Article #287-2 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from Remember the Alamo, by Amelia E. Barr

In A. D. sixteen hundred and ninety-two, a few Franciscan monks began to
build a city. The site chosen was a lovely wilderness hundreds of miles
away from civilization on every side, and surrounded by savage and
warlike tribes. But the spot was as beautiful as the garden of God. It
was shielded by picturesque mountains, watered by two rivers, carpeted
with flowers innumerable, shaded by noble trees joyful with the notes of
a multitude of singing birds. To breathe the balmy atmosphere was to
be conscious of some rarer and finer life, and the beauty of the sunny
skies--marvellous at dawn and eve with tints of saffron and amethyst and
opal--was like a dream of heaven.

One of the rivers was fed by a hundred springs situated in the midst of
charming bowers. The monks called it the San Antonio; and on its
banks they built three noble Missions. The shining white stone of the
neighborhood rose in graceful domes and spires above the green trees.
Sculptures, basso-relievos, and lines of gorgeous coloring adorned the
exteriors. Within, were splendid altars and the appealing charms of
incense, fine vestures and fine music; while from the belfreys, bells
sweet and resonant called to the savages, who paused spell-bound and
half-afraid to listen.

Certainly these priests had to fight as well as to pray. The Indians did
not suffer them to take possession of their Eden without passionate and
practical protest. But what the monks had taken, they kept; and the
fort and the soldier followed the priest and the Cross. Ere long, the
beautiful Mission became a beautiful city, about which a sort of fame
full of romance and mystery gathered. Throughout the south and west, up
the great highway of the Mississippi, on the busy streets of New York,
and among the silent hills of New England, men spoke of San Antonio,
as in the seventeenth century they spoke of Peru; as in the eighteenth
century they spoke of Delhi, and Agra, and the Great Mogul.

Explanation

**Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Remember the Alamo by Amelia E. Barr**

Context of the Source

Amelia E. Barr (1831–1919) was a British-American novelist known for her historical romances and adventure stories. Remember the Alamo (1888) is a historical novel set in Texas, blending fact and fiction to dramatize the events leading up to the famous 1836 Battle of the Alamo. This excerpt, however, focuses not on the battle itself but on the founding of San Antonio in 1692 by Franciscan missionaries, framing the city as a place of divine beauty, spiritual conquest, and eventual legend.

Barr’s work reflects 19th-century American romanticism, particularly the fascination with frontier expansion, religious missionizing, and the mythologizing of the American West. The passage idealizes the Spanish colonial era, portraying the Franciscans as both spiritual pioneers and civilizing forces—a common trope in historical narratives of the time.

Themes in the Excerpt

Divine Beauty and Edenic Imagery
- The passage opens with a lush, almost paradisiacal description of the land where San Antonio was founded. Phrases like "the garden of God," "carpeted with flowers," and "joyful with the notes of a multitude of singing birds" evoke the Biblical Garden of Eden, suggesting that the missionaries have discovered a pure, untouched land blessed by God.
- The "balmy atmosphere" and "dream of heaven" reinforce the idea that this place is sacred, almost supernatural in its perfection.
Religious Conquest and Civilization vs. Savagery
- The Franciscan monks are depicted as bringers of civilization to a land inhabited by "savage and warlike tribes." This reflects the colonial mindset of the time, where European (and later American) expansion was justified as a moral and religious duty.
- The contrasts are stark:
  - Civilization = Missions, white stone domes, bells, incense, music.
  - Savagery = Passionate protests, fear, resistance.
- The line "the fort and the soldier followed the priest and the Cross" suggests that military force was necessary to secure spiritual conquest—a common historical pattern in colonialism.
Romanticization of History and Legend
- The passage mythologizes San Antonio, comparing it to Peru (17th century), Delhi, Agra, and the Great Mogul (18th century)—places associated with wealth, mystery, and exotic allure.
- The phrase "a sort of fame full of romance and mystery" suggests that San Antonio, like these other legendary places, became a symbol of adventure and wonder in the American imagination.
Manifest Destiny and American Expansion
- Though the excerpt focuses on Spanish colonization, it foreshadows later American expansion into Texas. The idea that this land was destined to be claimed and developed aligns with the 19th-century belief in Manifest Destiny—the idea that the U.S. was ordained to spread across the continent.

