The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-01-17
Captain Kings Cattle Ranch.

A Chicago Tribune correspondent
writes: At the invitation of Capt. King,
the writer of this started with him one
fine morning, after an early breakfast,
to ride around the inclosure. Phe light
carriage was drawn by four fleet, wild
horses. Itwould be gratifying to de-
scribe that ride and the team by which
We were drawn, their small, 1.-THE limbs,
glossy coats, extended nostrilS, spank
ing-gait, and wonderful powers of en-
durance; the beautiful lakes, valleys,
and groves; the grazing thousands of
cattle, and sheep, and horses, their star
tied and frightened looks as the steam
ing horses came bounding into their
midst; the wonderful care and sagacity
of the shepherd dogs watching their
focks and doing the duty of
herdsmen, almost savagely resenting
our abrupt intrusiOn-but the pen can
scarcely do justice to the subject. 1t
was late in the evening when we re-
turned, and yet the circuit of that fence
had not been half completed. Santa
Gertrudes is paradise when compared
with the large majority of ranches in
this section of country, and its complete
and elegant appointments contrast
strangely with the rude surroundings of
most of the residences of the inhabitants
of the border Starting from any of the
towns on the Rio Grande, from Browns
vile to LerdO or Corpus Christi one
| journeys for days over a region sparse
ly settled, and containing few of the
! cOnveniences and Injuries of modern
civilized life. Their are no hotels or
places of entertainment en- route, and
the traveller is obliged to camp out by
| the way. When, after such q journey,
| one at last reaches Santa Gertrudes, or
Kings Ranch as it is called by many,
| the traveller feels as if he had come to
an oasis in desert. The country he
/ has lust passed over is not well calculat-
| ed to please any but the rough and half
/ civilized frOntiersman who delights in
| danger and adventure, and has no taste
/ for the sweets OF civilization, but here
he suddenly finds himself introduced in
/ to home which would grace any socie-
| ty, Il seat of elegant hospitality, where
| he finds all around him the evidences of
a cultivated taste and high order of
refinement.
The Mansion House is large double
wooden English cottage, finished off in
suits of rooms, and surrounded nearly
on all sides by piazza, in Southern
style. The guests rooms, dining-hall,
| kitchen, and store-rooms are in long
brick building, situated about 100 feet
in rear of the mansion. The whole is
furnished richly, as might be expected
from the great wealth and good taste of
the owner. The other buildings of inn
portance are two very large twO-stOry
buildings, strongly and handsomely
built, surmounted by large, roOmy GU
polas, used for out-looks, and affording
a commanding view of the surrounding
country and the approaches from all dl-
rections One of these is used as sta
BILE, while in the other are the offices,
store, harness and carriage shop, and
also other shops for the manufacture OF
such tools and implements rs may be
needed to carry on the extensive busl-
ness of the Ranch. All these buildings
are inclosed by tasteful fence, an IN
closure within the greatinclosure. Capt.
King is punctilliOus as to etiquette in his
house, and courteous in his demeanor to
ladies, both those of his own household
as well as strangers and guests. Mem
bers of his family and guests are always
expected to appear at his table in dress
suitable to the meal, and at all other
times to display and exercise the courte-
sizes of polite and refined life. Capt
and Mrs. King entertain with the grace
of the olden times, and have the ready
tact to make their guests feel at home
In winter it is not unusual TO find here
large company-the travelled million,
aires of the Northern cities, the titled
foreigners, officers of the army, anc
young men seeking their fortunes IN this
new country and aid and advice iron
the Captain, invalids seeking health il
this invigorating climate-all received
with the same hearty welcome, and en-
tertained with the same generous hos
pitality. In their religious views, Capt
King and family are Presbyterians, Mrs
King being the daughter OF an eminen
: CLERGYMAN of that denomination
Though the distance of Santa Gertrude
from Corpus Christi, the nearest settle
ment, precludes its inmates from regu
lar attendance upon divine worship, TIT
Sabbath is nevertheless kept strict.
sacred, and work is wholly suspended
: by the hundreds of employees. Two son
t and three daughters comprise the chil
3 dren. Those who have attained sui
E ficient age have been OF are now bein:
{ educated at Northern schools
Capt. King, though extremely liberal
! is not careless in his business habits o
? reckless in his expenditures. No MAJ
: controlling such extensive interest
: looks more closely after its details thai
he. He possesses a keen insight int