Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-09-21
Letter from, Texas.

WeGther-HeaLth-Ih Tie C0untsy - Eocistyl
Polisics--Crops-- Prices-,School Teaching. |
COLUMBIA, Brazonia Co., Texas
Sept. 4th, 1860. Il
FRIEND MAuIN 81 presume letter from
the far South West would again be accepta-
BILE. Since my last, great changes have taken
place, not only as regards weather, crops,
&C., but also in political point OF VIEW
These broad and expansive prairies, which
short time ago were as iron under our feet,
now TEEN with their hundreds OF cattle, and
spring, as it were, is upon us. The birds
again MARBLE from their leafy boughs, and
that all'important stimulant, ssotsr, is every
where plen,ifully to be fonnd. For the past
two or three weeks it has rained some almost
every day, and the grass is growing beauti-
fully. sr.- ..s-.-.
The health Of the South, this season, so
far, is very good. No epidemic whatever.
Most of the deaths since l have been here
have occurred from consumption or disor-
dere d state of the liver. The former disease
takes the lead, and, in my estimation, these
long, dry summers are aids to the tell-de-
strOyer.
The southern portion of Texas is acknowl-
edged by those who havelived in the north.
ern part to excel it in everything. The
country here is flat, in northern Texas it is
! rolling; here We have fine sea breeze from
A. M. until shutdown, and cool nights
However, during the past two weeks, the
showery weather has beaten down the Gulf
breeze and made the atmosphere more or
less oppressive. There is no scenery equal
to our sunrise in settled weather. You 90
forth in the morning, and, looking South,
East and West, You see along the horizon q
continuous mountain chain looming up, as it
were, and beautifully tiDged by the god Of
day, rising in all his majesty and approach.
ing the zenith.
A diversity of opinion prevails in the
North as regards society here. l would re.
mark that, as tar as Brazonia county il con.
cerned, l would not wish to live in more
civilized and enlightened community. The
time Was once here when men respected the
Sabbath but very little, but, like all countries
as they grow older, society here has improved
! You are no doubt ere this acquainted will
the "Texas Troubles" They have mo-
extended to this part Of the State, yet ever
here the people are badly scared about them
and every Saturday night we see the patro
on horseback riding from one plantation t.
another, seeing that the negroes are all il
their quarters, and woe be unto him who il
found OUT of his place. s..-... ..
Corn in this country Will be about half
crop, and along the water courses in mani
places a full crop will DO raised. Cottor
looks very well since the raa. Last Satur
day l rode through tisld, which, when
went by it a month ago, looked as though j
would produce very little, but it now appear
like another field. A planter told me that h,
} counted on one stalk by itself one hundred
ne bowls. So the spirits Of the people arr
considerably revived. Prices of produce
dry goods, &C., are high.
AS am at present engaged in teaching
"!he young IDEAS" l will say few words or
the subject, for the benefit of these who
have made enquiry. If teacher has the
luck to get in a good neghborhood, where
children abound, land am told that every
house in Texas has son,e) he can do we'll
They pay ten cents per day for State scholars
and paying patrons pay three dollars pei
month for the common branches and five ior
higher mathematics. At this place there are
several who think nothing of coming five or
SIX miles to school (girls at that) and stalking,
or having the animals staked, until evening
and then again riding lone. The teachers
expenses on an average are about thirty and
thrty-ivc dollars per month, SO that if he
has thirty scholars he can easily find out
how much he makes ; and, what is encour-
ageing, if he once becomes popular som,
rich planter will give him salary OF
perhaps $1,000 a year and find his horse
and everything. .-....
Tho greatest drawback l find here is
Icing To N 'rthern man, who has been
used to cariefy, it goes toucA until be gets
used to corn-bread and bacon. Beef and
flour in this part of the state Cannot always
he had, as tho supply becomes exhausted
ard there is none nearer than Galveston.
Yours truly, aad in haste, &.
e sm F. P. MILLER.