Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-03-22
sLADE on HIS RAMBLEs.

we were JOlly gang wiz Nh~'i''iN''
the bridal chamber OF the wcst-bound
sleeper--five of us in all, and this
numerical strength of ours enabled Us
20 put on deal Of style mt very
small outlay of capital per capita.
Jimmy Brannon with his ever
cheerful face, Howard Peake with his
never ceasing flow of songs and jokes,
/ Andrew Bateman and Oscar Selig-
man with their many social qualities,
j and to look after them all in moth
! crly kind of way. Who can imagine
\ that we spend dull moment? Songs,
! jokes and general nerrment beguiled
/ the time when we were not sleeping),
7 and before we were aware OF the fact
! or felt inclined to separate for business,
/ the porter shouted,
COLORADO CITY"
and we alighted amid the general
hustle and confusion and amid the
braying OF brass band. just how
the citizens of Colorado knew | was on
that particular train can't say. The
conductor may have telegraphed them
that was aboard. At any rate 1t was
evident that they knew of my
coming for WIS there not
II large concourse OF citizens with n
brass band to receive me, and thus ]
was again disappointed in my endeav-
or TO travel unostentatlOusly and with
out public demonstration. ! merely
lifted my hat to the clamorng crowd
and making our way through dense
mass of people we sought II hotel. AS
We walked along | was shocked TO
hear jim Brannon say in sort OF semi
s0lilouuy "Wcll ] can't see for
the life of me how those peo-
pie knew ! was on that train
and yet there they were with II brass
band 10 receive me. Well, WELL such
annoyanees are but tax levied on
greatness and must submit 20 it, |
suppose.
| merely looked ut him with silent
contempt. The idea that H. should
imagine all this demonstration was
for INN.
But must tell you of Colorado
City. 1t is Just the livcst kind Of Il
busting town with some several in
habitunts. | never heard how many.
II Is situated on the historic Colorado
river about forty miles from its head |
II is the home of the stockmen and Is !
surrounded by country devoted ex-
clusively to grazing. Cattle cover the !
adjacent prairies and browse up to the |
very edge OF the town. This little city /
IL beautifully situated and from the
gentle hillside ON which most of the |
residences stand, view may be had of |
the angry Colorado dashing its murky-
water against the waVe-worn rocks, I,
and if you are in Il dreamy mood You 1
can easily imagine IL ruined castle lit !
ing It's battlements from the frowning !
cliffs. But the only evidences that |
this spot has ever been inhabited are
the worn holes which the coyote, the |
owl and the rattlt-snake but recently |
abandoned being frightened away by |
tile scream of the locomotive. Colo /
RADIO has an elegant stone court-house, /
II substantial Jail, two good banks, II
good hotel, great number of substan- /
tial business firms and just /
thirteen hundred and ninety-one
saloons. | never counted the saloons
hut ! put Il low estimate on them. NV
partner +" Jenny says there are 1892
saloons, but / think he must have
gone into one twice. He went in by
himself first, looked in the mirror be-
hind the bar 10 see ii his cravat was
on straight counted the saloon, started
out, met n friend mt the door who
wanted to see the bar-keeper about
something, went back with his friend,
interviewed the bar-kecper, and as he
walked out counted the saloon u sec
ond time and thus got mixed up as to
the number of them.
My duties here, the hurry and con-
fusion attendant upon the stock con
vention and the short time | had to
stay prevented my getting very eX-
tensively acquainted, but | remember
there are some good business firms.
Lawson Smith ~ Co. have | believe
the largest and most varied stock
of goods In town. The Rem
drebrook House is by far the
best hotel out west, Mrs. Dunn
the proprietress evidently knows how
a hotel should be run Tor the establish
ment Is well patronized and guests
leave we'll pleased.
Tallant ~ Hall, perhaps the best
known saloon men in the state have
the finest saloon in Colorado CITY.
They have a large commodious build
ing and 1t is said they always keep
well stocked wi tn the best in the
market
Mr.. w. II. Virgins formerly of
your county also has an elegant
Saioou anu treats ms customers
with frank courtesy and good whis.
key. haven't space to speak of the
other 1855 saloons and numerous good
business firms.
The hospitality of the citizens of
Colorado is unbounded They gave a
grand ball and banquet in honor of
my visit 60 the city. True, the invita-
tions didn't say anything about the
ball being given as compliment
to me, but the committee
who got the tickets evidently knew
how modest am, so they left my
name OFT and put COMPLIMENTARY 60
the Colorado d Brazos Stock Asso.ia-
ton on the tickets instead.
Jenny Brannon and wanted to
attend that ball, but there was an OH
stacle in the way, Upon taking nm
inventory twas found that our Joint
wardrobe did not contain ms
much rs two clean shirts. After dis.
cussing the situation ut some length
we arrived at conclusion. Bmnnonis
grip contained a solitary shirt with
an immaculate front. Brannon could
go 10 bed while attended the bali.
and then after awhile could come
back go To bed and let him have The
shirt and 80 10 the BALI