Evening star., 1899-03-18

the romance. Neither is it likely that an
artist of Mrs. JacksOn's discriminative
powers would content herself with a pic
ture which was merely copy from nature.
As with the heroine. with her home: 1t
was a composite portrait she gave the
world; yet selective, in obedience to her
artistic instinct.
Mrs. JacksOn's Visit.
1t is related that on her visit to Los An
geles in 1881 Mrs. jackson became acquaint-
ed with a delightful family Of Spanish
descent, whose home was her favorite re-
treat. after the acquaintance had rpened
into friendship. The old adobe house with
its wide verandas and adjacent garden,
which she lovingly described in one of her
letters, is now in ruins. but the young host
ess of that period is yet alive and dwelling
in Los Angeles. When. one day. Mrs Jack
son expressed a desire to find Mexican
ranch yet existing amid its primitive con-
d1tlons, her hostess is said to have remark
ed: You must visit. then. the Camulos, in
Ventura county; there you will find every
thing exactly as in the olden days. The
owner, Sonora del Vale, is friend of my
family, and | am sure will welcome you
to the place.
Mrs. Jackson forthwith visited the Camu-
los ranch but. as Sonora del Vale had left
on visit to another part of the county
and had taken the house keys with her.
the authoress obtained but scant satsfac-
ton from peeping over adobe walls, and
remained there only two hours at the long
est.
And yet. from this brief visit the owners
of "Camulos' have inferred an identity
to exist between this and the Moreno
ranch. while tourists by thousands have
been assured that it is indubitably. the orig
lnaL Even the conductors of trains run
ming over the near railroad cry out, as
the place is approached, "Camuos, home CT
Ramona, thus verifying the tradition and
fixing 1t in the popular mind.
So far any description of the fictional
ranch is concerned, almost any adobe dwell
ing in the Mexican style will answer and
there is nothing distinctive about the house
at Camulos that differentiates it from many
another. There is another ranch, however,
of the same character. which possesses, in
addition, not only tradition to substantiate
It's claims, but authentic narrative.
California Romance
One of the few connecting links between
the present and Californias historic past
was severed in June, 1897, at the death of
Mrs. Ysidora Bandini-Coutts. daughter Of
a famous Mexican hacendado, Don Juan
Bandini. Fifty years ago. or in 1S47, there
came to California young dragoon in
kearneys expedition. who had been a class
mate with General Grant at West Point
Colonel Cave Coutts. He met fell in love
with and married the beautiful Californian
WHOSE ndu come from seville
to America, first settling in Peru. more than
century ago. The first Bandini, connected
it is said, with ariStocratic families of old
Spain became an owner of vast estates in
upper and lower California and died one
of the wealthiest men of his time. Although
he and his son were allied with the Span
fsh by every tie and interest, yet they look
ed with favor upon the incoming Ameri-
cans, and at least three of Don Juan's
daughters married English-speaking for
eigners. More than this. Senorita Ysidora
and her sisters stitched the first American
flag ever made in California" thus from
the outset giving proof of an attachment
for the foreign colors which were even then
waving in triumph over adjacent Mexican
territory.
Colonel Coutts retired from the army serv-
ice. and after his marriage adopted the life
of those with whom he had established
such intimate relations. settling upon the
Guajome Ranch" about forty miles dis
tant from San Diego. There this Spanish
American couple lived during a long mar
r1ed life; there several children were born
to them, and there Colonel Coutts died
about twenty years ago. There also, Mrs
Coutts continued to reside during the years
OF her widowhood, sometimes almost alone
but ever maintaining the reserve as well
as the princely hospitality for which her
ancestral family was celebrated During
the last years of her life the vast retinue of
servants and the thousands of acres com
prised in Guajome dwindled to a single In