Literary Devices

Imagery (Visual, Auditory, Olfactory)
- Visual: "domes and spires above the green trees," "tints of saffron and amethyst and opal," "gorgeous coloring"
  - Creates a vibrant, almost surreal picture of San Antonio as a jewel in the wilderness.
- Auditory: "notes of a multitude of singing birds," "bells sweet and resonant"
  - The music and bells symbolize order, spirituality, and civilization contrasting with the silence or chaos of the wild.
- Olfactory: "incense, fine vestures"
  - Evokes the sensory richness of Catholic ritual, reinforcing the idea of a sacred space.
Personification & Metaphor
- "the garden of God" → Metaphor comparing the land to Eden.
- "the savages, who paused spell-bound and half-afraid" → Personification of the Indians as both awed and resistant to the missionaries' influence.
- "the beauty of the sunny skies... was like a dream of heaven" → Simile reinforcing the divine quality of the land.
Juxtaposition & Contrast
- Beauty vs. Danger: The land is paradisiacal but surrounded by "savage and warlike tribes."
- Spiritual vs. Violent: The monks pray but also fight; the Cross is followed by the fort and soldier.
- Past vs. Future: The founding of San Antonio is linked to later legends (Peru, Delhi), suggesting its enduring significance.
Hyperbole & Romantic Language
- "hundreds of miles away from civilization" → Emphasizes the isolation and daring of the missionaries.
- "a fame full of romance and mystery" → Hyperbolic language that elevates San Antonio to mythic status.
Symbolism
- The Missions = Faith, civilization, European dominance.
- The Rivers (San Antonio) = Life, purity, divine provision.
- The Bells = Call to conversion, the voice of God in the wilderness.
- The Cross & the Fort = The twin forces of religion and military power in colonization.

Significance of the Passage

Historical Romanticism
- Barr’s description is not strictly historical but romanticized, reflecting how 19th-century writers mythologized the past to serve national or cultural narratives.
- The Franciscan missions are portrayed as noble and beautiful, downplaying the violence and displacement of Native peoples—a common colonial perspective.
Justification of Colonialism
- The passage frames colonization as a divine mission, where the beauty of the land and the piety of the monks justify their presence, despite Indigenous resistance.
- This aligns with 19th-century American expansionist ideology, where settlement was seen as progress, even if it came at a cost.
Foreshadowing the Alamo’s Legacy
- Though this excerpt is about the founding of San Antonio, it sets the stage for the Alamo’s later significance as a symbol of resistance and sacrifice.
- The romantic, almost mythic tone prepares the reader to see Texas as a land worth fighting for—a key theme in the novel.
Cultural Memory and National Identity
- By comparing San Antonio to Peru and India, Barr links American expansion to earlier imperial adventures, suggesting that the U.S. is part of a grand historical tradition of exploration and conquest.
- This helps shape Texas (and the American West) as a place of legend, reinforcing national identity through historical storytelling.

Close Reading of Key Lines

"The site chosen was a lovely wilderness hundreds of miles away from civilization on every side, and surrounded by savage and warlike tribes."
- "Lovely wilderness" → Paradox: The land is both beautiful and untamed, needing to be "civilized."
- "Savage and warlike tribes" → Colonial language that dehumanizes Indigenous people, framing them as obstacles to progress.
"But what the monks had taken, they kept; and the fort and the soldier followed the priest and the Cross."
- "Taken" → Implies conquest, not mutual agreement.
- "The fort and the soldier followed the priest" → Religion and military force worked together in colonization.
"Throughout the south and west, up the great highway of the Mississippi, on the busy streets of New York, and among the silent hills of New England, men spoke of San Antonio..."
- Geographical sweep → Shows how San Antonio’s fame spread across America, becoming a national symbol.
- "Silent hills of New England" → Contrasts with the vibrant, exotic South, reinforcing the allure of the frontier.

Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters

This excerpt is not just a description of San Antonio’s founding—it is a myth-making exercise. Barr uses rich imagery, romantic language, and colonial tropes to present the city as:

A divine paradise waiting to be claimed.
A battleground between civilization and savagery.
A legendary place in the American imagination.

By doing so, she justifies colonialism, glorifies expansion, and sets the stage for the Alamo’s later significance in Texas history. The passage reflects 19th-century attitudes toward manifest destiny, religion, and the American West, making it a key example of historical romanticism in literature.

Would you like any further analysis on specific aspects, such as the religious symbolism or the colonial implications?

Questions

Question 1

The passage’s depiction of the Franciscan monks’ relationship with the Indigenous tribes is primarily structured around a paradox that serves to:

A. underscore the futility of religious conversion in the face of violent resistance.
B. highlight the monks’ spiritual purity by contrasting it with the tribes’ moral corruption.
C. suggest that the beauty of the land was inherently incompatible with Indigenous stewardship.
D. normalize the inevitability of colonial conquest by framing it as a divine and civilizing mission.
E. illustrate the monks’ strategic adaptability in balancing diplomacy with military force.

Question 2

The phrase "the fort and the soldier followed the priest and the Cross" functions rhetorically to:

A. emphasize the secondary role of military power in the missionaries’ spiritual endeavors.
B. critique the hypocrisy of using violence to spread a religion founded on peace.
C. suggest that the Indigenous tribes were more responsive to force than to faith.
D. naturalize the fusion of religious and martial authority as an organic progression.
E. imply that the monks’ initial efforts were so successful that military protection became unnecessary.

Question 3

The passage’s comparison of San Antonio to "Peru," "Delhi," and "Agra" is most effectively interpreted as an attempt to:

A. situate the city within a global network of trade and cultural exchange.
B. elevate its status by associating it with places mythologized for their wealth and exoticism.
C. contrast the simplicity of the missions with the opulence of Eastern empires.
D. argue that European colonization in the Americas was less exploitative than in Asia.
E. suggest that San Antonio’s founding was part of a deliberate imperial strategy rather than an accidental discovery.

Question 4

The description of the Indigenous tribes as "spell-bound and half-afraid" to listen to the mission bells primarily serves to:

A. depict their ambivalence as a psychological precursor to eventual submission.
B. humanize them by acknowledging their capacity for awe in the face of beauty.
C. imply that their resistance was rooted in superstition rather than rational opposition.
D. foreshadow their inevitable conversion through the irresistible power of faith.
E. contrast their primitive emotions with the monks’ disciplined devotion.

Question 5

The passage’s use of sensory imagery (e.g., "balmy atmosphere," "incense," "resonant bells") is most strategically employed to:

A. create an immersive historical setting that prioritizes authenticity over romanticism.
B. construct an idealized, almost sacred atmosphere that justifies the monks’ claim to the land.
C. highlight the stark contrast between the missionaries’ refined culture and the tribes’ sensory deprivation.
D. suggest that the land’s natural beauty was so overwhelming that it rendered resistance futile.
E. underscore the ephemeral nature of the missions’ glory by appealing to fleeting sensory experiences.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: D

Why D is most correct: The passage frames the monks’ actions as both spiritually ordained ("the garden of God," "dream of heaven") and inevitable ("what the monks had taken, they kept"). The paradox lies in the juxtaposition of divine beauty with violent conquest, but the overarching effect is to naturalize colonization as a civilizing mission—a common 19th-century justification for expansion. The monks’ prayers and fights are presented as complementary, not contradictory, reinforcing the idea that their dominance was preordained.