Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-04-28

arrow He sinks not beneath the severity oil cold
nor the intensity of heat whilst his march, though
slow, is onward, until he shall have gained the
Rocky Mountains-there, upon its lofty summit,
with his wild romantic notes warbed into the melo
DIV of song TO nail with JOY the advent OF spring,
and cheer aloud the first approach of civilization
Here, also, we passed over some praries which are
said to extend from Trinity river to Ell Paso dis
lance of more than six hundred miles. In this conn-
ty also few Antelopes are to be found; they are
said to be beautiful animals exceedingly swift footed
and very shy, but if taken when young, easily DO
mestcated. and perfectly harmless They range
upon the most elevated portion of the prairie which
is free of timber and will suffer to he captured by
either dog or man. than enter the little wood
land that skirts the PRAIRIE which is generally devoid
of underground, and in event would seem to pro-
duce any material impeachment to their running 1t
is. however, equally true that they never abandon
their flight until their breath is nearly exhausted
when, in few moments, they expire We had not
the pleasure Of seeing one. On the road we passed
several wagons loaded with lumber, drawn by five
yoke of oxen, tie usual team in this country, and
bound for Dallas county, one hundred and twenty
miles, The wagoncrs bring down -four from the
upper counties, sell it in the piney region of eastern
Texas and make return load in lumber. | have
heard of lumber being hauled for building purposes
two hundred miles and even for making board
fences, nearly that distance. In some places cedar
rails are hauled twenty miles The usual length OF
an oak rail- mere is egnL leet, WHICH HlaheS thc
strongest and best looking rail fence have seen any
where The fences in this country are generally
very good. Our fartheSt point of travel was near
the northern line of Ellis county, at little village
named "Possum Trot" Here -four mill
in operation driven by three yoke of oxen treading
upon an inclined wheel 80 or So feet in diameter. |
regretted we had not arrived few hours sooner,
then we could have seen sixteen Mexican carts
loaded with -four from Dallas county, and bound for
San Antonio 1t was said they in the service
of contractor TO supply our troops / was anxious
to see the manner in which the oxen were geared
All accounts agree that the yoke is placed upon the
head in 'front.' and just below the horns; so that
the oxen may be said to push rather than to pull
Almost every nation has its peculiar method of
gearing work animals In this particular the South
Americans differ widely from in relation to the
horse; and the inhabitants of Morocco differ from
in still greater degree as regards both horses
and cattle OF course each nation believes its own
peculiar method to be best, and it becomes matter
of interest as we'll curiosity 10 witness the diver
sity of the human mind, in the various applications
which have been made to attain the same object
All the country north of Navarro county is said to
be especially adapted to the raising Of stock of all
kinds and to the production of wheat, rye, barley,
and cats Wheat is said. in Ellis county, to weigh
20 lbs to the bushel, and the product of barley TO
be enormous. And these remarks, | understand,
will apply with equal force to all of northern Texas
here perhaps it might he proper to say that Texas
may be regarded in three grand dviSions-the
Northern, of which | have already SpOken,-the
Middle which is adapted to the production Of cotton
and corn and the Coast which adapted to the pro-
duction of sugar. cotton and In this division
and very the coast, learn that stock raising Is
carried on to some extent. From the famous little
village spoken of above turned our course home
wards, passed the fouriShing village of Waxahachie
where another flour mill in operation, driven
by the weight of three yoke of oxen upon an in
clined wheel and within few miles of this we saw
some fields partly enclosed by the Bois dare or
Usage Orange, as it is called in some SectOns-paS-
sed Chambers creek where the bottom land is about
mile wide and very rich. We stayed all night at
Dr. Fosters, where a large flock of Grouse.
l have since learned they are to be found as far
south the coast and perhaps, in every section of
the State.
We left in the morning and reached the village of
COrsicana, where remained about an hour Here
Mr.. VIM. Storey kindly presented me with some
curioSies, and among the number the Centipede and
Tarantula. The former is SAID to have sting in
every foot-the latter infiics its damage with its
tangs alone. We passed Richland creek where the
bottom land is very rich and covered with wild rye
which, although dead, still standing. We tar
ried for the night with Mr. Burleson Brother of the
lamented Gen. Edward Burleson. who was a native
of Buncombe county, \. c.. His memory is respect
association with the history of Texas Next morn
ing Mr.. BurleSon, with horse and dogs. rode out
with to see if we could start the Mule Hare
which is regarded of the animal curiositics
Of the State. When our hunt was nearly over one
sprang up within a few feet of our horses, ran in
front of us about fifteen PAGES stopped and faced
US. We had good view for the time it lasted but
one of our party calling for the dogs one cqme up
and the hare Eel off slowly and IN playful man
ner at first but soon its speed was doubled The
gap between the racers wdened rapidly at every
pace, and in a few moments it was gone from MS
forever. As well as | could Judge is was of a grey
COLOR and its ears from five to inches in length
and hence its name. 1t was three or four times
larger than the common rabbit, and its head pre-
scented somewhat bushy appearance arising per-
hapS from Its length of hair. The same remarks I
made concerning the Antelope apply with equal
force to the hare. Under no circumstances will il
enter timberrd land but is always found in the
prairie and sooner than violate this law will suffer
to be captured by either dog or man. Several per.
sons sometimes post themselves on horseback around
the prairie and when is started it is chased al
ternately by the riders until finally it is broken
down. Like the Antelope, it is said to be easily
domestcated. 1t is an unsettled question which of
these animals has the greater speed, and upon this
point public opinion seems to be about equally d.
vidcd They both run perfectly level like the horse.
We reached Fairfield in the afternoon, which is
beautiful place. Here | introduced to Mr.
Huckaby, polite, clever and wealthy gentleman
residing few miles in the country. To him was
indebted for the politeness of an introduction to Mr.
Bragg, the brother of ex-Gov Bragg, of our State.
found him polite, clever and intelligent gentle
man. We were invited by Dr. Miner, the friend of
Mr. Smith, to enjoy the Inequalities of his house
for the night He was polite clever and intelligent
His lady appeared to be equally so, and we were
entertained with an elegant hospitality 1t was here
was introduced to Mr.. Henry L. Graves and his
lady, both from our own State and the latter sis
ter of the Hon. Calvin Graves, of Caswell. They
have charge of female college here, which is in a
Furnishing condition. with about ninety scholars,
and possessing reputation in advance of any SINH
Tor institution | have yet heard of in the State
This of itself sufficiently proclaims for themselves
character, talent and capacity Having left Fairfield
arrived on the second day thereafter at the Mace