San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-02-18
Notes OF COrrespondence--.A Whole
some Letter.

We resume our series Of extracts
relating 10 pertinent topics under the
above head, A teacher in Michigan
who received copy Of the FREE Pass
of Jan, 2S, writes AZ follows
] thank you for the sample copy OF
your paper am glad to SEQ ono 80
outspoken. II seems to have views
and opinions Of its own, and is not
afraid to speak out in meeting, even
in Texas
Another correspondent thus writes
us from Iowa:
Imust say your last FREE Press is
brimfnl OF good reading. Opposition
TO n good cause seems sometimes to
advance it; and enemies are TINS
sometimes of greater service than
friends.
The same writer says:
have been looking for some more
of Bessie Smiths poetry. 1t is tho
best / see from any source, Who is
she--a native of Texas II so, the
state may well be proud of her.
"Bessie is n native of sold Kahn
tuck and so only an adopted daugh-
ter of Texas, but certainly none the
worse for that.
We follow the above notes with
the full text of O communication writ
ten for our columns, which we entitle
A WHOLESOME LETTER.
Ed. FREE Press Il am surprised
and grievously panied to know of the
recent outrage against you, as the ed
itor Of II public journal. Are We
protesting to DO civilized, to say
nothing Of belonging to an enlight-
ened republic--going back to u state
of savagery, that such brutal and
cowardiy attack could be made upon
n citizen of one of Texas most lovely
towns; and in the CRAFTSMANSHIP
too, when we celebrate the birth OF
Him who came bringing "peace and
good will to mankind =? Shame up.
on it
As you know, 1 came from the
North less than one year since, for
the purpose of making my home in
this grand new state, believing that
while there would be much which
might be crude, and much also in a
condition of less progression than in
our older commemorative, l was pre-
pared to find breadth of thought and
ambition commensurate with the
great expanse of territory and the
grand opportunities opening out from
the same. | WAS informed that there
would be priyations in many places of
those comforts which are considered
necessities in our old states-but l
well remember the closing words of a
friend--a distinguished lady at the
East-who knew of what she was
telling: "You will love those dear,
warm hearted people. y Her words
were prophetic. In travelling thro'
counties, sharing the hos
pitality of many Texan families, I
have never had occasion to reverse
the endorsement of this friend. On
the cars, everywhere in my travels, /
have met with nothing but courtesy,
from the toughest cowboy to the
most polished gentleman. And yet,
what shall say--what can be said
Of that civilization which permits such
, dastardly act in an enlightened
without merited obloquy
and deserved punishment!
Why, Mr.. Editor, this has given
my good opinion of Texas (Which I
nave been praising to my northern
,riends) such shock, that | don't
feel like recommending it any more
rs n desirable state iuto which to en-
CRATE. On the contrary, I question
whether it were not better to eluigrate
rom it to some other where public
journalist, honestly expressing himself
n favor of law, order and temperance
hose things which make for the pros
,erty, peace and happiness of peo-
Die or state--ls not liable to out
age, and in danger of losing his life
l have been highly pleased with
he manly independence of your ex- ,
ellent paper, and frequently send
opies of it North to those whom I
AVE wished to be favorably impressed
With Texas. Need | add, that hare
'ot felt any call to send it, latteriy,
or very shame to have intelligent, {
christian people see that such high
landed wrong has been permitted
hall | say as a reward for fidelity
o high standard Of duty, and for
iiicient management of Il more than s
verage of excellence in weekly {
lurnal
With an emphatic protest against '
be ptrpetratiOn of this wrong, in the
lu5e of temperance and order,
Respectfully. I
Mrs. NJ G. BILLINGS.
Hico, Tex, Jan. 1856.
1t will be noticed that the above
as written last month. Owing to q
mr. personal relations to the casa II