The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-03-01
LEGEND OF THE MONTICELLO GRAPE
VINE.

regions Oh SouulcEll tdlllOllild HES Tile
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 peren-
NAL foliage with that of the sturdy live
oak and the dark-leaved olive all the
year round, while flowers, both wild
and cultivated, bloom i'll unbounded
profuslon,
Santa Barbara claims to be one of
the most favored spots on the globe
for healthfulness, the genlallty OF its
climate and the beauty and productive
ness of its semi tropical vegetation
Differing from the Neapolitans, the
Santa Barbarans say, See Santa Bar
bara and live.
About four miles from the town, III
the valley of Montecito, grows the now
famous grapevine, one OF the wonders
for the tourist III southern California.
1t is the largest on record. 1t meas
ures four feet III circumference at the
ground, forty-one inches two feet from
the ground, and rises eight feet before
branching out; then, spreading with
extreme luXuriance, it's branches cover
more than five thousand square feet,
and are supported by forty two treilises.
The largest branch is thirty inches in
circumference, and were 1T not for rigid
pruning, the branches would extend
indefinitely III every direction. 1t is of
the Mission variety and exceedingly
prolific, producing annually from
five to six and half tons of
grapes, which hang i'll massive
clusters beneath the trellises, and the
effect of which, III the mellow Autumn
time, excites admiration and wonder.
1t is claimed that 1t has produced
1000 punches of grapes, varying from
one to four pounds in weight each. A
bean was put into vase for each
bunch plucked, until the beans mum
bered 1000. 1t grows on sunny
slope of the fonthills, commanding a
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 lrri
gated by waters from the hot springs
a few miles distant, and the country
about the vine IS very beautiful and
Mexican III its natural and artificial
surroundings.
There is a tradition connected with
this vine we wish 10 record. Seventy
years ago, during the occupancy of the
Mission Fathers, there lived III the vicin-
ity of Los Angeles beautiful young
Spanish girl Nearly all Spanish girls,
while in the bloom and freshness OF
youth, possess more or less of their ma
tional cast of beauty; but the Senorita
Marccllina had from childhood been the
acknowledged queen among the maidens
Of her native place. Her complexion,
tlnged with the warm, brunette hue OF
her race, was clear and bright, with the
rich tint of health. Her wealth of black
hair fell i'll ripping waves far below hel
waist; and her large, dark eyes were
fringed with silken lashcs that matched
the exquisite penciling of the arched
brows above them. Her parents, though
belonging to the better class of Spanish,
bad become poor through extravaganza
and mIsmanagement, and had formed
the project of lettering their fortunes
by wedding their lovely daughter to
some wealthy Don.
The lovely Marcellina did not lack
for admirers nor ardent lovers, and
among them all Senior Carlos de Do
mlngueS was the favorite and accepted
suitor. He was handsome, tall and man
ly, but alas without fortune, and So
cially not the equal of Marcellina. AS
may be supposed, his suit met with no
encouragement from the Don and Dona
FelIz, and they, finding the attach
ment between the young people was
becoming stronger than accorded with
their plans for their daughter, resolved
to remove to Santa Barbara-a mission
some hundred miles north-where re
sided many wealthy families, among
whom they doubted not an alliance
would be formed suitable in fortune
and position.
The announcement of their contem-
plated removal struck dismay to the
hearts of Marcellipa and Carlos; bnt
the latter, receiving courage from des-
peration, presented his suit to the pa
rents. AS was anticipated, it was scorn-
fully rejected, and further intercourse
sternly forbidden. The lovers were,
however, far too ardent 20 be separated
thus, and through the medium of an
old Indian nurse, who was devoutly at
tached to the girl, they obtained one
Interview before parting.
In the early twilight Mercel,lua stole
out to an olive orchard, surrounded by
an adobe wall, which lay back of the
paternal mansion. Here she stood.
waiting with throbbing heart the arrival
of her lover, while her nurse kept watch
on the other side of the wall, ready to
give the alarm by signal agreed upon
hould any one approach from the
house. Already the shadows lay dark
beneath the thick, low branches of the
olive trees, and at every rustic and
sound the fair transgressor started and
trembled. Suddenly tail figure sprang
over the wall and crept stealthily along
Ill its shadow, till he came close TO
where the waiting maiden stood.
-" Carlos, she cried, holding out her
trembling hands. 6 1t is you Marcel
lima? All, poor little one, how she
trembles They are very cruel, darling,
but we will not be separated They
shall not take you from me, my precious
one"
And then he spoke long, low and
rapidly in the beautiful Spanish Ian
exquisitely fitted for express
'lons of tenderness and endearment-
jelling her, as her parents objected to