New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-28
PORTAL OF RAMONA'S HOME
Looking out into the patio.

her errand, and always received with the
princely hospitality accorded an honored guest by
the old Spanish American families. 1t was there-
fore with amazement and not little consterna-
ton that the proud mistress OF GuayJoma discoV-
cred that her home and her family had been maze
the subjects OF the most famous novel ever written
OF Southern California. She regarded II, not as
compliment but rather as an unwarranted liberty
a dissertation OF the sacred privacy Of the home
and never forgave Mrs. Jackson Owing TO her we'll
known sensitlveness on the subject the few friends
OF the family who knew the facts in the case were
well content TO allow public attention 10 be divert
cd to another point But now that death mas
claimed the proud spirit Of the mother OF Ramona
II can do TO harm relate the facts In the case.
Some three or four years ago" said New-fork
woman 10 4 Tribune reporter yesterday Il PAID a
visit 20 the Guayjoma. 1t was on a bright Easter
SUNDAY. We had driven out to the san LUIS Key
Mission from Oceantide-the nearest railway sta
ton-to attend The service. our escort was the
brother of Ramona, who Is liveryman a; Oceahtde.
and after service we procee ltd zen ITS
''Our coming was unexpected. and the staL ,
dignifed seflora berated her son soundy TOT Drlhs
Ing visitors so unceremoniously. without giving her
opp )rtunity to provide for their entertainment We
We're saved al! embarra ssment. however for the
Conversation was entirely in Spanish, and only the
vioen, gestures and the LAUGHING apology o, ner
male ne aware of the senora's dsapproval of his
informally. The zest with which we par,took OF
prehensions of the white-haired old sonora Tor
our appetites were sharpened both by the long
Easter service had witnessed al the mission ana
the ten-mle drive which followed . .....,, hon
after absenng herself for time TO smooth ner
rufied dignity. the mother Of Ramona reappeared
AMI condesce1ded 10 show us about the place.
speaking broken English. She resided there ehtlTeg
lone ,t,ended ONLY by an Indian boy. Reginaldo.
who WAS the sole representative of the retinue OF
indian servants who eigned in the palmy days
then contained over two thousand acres. ~
THE invasion OF enterprisng AmerGans, ana con,
had wrought such desperate changes that ohy the
adobe house and its surrounding outoulidlhgs re-
maIned of the vast estate. The house is precisely
az nscrhed in the story II stands long distance
from the highway with reference to whch MIS-
Jackson in her Wbn % St ' miles Of the
house he stru * off from the highway into mar
row path overgrown with the wild musthr n
dav we had driven through miles of these same
mustard fields The wild mustard IN SoI TsSta
mcnt in the branches of which the blrds OF tle
air may rest l. darts up IN T no vsoW bloom so
fea thery and aceke to seem like golden c!9S qua:
IL is difficult make ones way thrG o h 1mis
on,n bead so the coming OF Father Salvierderra
as pictured by the author Slowly anu pate','E LIZ, III
entangling them as one would o'Seh'""s'e e'''
Vi The low adobe house is built round an open court
In nG ThGm op p'i 2ees All the rooms open the patio
an nd nnn can almost see Feline lying on his cot on
une met klieslndro in the dusk OF evening stu
bonds IT'S drooping boughs. ana the spot WIFI w
prfar az when given in Mrs Jacksons famous
m njcture OF this typical Spanish scene we FOUND
a and ON frequent Sundays the priests came our
from San Luis Rey TO conduct ser''St, tne -
old sehorathe mother OIL RRaegnado listening out
side M the open window. the chapel was ""''' ~
t SUPPOSED that the original heroine
~ Tho book is dead but this Is not SO, Ramona IN ma
vet lives and graces the peau,ir" iaw V IN San
American husband. weil-known lawyer !" Oh"