Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-02-04
LIFE IN TEXAS.
The Most Cosmopolitan State in the Union
The City of Houston.

ihe Most cosmopolitan state IN the union
The City of Houston.
This State differs so materially from
her sisters that everything concerning
her must be interesting. Vivid con-
trasts meet you on every side, arts
ing from the varied elements of the
or Anglo American race is predomi-
nant. The Germans are numerically
second, the Spanish or Mexicans
third, and the Bohemians fourth. So
well represented are the three nationali-
ties last named that the Governors
message and State laws are printed in
four languages, in about this ratio:
$4,000 copies in English, 10000 copies
in German, 5000 each in Spanish
and Bohemian. Hence, four tongues
arc legally recognized, and there are
ssia.died on the soil. Add to these the
Dagocs, an entirely separate nationality.
They are Italians and Minorcans,
who are almost exclusively engaged
in fishing and in the oyster and fruit
trade. They make strange jargon
oul OF our vernacular, totally dissimilar.
but quite as queer as the pigeon English
of the Chinese. These last, sparsely
represented, confine themselves to the
occupation of laundering, with the ex-
ception of few laborers on the rail-
roads. Yet in spite of their small num-
Der, so rapidly does vice gain ground,
their presence has worked evil, for in
every large city of Texas the police
have had to raid upon opium dens
The MeXicans scattered throughout
the towns are thrifty and industrious,
and generally quiet and well behaved.
They can live on a mere pittance, and
arc contented as long as they can have
their cigarettes and coffee. Many of
them earn their living by making and
selling ''Tamales" and "Chile con
carne," two modes of preparing meat
which are appetizing in the extreme.
They manufacture, too, delicious
candy-''nueces Dulces out of pecans
and sugar, which they sell upon the
streets and from door to door. Their
homes and habits are rich in the pictur-
esoue. and would present some rare sub
iects for the painters art. The old
Dutch masters would have loved to per-
petuate this scene: A low-roofed wooden
.shanty, bare pine table and long bench
on which sit three noted politicians, tax
ing an evening lunch and connecting
plans for the dear peoples benefit. One
is fair-skinned and ruddy-haired, show
ing his Irish blood; one typical Amer
lean, the third French Canadian. Each
has a steaming platter of ''Chile con
carne." Behind him stands the Mexi-
can host-tall, digniied and grave, yet
watchful They are four perfectly con-
trasting types. Over them flicker the
dim rays cast by an oil lamp. deepening
the shadows, throwing half lights into
the obscurity of the corners. A tiny
hairless Mexican dog sits motionless on
the door step, while the sign, written in
bota English and Spanish, swings creak-
ingly above his head. Outside the dark
ness is pierced by long shafts of colored
light that stream through the stained
windows of the Jewish temple and by
the pale glimmer of a lamp in the street
car waiting at switch.
Houston is an anomaly, even In Tex
as, for you hear no grumbling about
taxes. They are patient people. evil
IDENTITY, and an energetic and progress
sive one as well. Buildings are being
put up on every side, streets are being
graded and paved, and sewers and curb
ings are being put down. So the city
grows and spreads herself in territory,
and she already covers a vast space.
This is the principal railroad center