The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-01-05
rrom nnlIns 20 snn Mnrcos.

cOlllu not TeSlSJ INC utSlIti WilVll VII
the hills west of the river, to stop my
horse and turn round to take long,
lingering view mot the last, | hOpe)
of the vigorous and prosperous young
city, which has grown within II few
years to be the metropolis of Northern
Texas. In and around Dallas there
are so many endearng ties Of love
and admiration, that the very name
itself has " magic influence over my
feelings; and even in sleep, the hap
piest dreams are Wovon In thoughts CT
the giaut young cty-springing, as it
has from n small village of few hum
dred inhabitants, only threeyears ago,
to its present proportions, with its tlf-
teen or eighteen thousand souls, OF
noble generous-hearted people. And
not the least Of the many institutions
of the goodly city-an object of pride
and love to the writcr,as well as.many
of the citizens, stands THE DALLAS
HERIAD. Long may it live to labor
vigorously and energetically, as ii
has ever done, to foster and
build up our State, and especially for
the growth and prosperity Of the city
and county Of Dallas.
Pardon the degressiCA; these thoughts
were uppernost in my mind, rs | gaA-
ed upon the vigorous young city from
the high land on the west of the Trim
ity, and could not resist the tempta-
ton to write them down. | turned
reluctantly, gave old "Printer' cut
with the whip and rapidly sped on
ward and out OF sight of Dallas.
Spent the night at the pleasant little
town of Lancaster, fourteen miles
south of Dallas. Here all seemed to
be life aud activity--a miniature Dali
las, rs 1t were. The houses all looked
as bright and tidy, as though the paint
er had Just finished up his job of paint
ing the town. This town is second
only in Importance to Dallas, with its
generous and hosptable people, its
many stores, and its heavy surround-
ing settlements, which make it their
trading place. When Dallas prospers,
Lancaster prospers also; tor the same
causes-good crops and n plenty of
money-have the same effect on both
places. t4sF a'A &-stE
The next morning-the lth-got an
early start, expecting to reach the
"Willow PonN (Messrs. Mccoy, Bur-
ford and Good can tell you where that
is II you kon't know to spend the
night. A cold, dreary north
wind prevailed during the whole
day, and the sky was obscured by
heavy and threatening clouds, but no
rain fell. About one O'clock in the
afternoon, | could distinguish in the
distance cluster of white houses. and
supposed wasapproaching Ennis, but
you can Judge OF my surprise when, in
u little while, ] drovesinto the pretty
and quiet little town Of WaXahachie.
| WAS not lost, but had merely taken
the wrong road. / was u little more
vexed than amused at this mistake;
but the sight Of such beautiful town
and q grasp of the hand of an old and
valued friend s0othed me. and after u
short stay, | took the road again to-
wards Corsicana. Spent the night ut
the residence of Il comfortably fixed
and genial farmer on the road. My
host was a native Texan, aud perhaps
the Oldest citizen of the vicinity. The
next morning we passed over beauti-
ful country, dotted over thickly with
wheat fields. 1t is gratifying to notice
the large amount in acreage sown in
wheat this fall, which is to he observed
all along the road. Dry weather has
kept the wheat back some. Riding
leisurely along reached and spent the
night of the 9Th at Corsicann, and was
pleased to see themany handsome and
Substantial improvements going on in
This enterprising capital of Navarro
county.
An early start the next morning was
decidedly uncomfortable by
cold north wind and driMling rain,
through which we travelled most of
the day, reaching the vicinity of Fair
field, Freestone county, late in the af-
ternoon, and stopped at farm house
on the road, where a good supper, n
nice clean bed and a sub tantial break
fast next morning We're enjoyed. a
ride of few miles brought us to Fair
field, once pretty little village, but
now many of the buildings are delap-
ted, everything looked old and worn
out and little or no business going on.
From this place | took the old Pales-
line road leading east some ten miles,
once-- many y ears ag0--as familiar to
me as any part Of the country; but /
saw nothing 1 could recognize. Years
ago the country along this road was an
.pen post oak and blackjack wood,
With here and there a small under
growth. Now this low brush has
spread and grown till it covers the
whole country with shrubs and trees
rom one to twenty feet high, forming
IN almost inpenetrable thicket.
After spending several days with
friends and acquaintance of boyhood
lays, started again, crossing the Gem
raj Railroad at MeXia, and travelling
lurwest to Waco. This place has inn
proved vastly since | saw it four years |
lgo. Business seemed to be good, |
he square and several adjoin-
ng streets being continually |
crowded with cotton wagons. Along
he road from Freestone county TO |
Naeo, the cotton folds arestill white,
thousands of bales of the fleecy staple
let remaining unpfcked, while III al.
most every farm could be seen the
lows in active motion fora new crop.
This side OF Waco, however, the scene
8 changed, and | could MOI help
the contrast. The cotton is
III picked, or nearly so, and no plows
except, in the, valley Of the
Icon rivers ~ u Es&sA e4eAAs4 > -
Bolton is live country town, the
apital Of Bell county, one of the best
n that portion of the State. Salado, a
,retty little town, has improved a
treat deal. 1t is noted for its beautiful
prings and the energy and thought