Southern California; . toaccept the religion of the Cross, gradually tighteningthe bands which held them subject until they had themcompletely under control, compelling them to learn andto labor, imposing tasks and penances, and exactingoljedience in all things. The women were taught tospin, weave and sew, and the men were taught a greatvariety of trades and industries. The more intelligentones were instructed in reading and singing while somelearned to play upon various musical instruments. At last, when the missions were at the height of theirpower and success, came from Mexico the dread ord
Southern California; . toaccept the religion of the Cross, gradually tighteningthe bands which held them subject until they had themcompletely under control, compelling them to learn andto labor, imposing tasks and penances, and exactingoljedience in all things. The women were taught tospin, weave and sew, and the men were taught a greatvariety of trades and industries. The more intelligentones were instructed in reading and singing while somelearned to play upon various musical instruments. At last, when the missions were at the height of theirpower and success, came from Mexico the dread orderof secularization, abolishing the rule of the Francis-cans and proclaiming the independence of the the Indians, alas, had been taught only enough tomake them useful to the church, not enough to makethem self-sustaining under their new conditions. Therule of the Franciscans was a mild slavery, but releasefrom this bondage meant inevitable degeneration anddeath. They were happy, for the most part, in their. slavery, and in the main they have been contented inthe gradual disintegration which has followed it, butthis does not lessen the shame of their unhappy destiny,crushed and scattered as they have been by the rudeworld which is the vanguard of modem civilization. Side by side with the missions grew up the Mexicanpueblos and the ranches which became most prosperousas the missions drew near the end of their days ofpower. These were the times of whitewashed adobehomes with roofs of dull red tile, with wide verandasand sunny patios. They were the days of dark cabal-leros with gay costumes and jangling spurs and silver-mounted bridles, of tinkling guitars that marked therhythm for merry dancers, and of free, open-handed hos-pitality. They were the dajs when the saints controlledthe destinies of high and low. Great herds of cattleroamed the mesas, and bands of sheep cropped theherbage started into life bythe winter rains. Then came Fremont andStockton. There was aclash
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Keywords: ., bookauthorkeelerch, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookyear1901
