San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-09-28
San Antonio Notes.

On Friday last we escaped from the news
paper treadmill and made another hasty trip
to the metropolis of Western Texas. The
weather had just turned cool, and we found
it delightful variation. Our only notes
by the way" regarded the evidences of the
might of the recent high waters. Between
! New Braunfels and San Antonio there. are two
or three broad channels showing that tenn
porarily raging torrents found their way ov-
or what is ordinarily dry land. We heard it
suggested that probably after while the
Guadalupe may thus entirely change its
channel The water yet stood in minia-
AZURE lakes. 1t no longer surprised us
that it took the railroad 30 long to make re-
pairs.
The train was soma two hours late, SO that
by the time we made few calls in the city,
the evening shades appeared, and we with
many others drifted towards Turner Hall,
where the ''broom-drill brigade" were to
perform their evolutions the proceeds to be
given to one of the churches. 1t consisted
of about twenty of the fair young ladies of
the city. There were not SO many as
appeared at Galveston last spring while
we were there, but they were much better
drilled; in fact their proficiency was quite
remarkable. A part of the band of the 22d
U. S. Infantry made the music, which was
very fine. The exercises closed with O
dance. Nearly every public gathering in
San Antonio we believe is apt to run into
dance.
Prof. Houzeau, principal of the delega-
ton sent over by the Belgian government to
take observations of the approaching trans
it of Venus, lectured the same evening on
that and other astronomical subjects, but
we doubt not the broom-drill beat him three
to one in the way of an audience. We only
heard of the lecture at the eleventh hour, or
we should have certainly given it the prefer
ence.
On Saturday morning at 8 o'clock, carry
ing out purpose for some time contemplate
ed, we attended the services at the Jewish
The grounds in front we found we'll set and
carefully cultivated in choice flowers and
shrubbery- something it strikes us, which
Christians would do we'll to initiate. The
building is spacious one, the services are
held in the second story, the stairway lead
ing to the vestibule. The temple inside is
finished and furnished with chaste simplic-
ity which reminded US of Quaker meeting
a., - -. l. ~
pulpit, but some distance removed, was
vase of choice flowers. Nearer, on either
side, was brilliant light, although it was
broad daylight. Back of the pulpit was q
recess, but closed on the present occasion.
Above was a sentence in Hebrew, and a mar
bic tablet representing the tables of the law.
Rabbie Lewenthal conducted the services,
assisted by two others. The audience was
large. very respectable in appearance, and
attentive. The music from organ and choir
was very fine; occasionally the key note"
was given by powerful singer in the pulpit.
There is some resemblance between the
Jewish and Roman Catholic style of wor-
ship, but not so much as we ANTICIPATED.
There are less number OF genuhexions
etc in the former. 1t resembles more the
Episcopal modes. The present was an occa-
sion of special interest to the Jews, being
the commemoration of the atonement as set
forth in Leviticus xxm:26-S2. 1t was OBJ
served as day of penance and rest, and
their business houses were said to be closed |
There was also an unusual number at the |
synagogue, but we failed to detect any signs |
Of modification Of the flesh or spirit. On 1
the contrary good spirits and boahommie |
seemed to prevail The Characteristic, 1
strongly marked Jewish phys;cgnOnies pre-