The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-10-25
The Texan-His characteristics.


A st. Louis correspondent of the Gin.
cinnau Commercial says: n p Ea.
Among the many curious people seen
i'm st. Louis, not the least notable is the
Texan. Familiar with his animal AZ
am on his native heath, must admit
that the Texan abroad is much more
interesting study than the Texan at
home. The Texan, as he appears on
the streets of st. Louis, and in the
places Of amusement, Ia bronzed and
somewhat malarious creature, full of
strange oaths, and somewhat demon
strative in his efforts to impress the
people with a knowledge of the fact
that he is Texan. He is bearded like
haven't the slightest idea how he was
bearded, but il is safe to say be couldn't
lay over the Texan in the matter Of
hair. That noble creature cherish,s a
healthy horror of lather, and only tol.
crates steel in the shape of bowls
knife. He also has thorough con-
tempt for combs and brushes. Wher-
ever hair will grow, he let's it grow in
its native rankness, and the dust and
bacon grease form q pomatum which
seems to stimulate the fierceness OF
ragged bristle about his mouth and chin.
The Texan isn't stuck-up in the matter
of dress, either. He usually appears in
cowhide boots, garnished with rowels as
large as Mexican dollar (if my memo
ry of that ancient coin serves me), shirt
of red flannel or striped percale which
has never made the acquaintance of
soap and water, astounding breeches,
and no vest. AS to hat, sometimes it is
on immense sombrero, but generally q
SLOUGH of black or moose colored felt.
In the theater or variety show the
Texan talks loudly during the perform
ance, using as many Spanish words as
possible, and always wants to bet a
doubloon" with his companion that
something is or isn't so. He has an
abundant wad of tobacco in his cheek,
and plenty more in his cache. Hewants
to leave the one-horse show and 60 to a
casa puta, and talk about his cavallo. He
is full OF corcojoS and other Spanish ex-
pletives when he is swearing for effect,
but when actually mad and meaning
business he drops back into the more
forcble English. A favCrite joke of
the Texan is to sauntor into drinking.
house, take fearful horn, and toss a
half-dollar on the counter to pay for it..
When the urbane bar-keeper gives him
fractional currency in change, the
Texan examines it with puzzled look,
and finally inquiries: What's that"
The dispenser of family disturbance,
thinking it question of price, proceeds
to explain that whisky is fifteen cents
per drink. "Oh, d-n the price," says
our Texas friend a" but what's the stuff
good for ~ The bar. tender pledges his
honor as a gentleman that it is money.
But will it buy anything?" continues
the skeptical rover of the prairies. He
is assured that it will, and wads it up as
if to put it in his pocket. Then, medi.
tating thoughtfully a moment, he puts
it down on the counter for moment,
and says, Well, give me some more
whisky for il. That stuff is no Jueno
whar | come from.' The Texan never
tires of this little pleasantly, and re-
peats it as long as his hide will hold an
other drop. Even if his vest pocket is
crammed with fractonals, he will pro-
duce his silver at every new place, for
the purpose of impressing the bar
keeper. AS he sits in his seat at the
theater, a leathern belt around his
Ions gives him deal of trouble. He
fdsets uneasily and adjusts it frequent.
ly, revealing the hilt Of navy as he
does so. He bears the restless and un.
easy look of man who hasn't killed
anybody for week, and is beginning to
suffer from the deprivation of his accus-
toned stimulant.
The Texan comes up with cattle.
His smell is bovine, with horsy base.
Altogether he is picturesque creature,
when regarded from a proper distance.