The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-06-27
4 neUsfAII PARADISE.


- pcserted Home Of John Browns
widow Near the Saratoga Of
California.
On the summit ofthe highest mountain
,uposite the hotel, and about three miles
way Is the crow flies, is the home ofthe
Kidow Of old John Brown. To reach it
IN the road from Saratoga lisa long tramp
No ! sfeep mountain road, but the visi-
bor i rapid by succession Of views, each
more panoramic than its predecessors,
until 1t the summit the entire Santa
Clara valley from below Los Gatos' as
well q half of San Francisco bay, Is
spread out like great map before him.
ON the way up one passes by fifteen
year-old vineyard loaded with grapes,
one of the first that can be seen in these
foothills. Further up the road is carved
out Of the ride Of the mountain, and 10
fringed on either side by dense grove
Of madrone, manzanita, yerba santa,
ereasewood, and pepperwood, all in one
confused tangle- the dreaded chaparral,
which is no thoroughfare without an axe
or good Ratchet. This road was built by
three men, each Of whom took up 100
acres near the summit. If done by days
work, it could not have cost less that
5000 or $4,000. One has abandoned his
place, about one mile this side OF the
Brown homestead. The orchard is
grown up to chaparral as high as ones
head, while some almond trees are max
ing Q desperate struggle for existence.
This place commands the finest view OF
any on the mountain, but the land is
poor and in bad shape for cultivation.
Moro than mile further one comes to
the very summit of the mountain, on
which is perched the Brown place. About
ten acres are cleared and set out in fruit,
the majority being French prunes. The
house. story-and-a-half frame struc-
ture, painted white with front and side
rorch;- the east. All that saves
it from hopeless loneliness is the outlook
over the valley, which is simply superb.
Below, looking as though one might
reach it with a stone, is the village Of
Saratoga, while across the valley is the
San Jose road, with the Santa Cruz and
leading of almost at right angles with it.
The great valley ranches look like truck
gardens, while the mountains of the
coast range form the background Of the
picture. Turning ones back on this view
of the outer world. and the little farm Is
seen to possess many homelike features
in spite of its loneliness; but "life and
thought have passed away from the
home" It is deserted for the summer,
the only occupant Of the premises being
the family cat. In semi-circle about the
front of the house is row Of rose
bushes, and there are other evidences o.
taste for ornament which is unfortu.
nately not common in country homes
The place is pathetic in its testimony to
the hard work that has been expended
IN bringing it to Its present shape. The
land is good, deep, rich loan, with &C
casional streaks of gravel; but it has cos'
much effort to wrest this small bit Of ten
acres or more from the chapparal. Corn
is planted between the fruit trees, and
there is a thrifty garden Of green peas
beets and lettuce. In time, with much
work, it may be converted into good
ranch, but it Is not pleasant task to con
template.
The house, as it originally stood, con
sisted of three rooms and an attic. Ar
addition has been made of a kitchen and
bedroom to the rear, and this is un
painted. Here lived until recently the
Widow Brown, her married daughter
and her son-in-law, FubIinger, and theil
four little children. A neighbor, who
had removed their household effects II
the village of Saratoga on Wednesday
last, explained the removal in this way
.aYou see" he said, "the old lady's goinl
away this summer; the son-in-law il
teaching school in Saratoga 80 the daugh
ter thought it best to move down into
the town. She was left here all alone
last summer, because her husband
couldn't come home from teaching every
night and her mother was away. It's 8
lonesome place for woman, and l DOM
blame her for wanting to bide with hel
man. There's girl near by there
though, about q quarter offs mile from
the Brown place, who sometimes stay,
alone for spell of three weeks or there
abouts. She lives with her uncle, and
he is gone bout half the time; but she
don't seem to mind it."
The same informant also told me thai
the Brown place was for sale and thai
it could probably be bought for abou1
90 I'm