The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-11-13
TEXAS SOCIETY.


Texas is new State-comparatiyeiy. It is
one of the latest .clear I'd OF Uncle Sans great
plantations. It is under fence, but still rough.
It is quite natural it should be so; although, the
old man, weighed down with age and multi
plicity of cares, may not possibly have bestowed
the requisite attention on his place fronting on
the Rio Grande. Texan society is still tine
tured with desperadoism, such used to pre-
vail during the infancy of the communities Of
Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, when Murrel
aud his accomplices infested the highways of
the great Southwest.
There is some elegant and refined society 10
Texas. But the shadows of frontier days are
not yet entirely fed. To the interior, good
deal of provincialism is still extant. You see it
in the solitary postoak cabin of the prairies 10
the back woods congregations, when the invar-
able six shooters not unfrequently show their
teeth; in the stage-coach, where some bearded
a-ontersman, glancine at the hit of his bowie
knife, with scowi, tells you to 'dry up, stran-
ger p on the railway train, or the steamboat.
last Sunday afternoon I was passenger on
BAY packet from Galveston to Houston. 1t was
the eve of the holy Sabbath; always associated
in my mind, with good old sermons, solemn
meditation; the sacred chime of church bells,
the deep sound of organs. But on this occa-
sion, it was far different. Instead of meditation,
saw a couple of young Americans" in the
forward cabin, playing games with drinks be-
tween; cursing progressing on the lower
deck; whilst up in the pilots house | heard, on
that same Sunday evening, as good iddling as
ever listened to either in North Carolina or out
Of it. There was dancing, too; frequent visits
to the bar all, have doubt, for the benefit
| of some clerical gentlemen aboard.
On the same steamer on which travelled these
roughs, these Sunday musicians these Sabbath
gamesters, these representatives of dying pro-
cabin aft, some as fine specimens of female love-
illness and high breeding as you could find on
any South Car olina or Virginia steamer. The
ladies of Texas are, indeed, superior. Having
all the beauty and grace Of the women of East
ern North Carolina those of the wealthy class
equally refined and educated; possessing the
disnified case of manners, the sristocratic con-
tour of face, of the Virginia female; the Texan
women have, also, that physical character
voluptuous, inviting and pleasant possessed by
the human form, as well as plants, in countries
bordering On the tropics, and within the tropics
themselves. Your Virginia girls are radiant;
those of North Carolina lovely; those of South
Carolina heightened and impassioned; those of
Texas radiant lovely, heightened and full Of
sentiment. You look on Virginia Miss, and
think Of the stars; on "sweet sixteen" of the
Old North State, and imagine Medora; on the
pretty little rice bird of the Palmetto State, and
dream Of Hardee and the Moslem's paradise !;
on the fair Texan, to see grace, beauty and ac-
complishnent combined. The Texan matron is
a complete type of the Southern woman. And,
though possessing all the graces of the softer
sex, the ladies of the Lone Star can, if occasion
demands, be as brave and fearless as their
brothers. have seen few who would tremble
at firing, with their own hands, the six. shooter;
and as for equestrianship, they are as graceful
and skillful riders you find in any coun-
try. RoBEsoNIAN.