The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1889-02-28
California Letter.
SANTA BARBARA, CAL,
y, 1Opn

trying to pen a few items to you OF
what we see and learn OF the Pacific
Coast This is a peculiar country,
quite different from what we have
back in Tennessee. 1t is said the
climate here is without its like in the
world. The Kurosivo or Ocean Cur
rant of the North Pacific brings
stream of water 600 miles wide and
one half mile deep, sweeping around
from Japan by way of the Alentian
isles with temperature OF about fifty
degrees at all seasons OF the year, and
washes these shores and tempers the
trade winds which blow from the sea
to the land. These breezes reduce the
heat of summer and the cold of winter
and makes an even temperature the
whole year. The history of this couu-
try is that at least two races OF men
preceded the Indian Who they were
or where they came from is mystery.
After them came the Indian, and the
differnt tribes Of them were very un-
like. Then came the Spanish, after
them mixture of Indian and Span
ish, few still remain to-day and are
called Mexicans. Then came the
Anglo-Saxon, the superior race Of all
in intelligence. Next came Japanese
and more recently the Chinese, and
each race have to some extent infu-
enced or left their marks upon the
country, and to-day, in passing over
the country, one sees marks and i'm
pressions made by each. There is jul t
now some excitement on this coast
about the Cliff dwellers, whose habit
ations have been often found in the
mountains of Arizona and New Mexi-
co but never have the people been
found until quite recently a party
claims to have found some houses in
habited, and as soon as the snow gets
out Of the mountains they mean to
capture the town and people, and if
possible learn something about their
history This may be true and it may
not, but if true, it may be the key to
unlock many things that are yet tied
up in the prehistoric period of this
country. Santa Barbara is beautiful
city OF 10000 inhabitants, at the
terminus of one branch OF THE Southern
Pacific R, R., and ON the Pacific
Ocean from this point ships 90 to all
parts OF the world. The principal
street runs down to the wharf. One
can stand in the street mile or more
away and see the beach and out on the
ocean, and if one wants to go down on
the beach he can take the street cal
and ride to the bathing house or, il
this don't satisfy him he can put on a
bathing suit and jump in among the
waves and dive to his satisfaction
We had a real Mise drive along the
beach for several miles. Mr. Jno. l.
rruslow, son Of our townsman, Mr.
Jno. w. Truslow, called at our hote
for us with carriage and drove us tc
his elegant residence, where we spent q
short time looking at his nice flowers
yard and convenient house. After 4
nice treat to nectarines and apricots
we again took the carriage, accompa
MED by his estimable wife, and HI
drove us over the city and out to thu
beach and along the beach t
Montecito. And here / want to say t
one not accustomed to the ocean tha
such sights must be seen TO be enjoyed
One sees ducks, sea gulls, pelicans
wild geese and all kinds of boats ant
ships. Montecito is beautiful it'll
village four miles from Santa Barbara
has some of the finest flowers / eve
saw it seems to be the home of tn
rose saw the largest ones here | eve
looked at--some as large round as
common saucer and of various colors
Oh, ye lovers of flowers, this is tn
place to see them in perfection-botl
cultivated and wild, Here at Monteci
to is q place owned by Il Mr., McGet
from Connecticut, who was a grea
admirer OF General Grant, and he ha
built his house an exact duplicate c
the house on Mount ,McGregory
where General Grant died. It is q pc
, culiar constructed and odd lookin
house, is now occupied by Mrs. M
{ Cormick, the widow of the Mr.. McCol
mick of reaper and mower fame. Sh
! is also the lady who has been so liber'
. in her donations to Tusculum Colleg
. in Greene county She is spendin
the winter here, and is a beautifl
r place overlooking the ocean. TIL
f largest grape vine in the world, (sai
Y to be), is here and measures, at ii
ground, forty-seven (47) inches roun
;. hasa spread OF branches sixty (6O fe
e square over an arbor. 1t produc,
about two tons of grapes annually;
r OF the variety known here as the " O
i Mission Grape" which is fine crap
There is a legend about the vine whic
is hnlieved II be trne Some for