The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-09-24
TEXAS.
Austin, Her Beautiful Capital.

There is not a more fascinating country |
than this about Austin. There are more
msjestic mountains and boundless plains in
Southern Colorado, and there the sky is as
blue and the atmosphere a transparent,
but here abides eternal springtime, and
there are forests and mountains and YER
dure clad plains and river as clear and
bright as the Bonded heavens reflected in
its waves. Austin seems most beautiful
seen at sunset from the high hills beyond
the river south of the city. When the sun
is going down an ethereal golden mist rises
ION the river and the wood. On bright
afternoon the city floats on 1t as upon
lake the capital and churches and public
buildings and pretty cottages on lofty &C.
dar-crowned hills "seem bathed in amber
waves rising into the rose-hued radiance
of the upper air." The mountains that en-.
circle the city catch the varying lights and
shadows of sunset and wave with flame
and 'paie to whiteness as the opal burns
and fades" Warmth, fragrance, silence,
encompass the beautiful city as does the
sparkling, rapid river that breaks through
, capital. Mount Bounell, as was writ en- of
Mount Olivet, at Florence, rises dark
against the rosy glory OF the west. lhere
is ever sea wind difiusng all the spiced
odors of the pharmacies and of the budding
woods. Everywhere, on every hand, there
| is some beauty, some fragrance, deep dell
| or rugged height, or winding valley, and
| Ia. "A t,,, ri
! the north are the boundless prairies out
| Reading as infnity. 1t is this colloca,ion
OF every charm rendering city beautiful,
that invests Austin with matches attract
iyeness. 1t is in this that the secret spell
consists, binding men and women to the
spot, making them assert degree OF local
attachment confessed by jewellers in no
other city Of the south. 1t does not fade
but grows stronger with time. 1t is a
strange, subtle charm that makes IL love
Austin with passionate, close clinging
faith, as the tairest dwelling place that We
have known. 1t is this force Of nature that
must induce lsw-givers gathered in Austin
10 make art the ally of nature, and assent
to the appropriation of public wealth tc
purposes OF taste in the sdornment OF lofty
heights with architectural charms Oh
every hand from the summit OF hills, whence
one looks down upon the cleaning rivel
and white stone houses and green and pur
Pile cedars ofthe valley, and moss-crownet
live-osks, there are in mid-winter ilower
and poisoning plum-trees. There is IA
diant serenity OF light, as the sun gOe
down, that thrObs in its intensity, and ye
1t is "divlnely restiui, like the passion an1
the peace of love, when 1t has all to ador'
and nothing to desire" None who hav'
ever seen and known, AS was written o
Florence, can forsake Austin, or suaer tn
darkness OF the hills to intervene hnally be
! tween themselves and the capital But
is not during one afternoon alone that Aus
tin is invested with wOndrous charms.
is ever springtime here. m,he North tn
. country is green and beautiful, but 1t cal
! have nothing Of the radiance. the cheerful
: ness and ecstacy of springtime in thes
/ southern ATTITUDES. The fpringtime OF IN
North is pale, we are tod, "with gentle
| | cololless sweetness Of its world Of prln
roses !" the springtime OF Austin Is - rail-
: bow -hued, like the profusion ofansmont