Morning journal and courier., 1881-05-31
Price Four Cents.

limestone like the Menger Hotel.
The walls of the old missions are crumbline
Strangers visit them. It requires day to
ride to all. What the Spanish Catholics con-
templated in days gone by is what I would
like to know. comparatively new Spanish
church is opposite my windows 1t is lit
of apparently the same lime rock A part of
the oldest mission still remains in the rear of
the Spanish church in which the Mexicans
now worship. It is said to be one hundred
and fifty years old and it's appearance does
not belle the tradition. will say 1 never
saw a more attentive audience in my life than
I saw last Sunday in this church. 1t was
composed of Mexicans, Spanish negroes and
mixed breeds. My own Spanish being lin
tied, I cannot speak of the subject matter of
the discourse. The Presbyterian church
service also attended, and had my faith
strengthened in listening to the preacher
Sunday in San Antonio, as in all the southern
cities, appears to be the day of recreation
They are advertised broadcast for the week
before and puffed in Sunday morning issues.
but when on Monday morning you inquire
for paper the answer is mo paper Monday"
Walking from church inquire what makes
the center of the river peculiar "Oh, L
suppose it is the limestone which is all
through the country" The river rises a few
miles above from lime rock foundation. 1t
bubbles from the rocky surrounding The
little streams are taken from the higher parts
for irrigation. Do people empty their own
refuse into these streams? ''Ihere is a city
ordinance against it." But think 1 have
seen eEidences of its disregard? "Oh, yes, 1
suppose some do disregard the penalty" Do
people drink from these sluices? ''Oh, YES.
suppose those who are not connected with
the city waterworks do drink 1.-THE poorer
class" Does it not make them sick2
Il never heard that it did.
There are various springs-the San Pedro.
the McLear and the Breckenridge fountains
supplying the river. These springs are
worth visit, although the ride to them is
over rough, uncultivated road. The CITY
waterworks, one hundred and fifty feet high
er than the city, on the same route.
Breckenridge's house is in sight. Many bless
him over the left, because he will allow no
visitors except on Tuesday. McLear freely
says, visit my spring, which is higher up and
the fountain head; only close the gate.
On Saturday morning I was led to inquire:
Who and what are those six-cattle and mule
teams? ''Oh, that is Mexican train Just
come in. They have come two hundred
miles to sell their loads of wool They get
26 cents pound for it. That is Mexican
train. The man on a mule ahead is the guide
They probably have been two weeks on the
way. The trains like that at this season of
the year often number forty wagons in day
This is the wool season. These Mexicans do
the carting for forty cents hundred, where
others charge SIX bits ~ How is that? '.Oh,
the Mexicans live on nothing; it don't cost
them anything for forage" I think south
ern mules and cattle generally look as if they
ate nothing. am sure dry husks is their
best feed. Mules and steers can be seen in
every city which if Bergh should come
across his heart. would faint within him.
At breakfast inquire of my Spanish waiter,
Who are these people 'They have Just ar
rived from Mexico, the father and three
daughters They had guide of six Mexican
soldiers and they came in a private carriage"
Is that the custom? eyes, under such cir
cumstances." Sunday after dinner private
team starts; inquire, Who is that ? He is
a rancho owner. The man on the mule ahead
with the lasso is the Mexican guide. the
driver and the man inside suppose are in
his employ" Stages start for here and there
each day. One of the Palmer Sullivan
friends of mine started in his own carriage
for Corpus Christi with driver only. Two
have been shot the past week. My friends
wife, delicate lady, admitted that it looked
a little frightful but they ventured For Ell
Paso sleeping coaches are rigged up; but
think railroad advantages will early bring
sure access. If I were only one year later
think I could extend my visit to San Fran
cisco by the southern route. The Interna-
tional and Great Northern road is fast push
ing onward.
The Mexicans have a way of preparing
what they call ''tamala,'' and they sell it at
stands nearly all night to each other on the
plaza. This food is cheap, and they like it.
Mocking birds and Mexican canaries are for
'ale at your own offer by Mexican children.
Texas horned frogs and rattlesnakes occupy
one cage. / have seen the frogs perched on
makes backs. One of the most interesting
aides we met is a titled lady. She goes by
he name of ''My Lady, in the region where
he lives. She passes her time it is said in
loing good for the love of it. She is most
triking in appearance, manners and CONVEX
ational powers
There seems to be in all the South great
owe of tooth picking at the table, a habit
which to me is almost as disguitsng as spit
ing where one ought not. I have been in
lotels where the queen dowagers of the
'tate, apparently, spent their leisure in OBJ
erving and conversing upon others, while
hey sat each with tooth pick, and freely
sing the same as if it the most aristo-
ratio habit. Some of the most pitiable
ooking Mexican merchants are to be seen
bout the streets. and on Sundays the
anne occupy the entrances to the cathedrals.
| visit to the ice factories in the southern
titles leads me to conclude that a corner in
ce need not necessarily occur as ice is de-
ivered at one dollar hundred. The work
# manufacturing it is apparently simple
process and does not require large capital.
'rickly pears grow all through this region
Wild flowers abundant wherever a road
las been built wherever the earth is turned
'V0T, Luer0 lOOh 1OE V6TU6uhS L suppose L
AVE passed hundreds of miles of verbenas,
uch as would set the young ladies of your
ity( A." The mercury has been in my.
DOM * at so in the morning for the past
i've weeks, and during the day generally from
% to 81. In this city there is an evening air
which is cool and refreshing. A lady informs
ne Just now that she came here for her hus-
'ands health. He went into business and
egained his, but her health is failing, and
he must flee to her native land 1 think
here is about as much sickness in one Sec
ion as another, but changes are beneficial if
nade in season When 1 have consumption,
ct me die at home. M.