The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-11-25
LETTER FROM TEXAS.
SAN ANTONIO. Nov. 16. 1877.

SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 16, 1877.
Editor Morning Star:
I struck this great State at the town of
TexRfk ana where / was kindly received after
having been treated with great courtesy by
the officials of the Texas and Pacific Railroad.
notably by Mr.. George A. Noble General
Superintendent. ,TexRrkapa is fourishing
aud growing town, and the Catholic conRrega
tion is in cressing rapidly, OWNS principally to
the fsct that immigrants are pouring into this
section from all parts of the country. would
here remark that the lack of energy and
terprise displayed by the merchants aud Cap
italists of New Orleans with reference to rail-
road communications with Texas is a matter
of wonderment to people out here. 1t is
certainly humiliatipg thing to see the cotton
trade and, in fact, business in many Other
Lines. th,,s properly beaasg.so New orieans, go
Ing to St. Lonis, when ninety-nine per cent.
Of the people of Texas openly express their
preference for sending your city their business
IL yoa would only give them railroad comma
nication.
The most interesting part of my journey
since left New Orleans has been my sojourn
in San Antonio and my visit to the Missions of
San Jose and San Juan. San Antonio Ia
strikingly picturesque in appearance, owing to
what may be termed it's original construction
which leads one to imagine at first sight
that he has been suddenly dropped down into
San Augustine, Fla IL IS the Oldest town in
the United States. 1t is situated in a beauti
fal part of Texas, the salubrity of the climate
beingSuch that it is the refuge of all IN fortu-
mates Who are inclined to consumption. That
patient must indeed be far gone who does not
recover his health in this favored spot. San
Antonio has been called by an enthusiastic
lady who has written a book on Texas, "the
Eden of America" [ will not go that length
but will say that IN very extensive tour no.
where have found aoy place to equal it..
The river Sau Antonio, On which it is built,
divides the town into two parts, one of which
is called the old or Mexican quarter. The other
part is given oyer to aasiness The prtu eipal
thoroug fare, Maki strest-which is badly laid
ont, beng go barrow that two wagons can
hardly pass each other-is lined with TIE Offices
of lawyers. bankers, merchants, etc. At right
ted the residence of Bishop Pellicer, who is
now making q tour of his diocese, Tho ohuroh
of st. Mary is close by. 1t is noble edifice,
built in the pure Gothic style. Attached to it
is the Institute of the Brothers of Mary, who
devote their lives to the training of youth.
To the Very Rev. T. J. johnston, Pastor of
ST. MaFJ s, who is no less beloved by all for his
goodness than adu,red for his virtues and
learning, am under great obligations for the
interest be took IN forwarding the interests 1
have in hand. His kindly and appreciative
mention of the STAR at Mass on Sunday assist
ed wonderfully in my canvas.
l took q drive through the country to the
missions some fifteen miles from San Antonio
the first one reached being that of st. Joseph.
The church, which is now almost o ruiE, is q
venerable edifoe. Only a part of 1t is covered
in and serves as q chapel for the poor Mexicsns
who dwell in the eighborbood. A Jesuit |
Father comes every Sunday from q long
distance to say Mass. The next mission is |
that of San Franoisc de ls Espada Here l |
met the Missionary, Father Bonchu, French |
man, ho came to this country about twenty- |
FIVE years sgo. Consider an educated gentle |
m an, in poor health, far off from conRenial |
society, and deprived of all those comforts |
which are 30 necessary to the invalid and you |
will understand the bardships of Father |
Bouohu's life. An old shed serves as church, !
and common table as an altar. The |
poet Wordsworth, in one of bis poems. de-
bcribes q minister who was his own weaver,
tailor, and cook, besides being also teacher of
his school. Father Bouchu is all this and
more, for with his printing press he has pub
lished a cateoh;sm in Spanish for circulation |
among his people. Thus sfar of from country, |
family and friends, away from all the
comforts of life, Father BOuchu labors un-
cessingly for the poor Mexicans who are en-
trusted TO his care.
In conclusion 1 would beg through your
columns to tender my sincere thanks to Messrp.
A. Swanson, General S1Perin tendent Of the
Houston Central Road, to Mr.. Killian, Secro-
tsry of the Galveston and Henderson Railroad,
to Col. J. w. Dickson, of the Sunset Road, for
courtesies extended with an unstinted hand.
In San Antonio l met the gallant Col.
withers, one of the officers of the National
Bank. He. was stationed in Texas at the
breaking out of the war, and though, like Lee,
he opposed secession, yet when the south was
in vaded he buokled on his armour and stood
like that chieftain in the forefront of battle
to the bitter end. Yours,
To-. VHV I