Sharp County record., 1878-02-15
Captain Kings. Cattle RAM.

writes At the invitation Of Ca5. ,cens ,c.,'.'
/ the writer of this started with Il ,od (
/ fine morning, after an early bs' BY lly 4, 4
/ to ride around the inclosure. T1sieti
/ carriage was drawn by four aoa, -.
horses. Itwould be gratifying ).
scribe that ride and the team h.
We were drawn, their small. litb.
glossy coats, extended nostriIq 7
ing-gait, and wonderful power, ,t;o,
/ durance; the beautiful lakes !, L 80
and groves; the grazing tho1s,' xb;I
cattle, and sheep, and horses. tbeS :
tied and frightened looks as the =
ing horses came bounding int, = !:
midst; the wonderful care and ~ III uS
of the shepherd dogs watcbins
focks and doing the H., II
herdsmen, almost savagelv ras.1 rec
our abrupt intrusion-but the n. az =
scarcely do Justice to the subEse ! 2.
was late in the evening when Il
turned, and yet the circuit of tba, sry
had not been half completed eds
| Gertrudes is a paradise when COM mo mo-
with the large majority of ranc5 "A
this section OF country, and its CON- 9
and elegant appointments en- ieel
strangely with the rude surroundr ce.
most of the residences of the inbaI--]
of the border. Starting from anv s,sed
| towns on the Rio Grande, from ne b
vile to LerdO or Corpus Christ 54,
| journeys for days over a region w Ii
| Iy settled, and containing few Nan
conveniences and Iuxuries of ma rott
civilized life. Their are no bot4wer
places Of entertainment en- route nat
the traveller is obliged to camp Or s
the way. When, after such a ion, ,urs
one at last reaches Santa Gertrudald 1
Kings Ranch as it is called bv M b q
the traveller feels as if he had con an
an oasis in a desert. The count !
has just passed over is not well caII1 -,
ed to please any but the rough and and
civilized trOntiersman who deIigAtbo
danger and adventure, and has no v;r
for the sweets OF civilization. but ;co
he suddenly finds himself Introduce !
to a home which would grace aDv {: II
ty, Il seat Of elegant hospitality. " T. ~ :
he finds all around him the evident
a cultivated taste and high ordg -
refinement. II
The Mansion House is a large d / I
wooden English cottage, finished os H.
suits Of rooms, and surrounded ne =
on all sides by a piazza, in Sou ~ II,
style. The guests rooms, dining y !
kitchen, and store-rOoms are in
brick building, situated about 100 ~
in rear of the mansion. The who'll q,
furnished richly, as might be exps ~ -;
from the great wealth and good taa. !
the owner. The other buildings H.
pOrtance are two very large twOs n
buildings, strongly and handNn ~ y
built, surmounted by large, room7 .'e s
polas, used for Out-looks, and afod ~ -
a commanding view Of the surround ~ ~
country and the approaches from al ~
.FeeG0R8 One Of these is used as
Bile, while in the other are the off - -
store, harness and carriage shop p
also other shops for the manufactur ~
such tools and implements as may m
needed to carry on the extensive w
ness of the Ranch. All these build 2
are inclosed by a tasteful fence, al ~
closure within the greatincIOsure. { -
King is punctilliOus as to etiquette l ~ :
house, and courteous in his demean =
ladies, both those Of his own houSei y
as well as strangers and guests. NJ !
bers Of his family and guests are aE
expected to appear at his table in u
suitable to the meal, and at all q
times to display and exercise the con c--
sizes of polite and refined life. Cici
and Mrs. King entertain with the gin'
Of the OIden times, and have the I'd rs
tact to make their guests feel at b -
In winter it is not unusual to find IL,
a large company-the travelled ml-y,
aires of the Northern cities, the u HI
foreigners, officers Of the army, -
young men seeking their fortunes Mia
new country and aid and advice fsr
the Captain, invalids seeking healhrd
this invigorating cimate-all receI =
with the same hearty welcome, and e
tertained with the same generous 4
pitality. In their religious views, Wv
King and family are Presbyterians, ";
King being the daughter Of an emu
clergyman of that denominaU n
Though the distance Of Santa Gernu n n
from Corpus Christi, the nearest n ay !
ment, precludes its inmates from IN
lar attendance upon divine worship Z
Sabbath is nevertheless kept Strgj !
sacred, and work is wholly suspel i
by the hundreds Of employees. IWOs 4 4
and three daughters comprise the II
dren. Those who have attained
fcient age have been or are now O'
educated at Northern schools.
Capt. King, though extremely noes
is not careless in his business haOlH e
reckless in his expenditures. NO pTt
controlling such extensive lnIels
looks more clesely after its details ~
L L