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

From the New York Observer we
copy the following description Of the
present appearance of the city of San
Antonio, Texas, and of its Inhabitants,
furnished by II travelling correspondent
of tho Observer, whose letters have
been written with a freshness not often
seen in these days of journalism. The
annexed lengthy. extract will interest
every reader: of tho TELEGRAPH: ~a
l.i"f''i ''''' SAN ANTONIO. '.....
This, the largest town of Southern
Texas, is quaint aud curious in the ex
treme, more Mexican than American
The San Antonio river wanders through
the city, fringed " ith tropical trees,-
the algaroba, the dense spreading china,
the banana, and q. host of others, all
delicate, graceful and airy. Tall reeds
and the broad leaved a-plant dip and
float in T., the quiet green waters, and
among them are half concealed white
canvas bath-houses,, for private and
PUBLIC use. Iron bridges cross this
river, and ut evening it is pleasant. to
look down the stream at the; odd build
ings rising. behind the trees over the
bridge clatter troops OF MeXicans and
donkeys, or handsome bugsies carry
ing the elite of the city, or there may
pass bird-sellers with wicker cages inn
prisoning brilliant cardinals or mock
ing birds. On the surface below little
boys are fishing and Il group OF women
are cleaning clothes, while the people
are coming out ON the verandahs to
enjoy the evening breeze. Quaint old
San Antonio! Were 1t not for. the
American flag floating over the militia
~ quarters, l should think l wore i'll
Italy, or rather Mexico herself. Nor
would the cathedr;,ls, churches, plazas
and people destroy the illusion. AL
though the census shows the city to
have 4 population of about twenty-five
thousand, one must deviate all about
through hooks and corners, lanes ana
by-ways,-into the Mexican quarter,
San Pedro,-before its real size becomes
apparent. The principal thoroughfare
is Commerce street, running east and
west, narrow, but bordered by the
most important business houses the
plazas or open squares are also lined
by auction, dry goods, and other stores,
and at all the street corners and inches
sit fruit-sellers or Mexican candy mer-
chants, patiently switching off the flies
from their wares with their long horse
hair brushes. When two or three sit
ip II row against a cracked adobe wall,
over which a vine is clambering or
cactus growing, they rival the italian
l;,zzaroni, in picturesqucness. .u
San Antonio possesses some historic
monuments second to none in the State.
The Alamo faces one plaza, Il rambling
collection of buildings erected by the
Franciscans centuries ago. The walls
are very massive, two or three feet
thick, built of stone of different size
firmly cemented together and covered
with sort of plaster. The main build
ing was used us a church, with two
small rooms, probably dressing rooms
for the priests, and with two arms,
like those ola cross, to contain the
affairs Of Joseph and Mary, common in
all Catholic temples. There are, be-
sides, long rooms used for storage and
provision vaults, and chambers convert
ed into u place of refuge and defence
in time of danger. The doors in front
are quantity. scuiptured in relief, and
anciently the entire mass of buildings
was partially surrounded by Il thick
wall some ten feet high. The whole
structure has an air Of SOlidity and
rugged grandeur quite impressive, and
it is wonderful to contemplate how a
few simple monks, aided only by
untutored snvages, could ever erect
such piles. Later in history the Alamo
was used as a fortress, being held alter
lnately by the Mexicans and Texans.
In the war for independence, Davy
Crockett, with Il few brave companions
land one hundred and seventy Live men,
defended the building against Santa
Anna, the proud dictator of Mexico.
All fell to u man, two women and
few children and servants alone cs-
! ..-.... THE MISSIONS. .... ...5. a...
! Outside the city are: other missions all
in ruins, except one that of San Jose
is most remarkable for it's carving and
imediaeval architecture, and forms one
ofthe most interesting relics in America.
The drive out takes one along a broad
avenue leading from the narrow-street-
ed city, on both sides of which are
pretty residences sheltered by semi
tropical trees. Some are quite stately,
with broad, latticed verandahs, on
which are rows of plants, and surround
ed by weit-kcpt lawns and gardens.
Others, though less pretcntious, look
cool and inviting, low and white,
nestled among the green foliage. Very
pleasant and airy too arc the rooms in
side, high and shaded from the sun,
well-furnished, with lace curtains at
the windows and straw furniture to the
piazzas. 1t is the universal custom to