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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 28, 1904)
Picturesque Spanish Ruins in California FT i ... ..-. , . . .... . . 'l - v . . r. 4 , tyai.vte;..l!u.).i.t ii iiib t wi linn iimiti mi I TUB MISSION BUILDING FROM THE RUINED COURT, SAN LUIS RET. KB HE palmy days of the eighteenth century are being revived la Bouthern Cailfurniu. Urown-robed FrunciHcuu monks have reap peared at the ancient mUwlon of San Itey, fifty miles north of Saa Ulego, a citadel of BtretiKth and a haven ot rest In the early days, liut for two (enw tloiiH this mlsHlun has been almost en tirely deserted, until In recent years it hua become a mere picturesque ruin, its gray walls and arehes crumbling, and its capa cious halls and lofty towers abandoned and llcnt a decaying monument of the former (lory of Spain's church and state. Ueglnnlng ubout the middle of the eight eenth century the Franciscans created a chain of these mission settlements, extend ing from Sun Diego, near the Mexican bor der, to Sonoma, north of San Francisco. They were located about one day's Journey apart, for the convenience of travelers, but this feature was only Incidental to the great spiritual, educational and economic worlt which, they did for California, be fore the tlmo of the American occupation. Tlio mission fathers selected the most fertile spots in beautifully sheltered valleys for their settlements. Here they built their churches, founded their schools and established communities, which took firm root upon the soil. Kuch community was made self-sutllclent and self-sustaining. The useful arts and trades were taught and curried on. Within the shadow of the church, artisans und skilled workmen labored at their various tasks. Water was brought in Irrigation ditches from the near est stream flowing from the snow-capped Sierras, and field, orchard and garden, re claimed from the desert, yielded of their abundance. The Franciscans were the teachers of the irrigation of the south west, und this is perhaps the deepest and most lusting mark which they left on Cali fornia's civilization. This new activity at San Luis Rey has come as an entire surprise to the quiet neighborhood. Patriotic Americans have been engaged for some years past In an effort to preserve some of the old missions from further decay and even to restore them, to a certain extent. But thoso most familiar with this work did not dream that the Industrious followers of St. Francis would ever return to make practi cal use of the old landmarks. Even now It la not known but thut the movement Is to extend to other historic spots. However that may be, the gentle broth erhood has come back to San Luis Rey. The old church has been repaired and ervlees are again held beneath its ven erable roof. The clo' 'tors are being re built and the Irrigation aqueducts recon structed. The fields will be tilled again and yield the same loyal support to the community. The leader in the movement Is Father O'Keefo, who came unheralded from Mex ico and quietly set out upon the restora tion of the old landmark. Ills fellow-laborers are all members of the Franciscan or der and perform their heavy manual work In the brown cassocks that were familiar to generations now passed and forgotten. Father O'Keefe does not expect to revive the former economic life of the settlement In all Its amplitude. Much has happened since, his predecessors tolled and. taught and ruled In these lovely southern valleys. Modern people have come with modern Im provements and there Is now no need of the paternal scheme which did so much for the simple population of the country a cen tury or more ago. Father O'Keefe's plan la to convert the old mission Into a aclf- wfi .. ! A CEMENT LINED IRRIGATION DITCH- sustaining Franciscan college. Thus the spiritual mid educational work will live again, but the social and economic features will not be restored, beyond what Is neces sary to meet the necessities of the monks themselves. Tho mission fathers were the pioneers of European civilization amoner the coast hills of California. They supplied leadership and Instruction to those who were en gaged .In founding homes and wresting a living from the gaunt appearing desert. The work which they began must still be continued, and upon a vastly larger scale, but it has passed to other hands to the government of America and to an army of settlers who come from all parts of tho world. The government Is supplying both the capital and the expert knowledge needed In this conquest of the desert. It is laying the foundation of prosperity, pointing the way, and Inviting the people to enter into their heritage. While Its resources nre far greater than those of the devoted missionaries who planted