Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-11-13
Letter from Texas.

EDS SPECTATOR when left Virginia, II
August Tor this semi tropical CLINE, l prom
ised letter to the SPECTATOR. l have post
poned writing until now in order that might
be able to give full and reliable information:
The country around Austin is, in appear
auce, very much like the country about Staun
tou-rolling and well wooded AS looN
around from the position which now occupy
the upper gallery of the Institution for the
Deaf and Dumb behold panorama as beau
tiful as any my eyes ever rested upon. 1t re
minds me very much of the view from MONT
cello, Va. look far away to the base of the
mountains which form, apparently, semi
circle as a background to the picture, and the
landscape is dotted with farm-houses and ele-
CANT country reslden ces. The whole city o
Austin is sp, cad out before me, on the opposite
side OF the Colorado and for miles can trace
the course of two rail roads-one leading to the
Gulf and the other going North and south
Just at this moment wagons passing OF
their way to market-not loaded with whes1
and corn and such other products as the farm
ers bring to Staunton, but only cottoh. Iha'
is the staple of this portion of Texas, ana IN
trade in Austin averages nearly 50,O0O oales
season. W bile am writing, hear, ABOUT eN
cry minute, the escape of steam from the com
press across the river and just as often ball
of cotton is reduced n thickness 10 about ter
inches to facilitate shipment.
There are no MANUFACTURES here that have
seen, but as is the case with Staunton, the city
is growing in every direction, and there Is
great demand for mechanics, Additions arr
now being built to this Institution, snd Jus'
below me the bricklayers are rattling Their
trowels to the the tune of Ave dollars day
The University, in full view. is moi yet hal
aafxx nf
workmen enough to finish the work to con-
petion by the speciG time. At the end Of
Congress Avenue, q hundred men are engag
on the magnificent Capitol building. WIFI
wilfcost at least s. 0 5000 and which is TO Re
finished in Fix years. Besides these buildinss
two or three churches are in course Of ereeti' 1
and business houses are going up in every par
of town The cost of living in Austin is no
greater than in Virginia. I have asked the
nrice of flour groceries, clothing, &c, and !
find that the prices differ little from those ask
cd nv the Staunton merchants. There are moi
many inducements held out to professional
men. I learn from the Austin Statesman thai
Prof. Mallett, Chairman OF the University Fac
ulty. Is going to resign his position and return
to his former home.
| Society is made up of all nationalities. can
| go among the work men engaged on these build
| ings and find native Americans, Mexicans.
Sved.s Germans. Frenchmen, Irishmen, and
| negroes The customs of the people are diner
ent from those of the good old Scotch-Irish OF
the Valley, and, in point of morals, the aver
! age Texan would not measure up to the VIZ
gilman standard For instance, last sunday,
while on my way to church, met one OF thr
most prominent men ofthe city going out int
the country, with his wife. to hunt BIRDS and
! he did not seem to understand why should
express surprise at his spending the day IN tha'
manner. I went on to church-Dr. smoots-
and found a ridiculously small congregation
but heard one of the ablest sermons ever lis
! tened to.
| 1 find here good many Virginians, and
when with them I can imagine myself hack in
in the Old Dominion again. There are located
here almost all the state institutions: The
ASYLUM for the Insane, the University. the In
stitution for the Deaf & Dumb. and the Asy-
1um for the Blind Besides these, there is
college for coiored students, endowed by
Northern man.
| The business men of Austin lack the energy
displaved by the merchants of Staunton, and
have thought sometimes If they had half thu
| enterprise of ". II. Weller Cochran, Graham.
or EakIe & Jones. they cnud double the bust
ness done in the city. Nobody seems to be in
! a hurry and the streets are never crowded.
| Before came to Texas, I had an idea thai
"cow-boy'' meant rohber, murderer, &C.. anc
when I first met one of them on country
road, W tn his broad brimmed sombrero, lariat
| pistols and spurs, I almost expected him to de
mand my money or my life, but with a tip e
the hat and graceful bow he quietly passeo
me by At the State Fair which took place last
week-and which, by the way, did not equal IL
the nuuber of exn ibits the Augusta county
fairs that have attended-a priza of $50 was
offered to the COW boy who would rope aud Tie
his steer in the shortest time. There were ter
entries The steers were the widest that could
be procured and we're let loose from pen, one
at time The winner of the prize chased
lassoed threw and tieG his steer in less than
minute and half This to me. was novel
sight and Que that enjoyed.
The climate of Texas is delightful lust now
it Is ike early Spring time il the Old Domn.
ion We are having fresh yegeiables-the irsT
of the second crop. When go out for walk
10 the early morning "a pleasure which often
enjoy-I fud the grass covered vita dew,
flowers are scattered all around, and the mock
ing birds holding concerts in every tree
and bush Sunrise as vie ~ed from the bridge
over the Colorado. is "as pretty az picture
and the scenery all around is beautiful, bur
not as attractive, to my eyes, as are the hills
and valleys of my ain countrie." and my
thoughts often carry me back to old Virginia'A
shore" u. ID. Il