San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-06-09
Loeal Letter-N0 3. -
San MARCOS, j une 0, 1881.

gloom has fallen over the whole com-
munity, touching even the young with
is shadows. A death speaks to every
heart. because it tells OF common in.
heritsnee. No lie without this bouuda.
ry-no future without this limit. II Is
terrible in its doing, but glorious In i,s
results; tor apart from the rapture OF
the released soul, II leaves its mark oil
grace upon the living. Hard natures
have been soitened, and Maynard souls
reclaimed through the bitterness Of its
dark hours tender love notes have been
struck, aud tie ring heard far into the
future, and sympathetic chords stirred
whose vibrations have been ielt through.
out . life time, aud echoed back from
many = sorrowing hesrt. As there are
some hearts that death alone can saver,
so there are some that only death can
unite. It il sad to think OF an enmity
30 bitter that only across the dead can
the hands ever join, but rebellious
hearts die hard, and Oft. times Do appeal
from still, cold face alone can touch
them. The grim messenger often breaks
one link oaly to bind another. All
Chrisiians feel that this taking swsy Of
their loved ones, does come as bless
ing; but q blessing SO .shrouded in
black ness. and ehyeloped Ia gloom, that
years must pass before they can lift the
veil and see the brightness hidden
away beneath.
am q Catholic where the dead are
concerned. want flowers aud crosses.
and tender memorials; sacred stiffness
and solemn state. AS l follow these
sorrowful PROFESSIONS here, miss, most
Of all things, the hearse, that stately
carriage Of the dead. When l see the
hack thst bore tho corpse to les grave,
laden with merry, careless children,
shouting with laughter, and think what
o shock it gives to even the most
thoughtless, | feel that to the poor,
sensitive hearts of the stricken hearts
so tender by their grief, that a touch
will make them bleed the sight must
be terrible. We want every thiugsa.
cred around our dead. We are jealous
| for them and cherish tenderly what they
have last touched and what has last
touched them. ). ~ RI -
Certainly, so civilized q place as ours,
could afford this testimonial Of respect
for those who leave US, and procure,
even ut the sacrifice Of other things, a
vehicle to be set apart for this purpose,
and kept free from the rude touch OF
the living. =,
A beautiful custom, that 1 believe is
noculior IN the Catholics, and through
them to most Southern countries, is the
reverent lifting Of the hat when fnne-
raj train passes by. In places where
this mark OF respect is univ, rsully PAID,
[ have seen men Of all classes, black
and white, gently and reverently uncover
their heads and stand thus uncovered
in blazing sun or pouring rain it need
be, until the mournful procession hal
passed entirely by. .,
! like that custom and believe that to
the heart that observes it, no matter
how wicked and ignoble it may be Their,
comes-if nothing more-the breath OF
falling benediotion. .,
Since writing you last l have attended
a very pleasant little entertainment Tor
the benefit Of the Baptist Church.
You have seen 'Trovatore'-this was
an easy arrangement for amateurs OF
some parts Of that beautiful opera;
The leading characters, Maurice and
Zillah we're we'll acted, and the support
good. Manrico's wooiug was 80 master
full, that one almost wished he might
win the beautiful Gypsy maid in spite of
har av;dent aversion but YOU have OBJ
served already that, on tho stage or on
the stage, 1t is always the blends who
is succcssful-a fascination dwells in
orbs of blue and locks OF gold that ls
irresistible. Wherein lies the power !?
The possessors are generally cold, but
thew seem to arouse warmth in others
However it may be, it is q rule with
scarcely an exception, that the LAD, or
lassie with the 'lint-white locks" ever
carries off the prize from the dark ones,
and proudly did Lord Chntterton bear
of his in this case but Maurico bore
home to his mountains the sympathles
of tho audience. for are we not always
more tender to the rejected suffer than
to the triumphant one? :, .
Last night heard q most excellent
sermon from a most excellent preacher.
| It was delivered expressly for the young,
but was appropriate for all. The tone
Of the discourse was so kindly, and the
manner SO gentle; the ADVICE so tenderly
given and earnestly impressed, with the
freedom and loving kindness of an elder
and wiser friend, but not SUPERIOR
that every boys heart must have
been touched. .Youkn the minister
II have spoken Of him before Mr..
Thrall, of the Methodist Church. The
oftener attend his services the more l
| like him-be is q man that will wear
we'll. -
Our peaceful homestead has been
changed into scene Of revolt and mas
sacre Every member Of the family is on
the war path. We 20 around through
the long hours of the day, and in the
still watches of the night, armed to the
teeth, and prepared for conflict. What
do we war against? mo'quitoes-"a
mans foes shall be they of his own
household, we are visited by perfect
plague of these insects and they are
fast fretting mo into fever. Il.
Texas Ahead.
M;,s M.ry n roam dauphfar Of our