
the golden future that we are so GER
tain lies before us? Age has ever
subtle fascination for youth. Or is it
that we have latent feeling that to
these old ruins we owe a tardy recon-
pcnse, because Of the manner in which
this great and glorious state came into
possession of their rolling lands and
fertile fields? However that may be,
the missions lie very close TO the heart
OF Catholic and Protestant alike, and
thus it is that so much is written
about them and read with so much
more 10 follow in the future.
All of these have their traditions.
their legends their stories, for all Of
them teemed with life once, the life OF
busy priests and parishioners and con-
verts. The ancient church of st.
Michael, or san Miguel. in the south
ern part OF the Salinas valley, has pos
sibly a bit more Of interest than some
Of the others. 1t is the best preserved
OF all the California missions-in fact,
the only one which is today exactly the
same as when first built in 1927. Even
the walls. though in ruins. give us an
accurate idea Of the extent of the prop
erty Immediately connected with the
church itself 1t embraced about 40
acres.
interviewer with the legends of the
place we find a touch Of humor as con-
tagious as if just from ireland itself:
and we find also traces OF one Of the
grimmest Of ira agedies. 1t is the hum
orous vein which especially strikes the
fancy, since il is 50 very rare in these
sober and solemn old associations.
Tragedy. on the other hand, was never
very far away in the former days, es-
pecially after the authority of the
fathers was stripped from them.
Standing in the shade of the long
colonnades Of the church. ones atten-
tion is drawn to two huge old chairs
fashioned Of massive oak and beauti-
fully carved leather. The wooden
frames of the chairs are as firm as
when they were first fitted together.
but the leather parts are badly worn,
although one can see yet the intricacy
and beauty of the designs wrought
long go by patient hands. These are
the famous wishing chairs. one Of
which was brought from the ruins of
the San Antonio mission, along with
some old paintings and similar relics.
This chair. which Of the two is in the
best state OF preservation. possessed
miraculous powers. Any one seating
himself therein might formulate one
wish and be certain of its fulfllment.
Il was famed far and wide. and people
travelled for many miles that they
might rest in it and wish for the at
tainment of their hearts desire. Ira
dition has it that these desires were
duly fulhlled-did they concern a good
crop. the winning of race, delivery
AApt-t ENL4l VI cl4t OAitcL pl Allt uulu-
berless things for which the heart of
man might long.
Enrique Cabara for two successive
seasons had lost his iocks and herds,
numbering thousands Of animals. Some
mysterious sickness seized his sheep
and his cattle and carried them off al
most more quickly than their owner
could count them. At the beginning
Of the third year he was in despair.
and was on the point of leaving the
country and returning to Spain. But
the state could ill afford to lose so in
huential a man as Don Cabara. So