Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-07-22
LETTER FROM TEXAS.
WACO, Texas,
July 9Th, 1876.


Dear friend Zitte-It has been some
time since you have heard from me,
partly for the want of something to say,
and mainly because of being occupied
in controversy with some of.the Le-
gal lights Of Waco, who conceived that
/ had laid some unfavorable strict
ures upon them iii an article in
the Examiner, of this place. The Ex-
aminer took sides with me and that
opened the fire along the whole line,
and really sir, you would have supposed
for a while that there would be much
blood shed right here in Waco. Sew
eral observant gentlemen kindly offered
to loan me their derringers, but as they
were such peculiar looking things, |
told them | would rather depend upon
my cane, and only limited that l had
ssfoucht under Stonewall Jackson, in
the Stonewall Brigade" which | think
was of more service to me than derrln-
gers or six-shooters.
The discussion at length was taken
up by other papers until the whole
press of the State became involved in
it, and my cause was esroused by so
many of the prominent newspapers and
men, that felt much like coming to
the relief of the discounted lawyers. 1t
has resulted in the discussion OF meas
ures in the Legislature looking to the
passage of law, governing lawyers i'll
H. .on.l,,ot nf orin,ipa1 oacoe
The harvest has been gathered and
much put into market. The yield of
all kinds of grain is so abundant that
prices are very low; wheat sells at 80
to 95 cts, and oats can be bought at
Is to go. This has been remarkably
fine season, plenty Of rain and at prop
er intervals, so that the ground has not
been too dry for vegetation any time
this summer. The corn crop is the
finest l ever saw anywhere, and has al
ready matured. The yield is variously
estimated at from SO to l25 bushels per
acre, and l am sure | have seen some
that will give the latter yield and lone
that will not produce the former. The
cotton crop will also be the finest for
many years.
Corn will not be worth more than 20
to 25 cents bushel: in the fall. This
is the time for immigrants to come to
the State, when all agricultural products
are so cheap. Horses sell here at from
ten to twenty-five dollars; good horses
that would bring from fifty to seventy
hve dollars in Virginia. They are
small and seemed to be mixed breed
between the mustang and Texan, and
are as tough as whalebone, and will
stand more travelling than any Ameri-
can horse that will cost five times as
much. Breaking the Texan pony Is
considerable job, as they have pranks
peculiar to themselves, the most troub-
iesone one is called "bucking." They
will rear up, and before coming down
with the front feet, will raise their hind
feet, throw their head between their
legs, hump their back, and come down
with q thud, all four legs as stiff as
sticks, and the head pointing the direc
ton the tail did when they went up ;
this is what is called "bucking," and
but few horsemen can stay on their
back, if they are good "buckers. 1t
costs generally from FIVE to ten dollars
to break them to be ridden. The first
question asked when purchasing pony
is, will he "buck?' l am not enough
Of Texan yet TO be willing to ride one
that will chuck" Yesterday was a
gala day at Waco, the celebration of
the ''Centcnuial" Fourth OF July.
Before sunrise the day was ushered in
by salute of thirteen guns fred from
twelve pound howitzer cannon. Very
soon every avenue leading into the city
was lined with carriages, buggies, wag-
ons, horsemen and footmen, with their
holiday attire on AID with smiling faces
eager for the fray.
Great preparation had been made,
meats of all kinds in abundance were
barbacued on the fair ground, refresh
ments of all kinds, except ardent spirits,
were prepared and furnished free. By
eight o'clock the city was literally filled
with people, and at nine the chief mar
shall with his aids began to form them
in line TO march to the fair ground. The
procession which was fully two miles
long, was the finest display of the kind
have yet seen anywhere. The various
industries on wheels, was a most credit
able effort such as l have not often seen
excelled in Baltimore.
Among the most notable attractions
of the procession were 3S young ladies
on horseback, dressed to represent the
different States, and / was glad to see
that West Virginia was represented by !