The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-12-29
FROM THE SOUTHLAND.
THE GORGEOUS SUNSETS AND
BALMY BREEZES OF TEXAS.
ProE. Arthur l.. Cox I'm The
"Lone Starr State.-.His
Observations of the
Country and
ReOnIe

GoLIAD, TEXAS, Dec. 21.-T beg
leave through your columns to answer
some personal questions and give
my friends, who are readers Of your
paper, a description Of my trip; and
initiation, on the Mexican border
and some of the general character
istics of Texas and the Texans, the
latter may be of interest to the gen.
eral reader.
/ accepted the Chair Of Mathe
matics and Military Tactics in Goliad
College Sept. llth, and started there
for Sept. 18th. ] stopped day at
Wheeling to attend the Fair, and con-
tinued my journey on the following
day, via: Columbus, Indianapolis,
Springfield, Hannibal, Mo-, Parsons,
Kans., thence through the Indian
Nation. "The most beautiful coun-
try in the world" It's rolling prairies
and meandering streams, green grass
and trailing trees, sunny days and
southern breezes, scattering herds of
lowing cattle, blushing sun sets and
autumnal nights, combine to make
it more than fitting home for the
red man.
beheld the most beautiful sun set
l ever had the pleasure to witness
while crossing this plain.
"As the sun was going to bed the
whole heavens appeared to be blush
ing at the sight" AS she became
less timorous, variegated hues played
over her face as if chasing each
other. This frolic having subsidized,
twilight dropped thin veil over her
face, and apparently there rose up a
huge mountain intervening, at first
dim in outline but soon the magma
ton could decipher the rugged rocks
and sturdy oaks Of it's summit made
visible by the light thrown upon them
from what appeared to be immense
prairie fires. On either side these
fires appeared spiral in fern, stu
ated on an Offset or table of the
mountain. To the east and near the
base of the mountain, apparently
climbing the slope, there was a long
line Of fire, somewhat like the burn
ing Of raked leaves around a clear
ing, but more nearly resembling a
prairie fire several miles distant The
appearance Of the light differed from
white to pale blue and scarlet.
The mountain soon began to draw
nigh and change into cloud through
which the reflected light of the sun
showed many irregular figures with
the most brilliant golden borders.
When the sun got up the next
morning and cleared away the mists
and put things in order, ] looked out
upon Texas soil and drew from my
hat the conductors check and tried
to pronounce the following names:
Estacado, Carizzo, Waxahache, Bar
zoria, Brozos, Gonzales, Navosata
and Ysleta.
These appeared to me to be horri-
BILE words, but they sounded very
well when pronounced by Texans.
Now that l have learned to pronounce
few Spanish words they are beau
tiful names.
l found the college situated on an
elevated piece of ground-"a hill"-
on the left bank of the San Antonio
river, in the town of Goliad. On the
college grounds is mansion, the
lower story Of which is occupied by
the President and his family and
furnishes several halls for music,
drawing, painting, &c. The young
lady boarders occupy the upper part
of this building. On either side of
this are number of smaller build
ings occupied by the young men and
teachers.
There are over two hundred stu
dents now in attendance. Their ia
theirs are the land owners of this
country, and own from 10000 to 150.-
600 acres of land and from 1000 to
10000 head of sheep and cattle.
The people are generally indis-
posed to labor They love to ride
ponies and drive their flocks, and
detest agricultural pursuits. They
talk much Of winter and cold weather,
but mi 81 for little Of it.
Last Sabbath as l sat in church
and looked over the congregation and
saw the white hats and parasols of
the ladies, the white vests and al
paca coats of the gentlemen, the
doors open and the windows up, /
thought how different from other De
cembers that | had seen. We have
delightful weather here now. The
nights are cool enough to enjoy the
embrace of Morpheus. Young beans
and potatoes from fall gardens are
delicious. Oats are just greening
the fields and bare-footed boys may
be seen at play in the streets.
Looking out from this elevated
spot. we are apparently surrounded
at distance OF two or three miles by
low range Of evergreen hills-ever-
green oaks-not pines. In the inter-
vening space numerous trees are
scattered. The main part of Goliad
is built among these trees between
here and the San Antonio, which
forms beautiful semi-circle around
the city. Many of the people speak
Spanish. The population is con-
glomerated mixture of Americans,