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Newspaper Page Text
THE INDIAN ADVOCATE. 296 dian woman understands well whatever is expected of a women in civilized life. The men learned various trades; the Mission Indians had masons, tanners, shoemakers, carpenters, weavers or farmers of their own race. It goes without saying that they were experts in taking care of stock, cattle, horses and sheep. It is especially astonishing how. the Mission Fathers could erect the large and beautiful missions considering that the timber for these buildings was carried by the Indians on their shoulders from the mountains to the Missions. The missions grew rich. The Indians began to work and in return received all they needed for their living. Any one being hungry, was allowed to slaughter a head of themission cattle, but was obliged to bring the hide as a tribute to the missions. To this day the old Mission Indians in Califor nia speak of the happy days when they were ruled by the. Mission Fathers. There were but few disturbances. One Father was slain by the hostile Indians at San Diego in the beginning of the establishment of the Mission. The Mission Fathers were paternal rulers; they taught Christianity to the Indians; the best Indians were rewarded; evil-doers were punished by being tied to a tree and flogged, or for great crimes by being delivered to the secular arm. The Christians numbered about 50,000 and, counting all in all, more than 100,000 had received the grace of baptism. After the death of Father Junipero, Father Lasuen, after Father Junipero the most enlightened and prominent Fran ciscan of his time, was appointed president of the missions. The government of Mexico interfered more or less with the management of the Fathers. Fr. Junipero Serra was accused and misrepresented and he found it necessary to go in person to Mexico to vindicate himself and his Brothers in religion from false representations. Father Lasuen and his succes sors fared rather worse. It is the old story. The Padres