The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-04-07

si,,ve Nimosu. here tiourishcs in abundance
| This Sewer IL like round Dall, about tht
size of "A marble, and gives the highest aroms
known iH the floral kingdom. 1t is SAID there
Us another family of this species, which /:
rarely met win, and so exceedingly sensitive
that ii closes It's tiny leaves upon the mere ap
prOach of human life. | am told The Indians
consider this rs possessed ul some attributes
Of the Drily, and hold 1t III great veneraton.
The beautiful "Lupin,' | am informed, at
Itains To great perfection in Texas. Yesterday
| saw a Whole hillside completely covered
with them, filling the atmosphere with u mOs
delicious fragrance
| Never have | seen in all my travels any
thing equal 10 the " Passion Flower" which
fourislrs here IN all It's glory. To see this
flower blossommg from the summit of live
oaks and intermingling with the dark green
foliage, forms picture Of The most exquisite
beauty.
| There is also the Frijoles," very beau.
! tiful flower and us tragl aut as an orange bios
sam The perfume of this Hover is very
poisonous when confined III rooms, but per-
tecily heavenly in the open air, ana harmless.
| Il is wonderful 10 see growing Wild In most
every section of Texas the - Cactus" which
is so much admired and cared for North. |
have often Thought, while hiding along over
tnt COGull ANU SttiuS lu'oS Sh'ttSSo ioi
after miles, that II some I'll our northern wO.
men were only d Jwn here with spade, for
few hours What u rich harvest III the Cactus
line they would reap!
From Houston 10 San ANTONIO via The
Sun.set Route" one crosses Il piece of coun-
Try that Is perfectly charming, wonderfully
diversified, and beautifully grand! 1t Is in
this section We see those immense pralrles,
lovely valleys, meandering streams and flow
cry hiilsides. For over Two hundred miles
an ever.changing panOiama is continually be-
tore US, and as night approaches, and twl-
light sets IN the changing scenes are grand,
I'll finally darkness OveIspreads this ocean
and shuts out from Us, those views which
shall never fade from the tablets of our
memory.
SAN ANTONIO
is the second Oldest city III the United States,
first settled by the Spanish in 1888, ant. was
then called
"sAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR"
In honor OF "old Duke dc BeXar," then "Nice.
roy of Mexico. On viewing THIS city, one is
struck with the unique and antiquarian ap-
pcarauce which II presents.
The streets aie OF that narrow kind which
we would call alleys" and are rough and
crooked, scarcely wide enough for teams to
pass; while the sidewalks are extremely mar,
row, rendering ii, III many places, difficult
for two to walk abreast.
The houses are IL conf natiOn of Mexican,
French, Spanish aId American; and are with
but few exceptions OF that low and 'squatty"
style, which are found in the former cities.
In the Mexican quarter OF the city, the houses
are Quilt OF mud, and have matched roofs, re.
Winding US more of city OF huts-tor hutS
they are in every sense OF the word. With
few exceptions they are about Sxl2 feet, and
not over eight feet nigh The most astonish
ing feature about all this Is, that In most OF
these huts from five to seven families live TO.
gether, and in none less than two. They have
no beds, but sleep on the noor, on skins,
robes and such; neither do they believe IN
the luxury of tables, chairs or marble top
furniture If any kind but squat on the
floor to "eat, drink and be merry This may
seem strange to some OF your readers, bat |
can assure them that these people are happy
in their way of living, and enjoy life as well
as those who dwell in marble halls.
But it is not in the few fine buildings, mar
row streets or lOwly matched cottages, that
one sees the beauty Of San Ant0Rt0; but in its
history, antiquity and ancient landmarks,
which stand 10 day US monuments OF past
ages, and the early days of our country.
Like Rome, San Antonio stands surround.
ed by her seven hills, which to my mind are
TO behold under the glIliering rays
of southern sun; and while feas,ing our
eyes upon the beautiful scenery that spreads
itself like a panorama before US, the faculty
OF admiration seems to expand, until, as II
were, they are bound as by II magic spell, and
the aspect like sentinel on the walls of time,
seems to tell us that We are gazing on a pic.
Iure, such rs the artist pen has ever failed to
portray.
On u plaza" "a square, but which are
called Plazas here in the centre Of The city
stands
1.-THE ALAMO"
whose blood. stained walls testify to the hero
c defense made by Travis, Bowie, and
Crockett. Those who have read American
history, will remember the cruelty OF Santa
Anna and the bravery of Crockett and his
companions, on the plains of Texas.
There a bloody battle was fought, and the
brave Texans preerrlng To die rather than
surrender, fought on TIL exhausted, wounded
ard dying, they could no longer defend their
little fort, and as we are told, the firing from
the Alamo gradully grew less frequent, and
finally ceased altogether, for the last man had
fallen. Then commenced sickening spec
Iacle The Mexicans rushed in aud butch.
cred all those who were yet living; and by
order of Santa Anna, their bodies were drag.
yed without The city, thrown into "a pile and
burned!
THE OLD CATHOLIC MISSIONS,
six in number, within radius OF twenty
miles from the city, were built by the Ms.
,iondry Fathers, for the Indians to assemble |
in and participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass, and to be taught by those good Priests |
he suiferings OF Jesus Christ tor our sins,
and to convert them II possible 10 christian
ty and civilization. The first mission,
DE LA PURIssIMA CONCEPTION,
A few miles from the city, is wonderful
structure. It's style is Spanish. On the walls |
around the door are sculptured emblems, |
which must have taken years 10 cut; repre-.
'enting the saints and apostles, In u style of
irt that we seldom see now days.
"sAN JOSIE"
"San Hosa ~ or the Second Mis-