The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-10-19

which in turn is bounded by the distant,
wooded ridges and hills. This Hat prai.
rie is for tho most part covered with
the familiar mesquit tree, with which
clumps of live oak are sparsely inter
mingled. It is astonishing to notice
the number of birds nests, some haff.
pensile and most elegantly woven OF
fine hay or straw. Paradise birds,
doves, and others not seen farther north, ,
are feeding their young, or quietly
brOoding over their treasures, listening
to the songs of their mates from every
tree. On the way we pass little caval-
cades Of Mexicans with jingling spurs,
Il great oN-tes,ln loaded with bones, farm
ers bringing fruit and meat to market,
and curious little two-wheeled nule-
teams rafting toward the town. Six
miles out the mission of San Jose, we'll
preserved, although ruin, towers
silently aloft, surrounded by little stone
huts plastered with mud, in which
lazy Mexican poems manage to elxe out
II miserable existence. Swallows now
are sole possessors of this ancient pile,
circling in and out the carved windows
and hanging on the arches, which once
resounded the solemn mass OF the
Eranciscans. Surely in America are
ruins fully us romantic and interesting
ais any Italy can show!
s........ MILITARY STATIONS. s..it
San Antonio is quite u military sta
ton, Gen. Ord, commanding the de-
bartnlent of Texas, having his head
quarters here. He has recently re-
turned from an inspection OF the from
tier. / think there will be less trouble
from raids i'll future, owing to the
thorough and decisive preparations
made along the Rio Gr,nde. The ar:
senal is surrounded by extensive ana
neatly kept grounds, planted with
graceful trees or the odd Spanish dag
ger. There are u number of small
buildings, all clean and neat, mostly
used as storehouses or offices. Outside
The town is the new quarterlnaster's
department., and near by the cemetery
where all soldiers are inferred, brought
from all tho forts and stations Of the
State. In the thickly settled portion
of the city are the barracks, where one
company is now stationed. The Cath
olic school, convent and churches give
San Antonio Il European air, and, in
contrast, the new business blocks make
the city modern and cosmopolitan,
more SO than any town in the United
States except San Francisco. The
Protestant churches are merely plain
bare chapels, the Baptist and Methodist
severely so !; the Presbyterian attracts
more notice, being built of stone, with
two towers, but inside it is rs unas-
suming as any, the Episcopal:an alone
being at all elegant. This little chapel
is attended by the fashionables; the
windows are very handsome, SO that
| when tired of the service one finds
| ample study in these beautiful pictures.
In the evening it is pleasant to sit on
the sidewalk of our hotel and listen to
the Mexican singers chanting tlseil
| native ballads and songs. Around il
the quiet hum OF conversation and
| rustling of trees stirred by u gentle
breeze. Lullcd by the music, We
drcamiIy look ut the Alamo anu church
towers relieved by the deep blue sky,
and in fancy review the history OF this
quaint city, ho,ry with age on the
one hand, and green with active life
on the other. The railway, destroyer
of all romance, will soon change this
unique spot, and later travellers will
miss the charming, inexpressibIe at
traction now brOoding over all.