San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-06-21
Press Convention and Excursion Person.
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Press Convention and Excursion Person
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At Laredo on our return we met Mr.. Ken
ner, formerly OF this place, and were pleas
ant to find him in better health.
The name of the American Consul IL
Monterey is h, G. Campbell, and he hail
from Virginia.
Good old Noah" the worthy negro fac
totum Of the Junction House at Hearne,
we found still on duty there, but We failed
TO get TO thank him for favors received from
him on former occasion, In the winter OF
1888.
We made the acquaintance among others
OF J. W. Fleming, of Fort Worth, one OF
the editors of the Brownood age OF Pro-
gress," and most enthusiastic Greenbacker
so much so as to be rather amusing. He
formerly lived in Caldwell county, and we
believe is very worthy gentleman.
Besides his business quarters in the city,
Editor LAGRANGE of the Monterey In Re
ptstd, has o charming country seat some
miles out finely irrigated and set
with choice fruit trees, flowers, etc. By the
way, we were mistaken when we said his
was the only paper published in Monterey !;
it is the only daily, but their are one or two
weeklies, and the state government has o
printing office.
While showing us Dallas, our friend
Lantz pointed out to us the residence Of the
notorious Fitzhugh, once doorkeeper of the
house of representatives at Washington, and
who, as everybody recollects, lost his place
by overelation at his own Importance, as
shown by his writing home to friend (who
betrayed him), that he was "a bigger man
than old Grant, saying which is con-
stantly suggested by the sight of him or by
the mention of his name. In passing we
got glimpse of the egregious old simple
ton.
At the banquet given to the editors at Dal-
las the table was graced by a very appropri-
nte and elegant complimentary token, the
handiwork of Miss Lucy Rutherford, a
worthy and accomplished young lady, edi-
torially connected, as were informed, with
the Christian Preacher of that city. 1t con-
sisted of miniature editorial table, chair
and pen all having beautiful floral setting.
1t was greatly admired by all, and doubtless
left pleasant impression of the fair donor,
though personally unknown to most the edi-
tors.
Among the editors on the excursion, was
Elder G. M. Wilmeth, an evangelist of the
Christian denomination and editor of the
Christian Preacher, of Dallas. On the Sun
day of our visit to the coal mines, he pro-
posed holding religious service in on of the
cars. The idea was openly sneered at by
some, and "Lemp's ice-cold beer" of which
We have read so many eulogies in excur-
sion literature, was a powerful counter at
traction. However, the Elder persisted, and
with fair share of success. We record the
the fact to his credit we would not think
much of preacher who would fail to show
his colors under such circumstances.
The ages of the Press gang on the excur
sion ranged from J. NJ. Shumate of the
Round Rock "Quid Nunc" aged 16 and j.
r. Davis of the Texas Western" out be-
yond Abilene, aged Is, to Father Allan of
the Galveston Visitor" and Judge Norton
of the Dallas Intelligencer" each of whom
is about 70. As to the two latter, Mr.. Allan
enjoyed the trip as much as any of the rest
of "the boys" He spent the greater part of
his life at the North, as printer and publish
er, and as such was personally acquainted
with some of our most distinguished litera-
IT, Judge Norton also has unite a history
With h leonine head and fao,, and ply
steal aud mental force he would be marked
man anywhere. He is of the old Puritan
and Revolutionary stock of New England,
transplanted to the South. He lisa gradu
ate of Kenyon College, Ohio, of which he
has written the history. He is also,
az he informed us, engaged in
writing memoirs of his own times, as we'll as
a new life of Henry Clay, of whom he has
a large number of ms, letters never used
before. He has a store of original historical
material of all sorts in the shape of old fam
lily records, files of newspapers. ETC., reach
ing back anterior to the revolutionary war,
sufficient to excite the envy of an antiquarian.
Being yet in vigorous health, and possessing
independent means the Judge has a fair
prospect of being able to utilize these mater
ials to good advantage, and we congratulate
him upon the fact Judge Norton is by
nature bold and answering in his views;
with his mental organization he could not
be otherwise. His pronounced radicalism
in state like Texas has Of course made
him odious to many. yet his political honesty
and courage are generally respected even
by mis- enemies. and he may yet outlive
much of the odium which has attached to
his name. In fact judging by the hearty
applause which was awarded lis speeches
at the banquets at Dallas and Laredo, we
might infer that he is already becoming
rather popular. Said speeches were eloquent
and patriotic, and were delivered with vim
and FIRE quite remarkable for one of his
years. The Judge, we think, has been
something too much of a partisan, but his
experience of the Arthur administration we
believe. has gone far to make him see the
error of his ways. Speaking of his propos-
ed literary labors, we learn he intends writ
ing up early Texas history. particularly the
A., l;f. n,,l t;,,na Of Sam Hon Stnn Of Hhnm