The weekly clarion., 1879-02-26
LETTER FROM WILLIAM.

CENrRAL Texas. February 13. 1879.
EDITORS CLARION: I am becoming quite
ii citizen OF Texas, and am beginning to
know some of her leading public men
soon afrer my arrival here | became ac-
quaiuted with Senator Coke, Governor
Hubbard Hon. r Q. Mills aud some others;
but gradually my acquaintance has eX-
tended, until now / have met nearly all Of
Jho-e who figure iu public aHair--not oniy
ara one c1IHug, buu iu all, and am -ati~ted
that though Texas is "a new state, she i= not
behind iu the possession ct men of ability
ia any profession. \ recent visit to Austin
enabled me To see the 10Th Legislature IN
session. and TO form some idea OF the ability
ot ITS mcm bcrs. / consider the Senate an
able body of men. Tie House. as "a whole
is not up t1 the average Mississippi Houses
a. / have known diem. still there are some
very able men iu that branch OF the Legis-
1lture. for instance DIR. Ashbel Smith, for
!uerly minister from the Republic OF Texas
t0 the Courts of 81. James and st. Cloud.
lie isa man of varied -cholarship-perh
the most scholarly man in Tey as. He
turned from thc Paris Exposition last fall
90 find himself elected a member OF the
I.gi-lArure. While in Paris he received more
AtLtUt lDlt Il tt-llil l-ilttl imam
did ANY other American present. He speaks
French like "a Partisan, aud his knowledge
OF French ijterture and history is surpassed
only Toy his profound aud critical attain
meuts in tue classics. The Doctor was
Colonel during the war, and did gallant
service I'm tine army. He is quoted gener-
ally as authority Oh military subjects. He
is between seventy and eighty years of age
YrE.. 4
his plantation between Houston and Gal
weston, and spends most ofhis time now
with Plato and Aristotle, or in refreshing
himself iu the history ufaacient and mod
ern Art aud Philosophy. He never reads
a Transitions, but always prosecutes his
Investigations in The language OF the Au-
thor of any treatise. 1t might be supposed
that having always been bachelor, and
having mingled with the best society OF
fhts and another continent, his heart would
be 0bduratc. such Is far from tie truth,
for ne is President OF the Board of Trustees
OF am Orphan Asylum, and watches the
homeless little ones with a fathers solicit
tude. 1 have frequently thought otiuquir-
inc into the heart history O this good old
man. bat hi, great wisdom, sim mplcty, and
dignity forbid. Or. Smith was the warm
personal friend and counselor of Gen. sam
Houston; and Texas will lose one of her
treasured laud marks when the Doctor is
gathered fo his fathers.
Tnother distinguished member of the Leg
islature is Hon. Guy NJ. Bryan. OF Calves
ION. He il The nephew o. Hon. stephen
+. Austin and WAS member OF the United
States House OF Representatives before the
il contrast with the history of DR.. Smith,
is thdt q Nr. Moore. Sitting on the train
from Hampstead To Austin recently, oh
served Two old people, man ana VIE, very
old aud iutirm, aud noticed their great
kindness aud soiicitude Tor each other.
Aver time / engaged in a conversation
with them. They knew Mr.. Jones IN Gter-
gia and Wcr, glad 20 meet m on hlS account.
The old gentleman told me his name j.
Moore. THAI ne is Seveut y-eight years o'd
and hjs wife seventy nine The two nave
lived together as man and wife tor hlty-
eight years and raised ten sons. Several
wears ago their children pe persuaded them to
divide out their substance and i've with
'ueir children. They reluctantly consented,
now have no home and no means. lhry
have experienced unkinuuess anu uisdp-
,f,+,, T. at the hands of nearly all their
tb;fI ID, when / saw them, were on
their v,ay 10 he family OF their EouhSesl
sou, looking all "S -, -, bnt dra1jino,
quir wandering anu go h1Me' 19' @ uls III
He bnnr ot s.0,ratiol. The Ola iaus salu'
.sNr. William. before we part Iel 'le aISl> &
You never to be dependent o. 80. 80 '.,'5 -,
far better To U2 emu Alt>> tlNt- 4
90 into poor house. had brave $50 nf
rsioiced in their strength in the ~ 80 az
their youth and beauty, ana SuPposeu -!
WoulI be 50 many strong stalls upon MHiOT
10 lean in Old age | did not know ouI
have learned by experience, what kHouiu
have known BY ohServation-thaV na.uie 1
intended parents to take care OF cnildiS Sn'
never children 10 take care OF parents -
LAZY Of nature can he reversed and give sat
islactorv results In order 70 i've ptopeII9'
we must live in harmony with certain l"Ns' M
elementary laws OF nature. Ihtre Is one
consolation, Mr.. William, and that Is We
are the children of God. lie Is our pateut'
snd He viii take care of us Here luteL- t
Tupted Mrs Moore by asking, IT she thouSht
the Lord was taking care o! her during HeI
.di,appoiutmeuts. She replied very calmly
y have had a long life; as | told sou,
raised ten sons and rtJoced IN thehl an
God was gracious. Ii necessary that
we should be resigned to leave them and 70
leave lite We are now prepared, a. d GOO
ill not punish us longer tEan Is rlsht
v before many moons shall have Waneu,
ana u be called home TO our Father ana
we Sha.
to rest =, tlne a man entered the
About thu oaadle of checks and
car with We were approaching
Austin. Tc' Sight had so@S @ iess asa and hack
the train had stopped an, ~EEed these VIC
men were hailooing. L obs sud Went 20
old people standing apart 10y would
them. and inquired what house l. Our son
stop ar. The. old man replied, @0p e
and we are at a loss what to do" | Slip
a five dollar note into his palsied hand an9
turned hurriedly away, but not untlL
heard the words, God bless your Next
morning l learned that their son found
them during the night. Since this adven-
ture | have thought much of Col. Ashoel
Smith. in his secluson on Buffalo Bayou
Around him is a vast wealth of books. he
has studied much and knows much. de Is
dearly loved by all who know him, and Is
honored at home and abroad. His hand
dispenses charity and his tongue, instruc-
tion; and l have wondered why he never
married. have even pitied his isolation.
In this fear that my pity is lost, and l al
most believe that this philosopher and sage
-philanthropist as well, can view things
from a higher plane, and smile at the com
passion of his admirers. With him perishes
his family: Mr.. Mores' posterity is scat
tered over three States. The one chiidIess,
vet serene and calm; the other desolate and
y pauper Such is life. respectfully dedi-
cate this letter to my old friend, Dr. Charles
T.. Murphy, OF Durant.