tho seed of Cnlifornla, Its spirit Is much the same. It is helping the people to help themselves. In one respect the mission fathers were better situated than I'ncle Sam. They could locate their settlements In the choic est spots without encountering the "sooner," the speculator or the land-grabber, who had anticipated them by filing on the property under preposterous land laws. The cream of the country was open to the real settler and homebullder In those days. There will be many a new "mission" founded In California In the whole great west missions dedicated to In dustry, thrift and the satisfaction of that craving for homes upon the soil which Is a healthy American characteristic. But the future of these "missions" depends In large measure upon the Intelligence of congress aa a guardian and trustee of Its children who are to build up and occupy these productive lands. Under existing laws, speculators are taking up In single entries from four to eight times aa much land as Is reasonably necessary for the support of a family. They are getting title to this hind without living upon It for a day or an hour, since the laws do not require them to do ao. While the richest agricultural land are being rapidly ac quired for speculation and monopoly under one law, the splendid forests which clothe the western mountains aro being consoli dated Into great holdings, under another law, to be held iignlnst tho needs of com ing generations. These things are nothing less than a crime against the children ot tho United States. ' And the lesson taught by the brown-robed Franciscan monka of San Luis Rey was one of 1-elpfulness and self-dependence, but not greed and rapacity. Will tbolr successor, tho United States, teach the same lesson to Its children or. will it carelessly allow tho interloper to wrong fully profit at their expense? Congress has been asked to take some action on tho land laws of tho United States. It has failed or refused thus far to do so. If it recognizes public sentiment, It must no longer evade this issue, of importance to tho west and to the United States. Soinethiiift for Nothing If you want a practical illustration of how giving something for nothing works, pick out one of your old college friends who's too strong to work, or a sixteenth cousin who's missed connections with the express to Fortune, and Bay: "You're a pretty good fellow and I want to help you. After this I'm going to send you $100 the first of every month until you've made a new start." He'll fairly sicken you with his thanks for that first $100; ho'll call you his generous .benefactor over three or four pages for the second; ho'll send you a nice little half page, note of thanks for the third; ho'll WTito, "Yours of the first with enc.osure to hand thanks," for the fourth; he'll forget to acknowledge tho fifth, and when the sixth doesn't come promptly he'll wire, collect; "Why this delay In sending my check? Mail at once." And all this time ho won't have stirred a step In the direction of work, because he'll have rea soned, either consciously or unconsciously; "I can't get a Job that will pay me more than $100 a month to start with, but I'm already drawing $100 without working; so what's the use?" But when a fellow can't get a free pass, and he has any sort of stuff la him, except what hoboes are made -ST" 'ft PALMS NEAR SAN LUIS RET. of, he'll usually hustlo for his carfare rather than ride through life on the bump ers of a freight. Saturday Evening PosC New Garbage Plan The city garbage In future may be con verted Into fuel having twice the number of heat units as soft coal if the proposition of the National Garbage Fuel company la considered favorably by the city council. The company Is a new one. P. M. Harmon Is president and Samuel F. Knox treasurer. Tho offices are In tho Masonic temple. A number of demonstrations have been held before prominent chemist's and sani tary experts. A test, which was pro nounced satisfactory, was held yesterday at the Chlsholm, Boyd & White company'a plant, Fifty-first and Wallace streets. According to the statement of President Harmon, tho garbage Is made Into bricka of fuel weighing one pound each. It 19 smokeless and odorless when burned. The roduclng plants, it Is said, will be free from odor, also. The company proposes to save tho city $:M0,0o0 a year. Chicago Tribune. Horrors Tho returned war correspondent waa de scribing the terrible scenes on the battle field. "When we entered tho fort, we saw heaps of dead and wounded lying about. The sight wag awful" "Oh, go and get a eputatlon!" exclaimed ' tbo sporting editor. Then he began to tell ul-out the automobllo race and the war correspondent blushed and finally skulked away, like the beaten man that be wa Cleveland Leader. t