Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-04-01
sENORITA MARCELLINA.

From the Overland Monthly 3lt
Nestled between the cloud capped
mountains and the sea, in the sunny
regions of Southern California, lies the
beautiful town of Santa Barbara. Here
through the long winter months, the air
is mild and balmy, and the hills are rich
with verdure. Pepper and acacia-trees
mingle the grace Of their perennial
| foliage with that of the sturdy live oak
and the dark leaved olive, all the year
round; while flowers. both wild and cul.
tivated, bloom in unbounded profusion.
Santa Barbara claims to be one of the
most favored spots on the globe for
healthfulness, the geniality Of its climate,
and the beauty and produetiveness of its
semi-tropical vegetation. Differing from
the Neapolitans, the Santa Barbarans
say, See Santa Barbara and livel"
About four miles from the town, in
the valley of Msntecito, grows the now
famous grapevine, one of the wonders
for the tourist in Southern California.
1t is the largest on record. 1t measures
four feet four inches in circumference at
the ground, forty-one inches two feet
from the ground, and Fises eight feet be
fore branching out; then, spreading With
extreme luxnriance, its branches cover
more than FIVE thousand square feet, and
are supported by fifty-two trelises. The
largest branch is thirty inoheg in clrcHm-
ference, and were it not for rigid pruning,
the bran ches would extend indefinitely in
eysFv direction. 1t is Of the Mission
variety and exeeedipgly prolific, pro.
ducing annually from Ite to tiy tons Of
grapeS, which hang in massive clusters
beneath the trellises, the effect Of which,
in the mellow autumn-time, excltes ad'
miration aud wonder, 1t is claimed that
il has produced seven thoussnd bpnehes
of grapes, varying frem one TO four
pounds in weight each. A bean was
mt into O vase for each bunch plucked,
until the beans numbered seven thou
sand. II grows on q sunny alone Of the
foothills, commanding q fine view OF
the rugged mountains in one direction,
and in the other the lovely MOntecito
Valley, with gilmpses Of the blue Pacific.
The vine is irrigated by waters from the
hot springs a few miles distanti and the
country about the vine is very beautiful
and Mexican in its natural and artificial
surroundings.
Tksre is q tradition connected with the
origin Of this vine We wish 10 record.
Seventy years ago, during the occu-
pancy Of the Mission Fathers, there
lived ia the vicinity Of Los Angeles a
beautiful young Spanish girl. Nearly
all Spanish giFls. while in the bloom and
freshness Of youth, possess more or less
Of their national cast Of beauty; but the
seuorita Marcellina bad, from child
booi. been the acknowledged queen
among The meidens Of her native place.
Her eomplexion, tinged with the warm,
brnnalis hue Of her race, was clear and
bright wifh thr rich tint Of health. Der
wealth Of black hsiF iell in ripping
waves far below hsr waist su9 hsF lsrEe,
dsrk eyes we're fringed With siikan lashes
lk.f maiahed the exquisite penciling Of
he archei br0gs above them. Her pa
reuts though belongiug 10 the better
oi.ss Of Spanish, BAD ben0me poor,
through EXTRA -sgance and nismanAss
nsni' and bad fornsd the project oiI