Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-03-08
Lsarsp on rmE uoNrEcrro eRAPE
f- VINE. .s.sfaLf .I

mountain and the sea, In the sunny re-
gjoDs OF southern Californa, lies the
beautiful town Of Santa barbara. Herr
through the long winter months, the air
is mild aud balmy and the hills are rich
with verdure. Pepper and acacia trees
mingle the grace of their perennial foil.
age with that of the sturdy live oak and
the dark lesved olive all the year round,
while flowers, both wild and cultivated,
bloom iu unbouDded prcfusio1.
Santa Barbara claims TO be one Of the
most favored spots on the globe for
healthfulness, the geniality Of it's climate,
and the beauty and productiveness OF its
semi-tropical vegetation. Differing from
the Neapolitans, the Santa Barbarans
say, See Santa Barbara and live 20
About four miles from the town, in
the valley of Montecito, grows the now
famous grapevine, one of the wonders Of
the tourist in southern California. II is
the largest on record. II measures four
feet in circumference at the ground,
forty-one inches two feet from the ground
and rises eight feet above the ground
before branching out; then spreading
with extreme luxuriance, its branches
cover more than FIVE th0nusand square
feet, and are supported by iorty-two
trellises. The largest branch is 80 inches
in circumference, aud were it not for rig
id pruning, the branches would extend
indefinitely in every direction. 1t is OF
the Mission variety and exceedingly pro-
life, producing annually from FIVE 10 six
and half tons Of grapes, which hang
in massive clusteres beneath the trellises,
and the effect of which, in mellow Au-
tumn time, excites admiration and won
der. IL is claimed that it has produced
1000 buncEes OF grapes varying from
one 10 four pounds in weight each. A
bean was put into vase for each bunch
plucked, until the beans numbered 1000.
IL grows on sunny slope of the foothills,
commanding fine view of the rugged
mountains in one direction, and in the
other the lovely Montecito Valley, with
glimpses OF the blue Pacific. The vine
is irrigated by waters from the hot springs
few miles distant, and the country
about the vine is very beautiful aud Mex
lean in its natural and artificial sur
roundings. ...
There is a tradition connected with
this vine we wish 10 record. Seventy
years ago, during the occupancy of the
Mission Fathers, there lived in the vicin-
ity Of Los Angeles a beautiful Spanish
girl. Nearly all Spanish girls while in
the bloom and freshness of youth, pos
sess more or less of their national cast OF
beauty; but the Senorita Marcellina
had from childhood been the acknowl-
edged queen among the maidens of her
native place. Her complexion, tinged
with the warm, brunette hue of her race,
was clear aud bright, with the rich tint
| of health. Her wealth of black hair fell
in ripping waves far below her waist
and her large dark eyes were friueed
with silken lashes that matched the ex
quisite penciling of the arched browt
above them. Her parents, though be
longing TO the better class of Spanish
had become poor from misInaDagemenI
aud extravaganza, and had formed the
project OF bettering their fortunes by
wedding their lovely daughter to some
wealthy Don.
The lovely Marcellina did not lack fo
admirers nor ardent lovres, and among
them all, Senior Carlos de Dominique
was the favorite and accepted sutton
He was handsome, tall and manly, bu
alas without fortune, and socially no
the equal of Marcelliaa. As may be ez
pected, his suit met with no encourage
ment from the Don and Donna Feliz, ant
they, finding the attachment betweel
the young people was becoming stron
ger than accorded with their plans 70
their daughter, resolved 10 remove t
Santa Barbara-a mission some hundre'
miles norih-where resided many wea
thy families among whom they doubte
not, an alliance would be foim med suitabl
in fortune and position.
The announcement of their conten
plated removal struck dismay to th
hearts of Marcel ina and Carlos; bt
the latter, receiving courage from de
+ peration, presented his suit TO the pi
J, rents As ant cipated, i, was scornfull
u rejected, and further intercourse sternl
: forbidden. The lovers were howeve
through the medium of an old India
I nurse, who was devOutly attached to II
l. girl, they obtained one interview befo
parting.
g In the early twilight Mercellina sto
out TO an olive orchard, surrounded
8 an adobe wall, which lay back OF the p
), ternal mansion. Here she stood, waitil
h with throbbing heart the arrival of b
lover, while her nurse kept watch on d
'e other side OF the wall, ready to give q
D. the alarm by signal agreed upo
r should any one approach from the hous
9 Already the shadows lay dark bcnea
As the thick, low branches OF the olive tree
le and st every rustic and sound the fl
se transgressor started and trembled. Su
- denly tall figure sprang over the vi
q and crept stealthily along in its shade
ie until he came close to where the wa
ss lug maiden stood. "Carlos," she erie
',;holding out her trembling hands. ''ls
d. you Marcelina (? All, poor little OF
es how she trembles They are very or
% darling, but we will not be separate
q They shall not take you from me, !
'k precious one,n ssl .rosa 1
al Aud then he spoke long, low and n
E, idly in the beautiful Spanish Language
~ so 'exqnistely fitted for expressions
u tenderness and endearment- telling h
y as her parents objected TO their union
~ the ground of his poverty, be bad det
70 mined to win wealth; that an old IN
CT an bound to him by the ties OF grs
Te- tude, possessed knowledge OF rich mi
no r aha mon nf al ina and