San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-01-28

fine effort Of the bishop. It is un
questionably the most complete and
finished description Of the springs
and their environs which has yet up
peared. It was written by Mrs. Ma
ry @. Billings, who with her husband
Rev. James o. Billings, Universalisi
minister, spent several days lastsprine
in our town, and first appeared in th'
Christian Leader, Of Boston:
San Marcos is a charming town, or rather
village near background of hills, the latte
dotted here aud there with pretty cottages
and moro ambitious structures, which w
at tho North would call ''villas."
This is county seat and can boast of |
fine courthouse built of stone, symmetrica
in proportion and crowned with handsome
dome. II il surrounded by plaza, ol
square around which tho business of the
place centres. This is principally with tht
ranchmen and farmers, who come in here
for their supplies, and to ship their corn ant
cotton on the International road, which
passes through here north and south.
There are two banks, several mills, on ioe
factory which supplies the town with this
luxury, and one of the finest natural water
privileges to be found in the country. All
that il needed is capital and energy to devel-
op this delightfully."- situated town of San
Marcos into thriving and wealthy city,
THE SAN MARCOS RIVER.
is one of the grand and wonderful attrac
tions of the place. II it were advertised and
well known abroad it would attract hun.
dreds of people to make u nearer acquain-
tance with its beauties. And first 1t is util.
lied to supply the town, being brought
from reservoir and distributed IN pipes
through the main streets. Purer, sweetei
water was never drank.
We took holiday. Starting for long
walk of more than q mile, up to the head oil
the river, which broadening out into min
iature lake flows from springs, issuing be.
meath the hills. Onward we rambled over
the embowered footpath at the base of the
hills. Sometimes dowr on the brink OF the
river, and then following track over some
rocky steep, from which, peeping through
the tangle of vines and shrubbery, we
caught glimpses of the lovely clear water be.
low. We Chamber down the rocks, and
gather long tresses OF Spanish mass droop-
ing in profusion from the overhanging
trees; we find lovely yellow and scarlet
beans strewn on the ground, which prove to
be seeds of the southern laurel, shrub sim
liar to one of the same name growing In
New England. but bearing different bios.
som, those of the southern species being OF
two colors. And such lovely wild flowers
peeping out at us all along the way, from
the golden lantana Cultivated as q house
81, nd hp
North) to tho wee blue forget-me-nots. We
see great bunohes of prickly-pear cactus;
one or two Spanish daggers-we moan moth
ing more dangerous than plant by that
name called by us tho yucca" often grow
ing in Texas to gigantic size In Con
zales we noticed two of them growing like
tropical trees with scaly boles, bare, except
ing at the top where they were each crown
ed with great cluster of sword bladed
leaves piercing straight upward.
Onward we saunter, with that happy feel
ing of abandon that makes holiday trip so
ENJOYABLE. Now we descend to the rivers
brink; we hear what seems to be the loud
pipe Of birds note. We listen, and walk
softly, watching with interest the rocky
pool, where the flags and lilly pads make
good hiding places for aquatic birds; when
10! we hear stir, a plunge and then chuck,
and Mr.. Frog-an immense fellows out
of sight! Everything is on a largo scale in
Texas, even to these green-coated gentry OF
the marshy pools We toss bit of grape
vine into the crystal expanse, watching the
CLASSY ripples circle out and out, moralizing
in thought for an instant on the analogy it
bears to the effect of influence in the world
of mind, when we discover q fish darting up
to inspect the strange objectl Like flash
another and another swim swiftly and grace
fully along, until we count five. We hold
our breath lest we frighten them away, but
in another moment they disappear. No
farther coaxing can induce them to show
themselves again.
Now we come to tho mountain springs
that bubble out from below tho rocks clear
and sparkling, while the river expands into
n lake. smooth and CLASSY, with its islands
of water-cresses and lily-pads, one kind of
the latter being of oblong shape, cut square
at the ends and looking as il crimped by q
machine. This plant is peculiar in its
growth, its roots being on the surface of
the water, their fibres stretching from plant
to plant, leading floating life, unless en-
tangled with stationary vegetation.
THE BEAUTIES OF THE UNDERWORLD.
Through the kindness of friends We were
treated to the most charming boat ride down
this river that it has ever been our good for
tune to enjoy. Language fails to describe
it fully. 1t can only be thoroughly appre-
ciated by actual experience. Little islands
of floating vegetation here and there;
springs bubbling out from under the hill.
side rocks, which tower up steep from the
brink on one side, while on the other there
lla.,u taA
fields. The water is clear and Of such re-
markable purity that iu gliding along its
CLASSY surface everything is visible on the
bottom to the depth of thirty feetl And
such revelation Of tho beauties Of this un-
derworldl II exceeds anything that our
imagination could picture! II was as il We
were floating over fairy land; a new
strange and enchanting region, far removed
from this everyday world, in which we as
prosy mortals live! Every rock OF inequali-
ty Of surface down in those depths Of crys-
talline was covered with such growtbs Of
aquatic vegetation as we had never dreamed
Of before, The varieties Of shades and col
ors were actually bewilderingi There we're
great mats Of yariegated foliage. sweeping
up towards the surface, each cluster Of
leaves as brightly tinted and beautiful as
blossoms. There were large patches Of
mos, dazzling in their vivid colors. Ex-
quisite plumy ferns, and curious vegetable
groTths; long cones Of strange plants, 70
us, reaching up towards the light, somewhat
resembling certain species Of the ractus;
and ever and again a cleaning down there
Of superb tints that would excite an artist
20 q pitch Of distractiOn in attempting TO
paint them. All tins beauty of vegetation
ras enhanced By VIA; appeared 70 Be shin
ing gens-vee points Of hrilliEncy spark-
ling al thro1gh the moss-oArpet Of the
rocks. There wsrs snail snail shellS, With
cleaning points Of brightness, strsEn law
A. II .fo-,s tfss sv-r,.~.as a auustfe w.