San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-05-15

We were charmed during our stay at
scene 80 manifcstly presided over
by that chief Joy which has survived
the fall-domestic bliss. The day
after our arrival was Mr.. Atwells
birthday. At breakfast his ''better
half presented him with n beautiful
ring, and we were invited 10 attend
tho further celebration OF tho day,
but to our regret could not remain
longer. Though 80 happily situated
Mr.. and Mrs. Atwell are impressed
with tho idea that it not 80 healthy
as il is further west about Austin or
San Marcos for example), and are
looking in this direction for home,
so soon as they can make the neces-
sary arrangements for change.
Before leaving Hutchins we will
state, as an evidence OF mental actiy-
ity there, that were told debating
society is regularly kept up, and
largely attended by old and young.
But as is too often the case in Texas
towns, the "trail of the serpent" is
seen in an otherwise good community.
While at Mr.. Atwell's store, soon
after our arrival, about dusk, some
half dozen shots were heard in rapid
succession in an adjacent store. A
rush was made to the place and it was
ascertained that youth of the vicini-
ty had rode up, dismounted, leveled
shotgun at the storekeeper and
demanded his money in regular high
wayman style. The merchant made
fight, the would be robber remount-
ed his horse and fed, followed by
sundry pistol shots. A day or two
later we saw in Fort Worth paper,
the following further account OF the
affair:
A sixteen year-old boy named Plues
stole his fathers horse ut Hutchins
on Tuesday last, rode to Lancaster
and sold it. He returned home, cut
open valise and got $52 out of it,
and then stole shotgun, and going
to Schneiders store pulled down on
Mr.. Schneider and demanded his
money or his life. Mr.. SCHNEIDER
got hold of q six.shooter and fired
five shots at the young bandit, who
made good his escape. A deputy
sheriff is in pursuit Of him.
On Thursday at Dallas, we called
to see our friend and occasional cor
respondent, Capt. j. w. Lane, for
merly of this vicinity. In addition to
his former affections, he had been
attacked q few days previous with
congestion, and was brought to the
verge of death, but was again in his
usual state, though weaker. We had
q pleasant interview with this worthy
and intelligent gentleman. His
mind is clear and active as ever, and
his interest in public affairs undimin-
ished. His condition is sincerely to
be commiserated, but not many
would bear up under it as we'll as he
does. Mrs. Lane is atlast reconciled
to Dallas, but was warm in her ex'
pressions of qualification ut the
weekly visits of the FREE Press, as
giving the local news from her old
home. Her daughter resides near
by, and Capt. Lanes son is with him.
The same day, meeting our veneer
able contemporary Judge Norton,
we accepted his invitation to dinner,
in the hope Of getting bird's-eye
view of his literary and general mu
scum of which we had heard. Our
hope was gratifed, and we spent
some hours of absorbing interest in
looking at his treasures and listen
ing to his conversation on the subject.
He has two or three rooms pretty
woll occupied with these 'literary
remains" consisting of files of letters
and newspapers, some of which date
back to colonial and revolutionary
times. Among the former we saw
original letters from such men as
Clay, Webster, Gen. Scott and many
others. Our space will not permit
our goinginto!details now, but we in
tend returning to the subject soon,
Judge Norton's collection would no
doubt sell for many thousand dollars,
but it is not for sale. We will only
add here, that, as he informed us,
his life of General Sam Houston will
soon be published. The authors
long and intimate acquaintance with
Houston will insure work of rare
interest.
The Trinity as well rs the Brazos
yet spread beyond its banks in places.
Between Dallas and Hutchins train
had been ditched a short time pre-
vious, and the locomotive still laid in
a miry place by the side of the track.