The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-09-12
TRIP TO WACO.
The Light Business End Rides on a First
Glass Ticket to Waco, and
Goes to Church.
Makes n Few Notes About what lie Sees
and Hears---His Experience
with the Bohemians.

have a free pass, nor did he try to stand of
the conductor with a promised "puf," but
travelled like other ordinary folks by paying
full fare. The train made time; no bridges
were washed away, and the trip generally
was pleasant one, except at times, between
stations, the number Of passengers increased
10 such an extent that the coaches were too
crowded, and many had to stand up until
some one got of, and then make break for
a seat However, a little standing was not
uncomfortable altogether.
The country between San Antonio and
Kyle presented fresh appearance, it having
raned along the line. But frem Kyle to
Austin, thence all the way to Waco, the
country had a dry, parched look, no
rain having yet fallen in all that
section, and the prayers Of the wicked and
the righteous have not ye, been heard. Aus
tin was about the deadest, dryest looking
place we noticed. Even the men standing
around the depot looked dry, and occasionally
you could see some fellows face brighten and
smile all over when passenger alighted from
the car, and grasp his hand, and say "let's
take something"
At the booming little town Of Taylor, the
porter Of the train makes his grub by singing
out twenty minutes for dinner" Quite a
number Of passengers responded and went
over to the Taylor house for a meal. The
LIGpT man Jared pretty well, being in COM
pany with couple Of ladies, little extra at
tention was paid, and the waiter most likely
expected an extra quarter for his trouble. As
we didn't drop our nckes in that missionary
box, and when we stopped on the way back
for dinner, that fellow evidently had not for
gotten his man, and got revenge by giving us
piece Of beef that was about the toughest
ever tackled in all our travels. There was no
milk for the coffee, and the water
tasted and smelled as il all the dead rats in
the town had been dumped into that particu-
lar cistern. Travellers will do well to patron
ize the dining car, where they can at all times
get good meal and not trust to eating
houses.
The train reached Waco on time, about
4:3o, and the LIGHT man was gladly met by
San Antonio boy, J. Pulver, who is now em-
ployed with B. Haber, one Of the largest
houses in Waco, and to Mr.. Pulver are we
indebted for courtisies shown while in that
city.
Ten years have elapsed since cur first visit
to Waco, and the appearance of the place has
so much changed that we could hardly real
ize it was the same town. Everything looked
new, neat and clean TO us and we imagined
ourself in real, live city, like those of the
North and Western States. After supper we
very naturally wendell our way around to the
Examiner office, and lh.re had the
pleasure of meeting with its editors and
proprietors who very cordially gave the
LIGHT man the real Bohemian grip" aye
Local. Of the Examiner and Wheat, of the
Houston Post, were especially affected by the
rays of the LIGHT man, and said, "Well, Mr..
LIGHT, we are real glad to meet with the
representative Of the ivelisst and best local
paper in Texas. We have heard Of the White
Elephant Of San Antonio, Of its grandeur and
elegance, and we propose now that you allow
us to introduce you to the Black Elephant Of
Waco" Through curiosity, OF course (?), the
proposition was accepted, and all hands or
dered bohemian Lemonade" except Wheat;
he being temperance inclined since his bril-.
liant trip and write up Of the McGregor
barbecue, said he would simply take
beer. The assembled Bohemians saw the
elephant and all the other little animals during
the evening, and the LIGHT man slept soundly
until the ringing Of the church bells the next
morning gave notice that the time had ar
rived for religious worship. Our
room mate proposed to attend
church, and we went to the Methodist chur oh
South and listened to an old-fashoned sermon
from the text, ." He Believeth Not Shall Be
Damned" The good parson was particularly
hard upon skepticism and infdelity. The
LIGHT man took a full synopsis OF the good
mans sayings, but want OF space prohibits
publication.
Sunday night Brother Hubby, of the Exam
liner, took us around to hear the Rev. Mr..
Shaw talk and tell what he thought about the
Bible and orthodox religion. Here all our
early religious teachings received black eye,
and before this lecturer got through we hardly
knew what plank in the religious platform we
stood on. The choir of this congregation is
an excellent one; the alto of Miss Cash was
especially fine. The song,
The happiest souls on earth are those
Who smile and are contented,"
was rendered in a most effective manner. The
lecturer announced that he had no set text, but
struck out by saying that he believed in the
Bible, in that which was good, and rejected
that which was bad aud not fit for prs ctcal use
in this life and denied the inspiration of the
scriptures, and he slashed things right and left
for about 50 minutes.
The choir then sang 1.-THE Soft Flowing
River" which made us feel good again.
Among the places visited was the postoffice
the Baptist university and the Waco Femal,
college. We did not have an opportunity OF