The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-08-21
Letter from q frustrating TyPogra-
URhaR


pher.
CAMP ON SAN MARCOS, Aug. II. 20.
Editors Democratic Statesman:
That ancient sore-head, Nasman ,
boosted with justice of the beauty or
ALBANIA and Pharpar, but, Though they
surpassed the jordan, surely they
could not have been more charming
than the beautiful stream which bursts
forth from the bases of these hills in a
hundred bright, clear, ~bub bling
springs, and polls upward in great
LIQUID column IN the middle of the
river. This must have been the Four
tain of Youth, in search of which that
JIdSe old adventurer, Ponce de Leon,
sacrificed so much money and life. Its
waters are invigorat ng to the body
and pleasing to the eye, and in its pei
lucid depths, under the "bonnet," and
water cress and moss, are the finest
trout. in Texas. This thick growth Of
aquatic plants is favorable to the pro-
pagation OF fish, because shelter i:
afforded the smaller ones when pur.
sued, and at the same time food, in the
shape OF crawfish, is found in abund.
anee among the roots. II is impossible,
too, for that enemy OF man, the seiner
to ply his deadly vocation here, anC
the result is the best natural fish pre-
serve TO be found anywhere. ON
great drawback, however, to their cap
lure is the clearness of the water, which
cannot be rendered turbid for am
length of time, no matter how grea
the rainfall. We have seen six snC
eight pound trout investigating curt
ously the six lines we used, though
flattsring ourselves that they were al
most colorless in the water. But pes
severance has enabled Us to keep sup
piled with this finest OF tiTh, aud rsb
bits and birds abound at short dis
| tances from our tent.
The country round about here is
dit setting for the transparent gen
spoken OF above. Lofty hills, her
rugged, there softened by verdan
glsdes, from the point Of observ atlou
TO the right lies the town of San Mar
COS, about mile distant, its bushes
houses fronting on the court hous
square, With that uniformity Of plal
so common and so exasperating. T,
the Jeff, wooded heights and the IN
broken forests greet the eye, while il
fsoot of the spectator lie green field
and plains, stretching out to the hori
son. The land viii produce half
bale of cotton to the acre in this val
lev, 80 the farmers say. The steady
soaking rain of Sunday and the favor
able weather since, have literally bee
the salvation o, this crop The M
and cotton will hardly pay for tn
picking and ginning.
Toe springs property now belongs {
Mr.. Jemison of Galveston, who pur
chased il of Mr.. Noble, and in chArg
Of Mr.. Z. w Baker, very clever gen
tleman, who voluntarily extended u
much-apprecisted courtisies. w,
have tished, hunted bathed and chmbe,
these hills with heartless forQetful
ness Of everything except the twin
present. We have taken no though
for the morrow, most literally. Bu
mon, obedient TO the Gals Of duty. "
must relinquish eplcnrianism and re
turn to our vacations, thankful to on
good genli for directing rs to this Ian
|. OF flowing streams-not like those soft
slow dripping mist-Wreathed rive,
that lulled the travellers 70 forgetful
ness Of home Of the land OF the I.otul
eaters-but fresh. leonine (uhenc
Sc. Mark, vigorous. inspiring n
pllerim 70 this shrine with renewe
determination snd strength. TSro.