The Evening News. November 13, 1916

36. Romances Of Long Ago

In the early days among the Spanish people about San Jose there were few stormy love affairs. Children were obedient. Sons obeyed their mothers very much as do French boys today. Daughters seldom questioned their parents' authority. A brief open courtship was followed by marriage. Weddings were great festivities lasting two or three weeks.

However, sometimes love broke the bounds set for it, and then, there was a picturesque elopement. If the lover was unwelcome to the parents he usually carried off his sweethearts at night on horseback.

Among the most unusual courtships were those in the Sanchez and Valencia families. These two families lived on ranches between San Jose and San Francisco. Valencia street in San Francisco was named after the Valencia Family. Jesus Valencia was a dashing young man who played divinely the violin. He fell in love with Paula Sanchez. The family objected to the marriage, and so, Jesus stole his sweetheart and rode with her to the Mission Dolores in San Francisco, where they were married.

Then a brother of Paula Sanchez, Francisco, fell in love with Laria Valencia, a sister of Jesus Valencia. The Valencias opposed the marriage. Young Francisco was as brave as Jesus Valencia. He stole his sweetheart and eloped with her to the Mission Dolores.

An unusual love affair at San Juan Bautista was the foundation of the play, "The Rose of the Rancho." Juan Boronda, who died a few years ago at San Juan, was the hero. He loved a girl, but her parents desired her to marry a wealthier man. In the church the bride tried to escape the marriage. Her mother tore from her the jewels and beat her, but the marriage went on. A year later she died insane in Mexico. Boronda never married.

One of the picturesque marriages of the old days was that of Martolo Sepulveda and Maria Alviso, daughter of Don Jose Alviso of Milpitas. Maria was a pretty girl, delicately nurtured, surrounded by luxury. The Alvisos objected to their daughter's union with the young man. One night Sepulveda rode to Milpitas and carried off his sweetheart from Don Jose's house. On a swift horse he brought her to the residence of his mother in San Jose, but the priest would not marry her without Don Jose's consent. From the Sepulveda house messengers were sent to the Alvisos begging their consent to the union. Don Jose was obdurate. But love had its way. Finally the priest married the lovers in St. Joseph's church.

Transcribed by Kitty LaFavor, for the Santa Clara Co. CAGenWeb Project. 2008