The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1889-08-24
". BUCHANAN, Manager and Proprietor.
.OLIVER SUDDEN"
Sand. the Sentinel two More Humorous
and Well Written Letters.



Eplroa SENTINEL From the land o
ths setting sun l greet you! The lane
of the Lone Star, and the Alamo and
the wide-horned TexasSteer! The lane
ot the cowboy and the cayote,-of the
horned frog and the pelon dog, and the
bucking mustang and Mexican greaser
and chilli con c0rne and tamales aud
Tom Ochiltree and a great many othel
articles too numerous to mention usual;
found in first-class country store. Nc
trouble to show goods!
In the history OF Texas written by ole
Ex-Governor Roberts, the cold Alcade,
las the Texans call him) that famous
statesman and author leads off with the
following startling proposition
"When settled at Nacogdoches it was
the centre of the surrounding country
Strange as it may appear no critic has
ever yet had the temerity to question
the correctness or truthfuness OF
the above. With this ilustrious
example before me, l therefore feel
no hesitancy in asserting that San Anto>
MIA is the centre OF the surrounding
country. ] may be in error in making
this statement, but | don't think I am.
One of the first Irregularities that at
tracted my attention here is the fact
that the sun will rise in the South. And
with eqal obstinacy it persists in setting
in the North. l can't account for this
singular circumstance, unless it may be
4 due to the fact that have changed my
! latitude and liquor. The old North star
that never did go back. on me before
shines steadily every night. right square
4 in the East. / am giving myself no con-
cern whatever on this account. for this
is Texas, and I've got nothing to do with
Texas. complication, and then besides
have an abiding iaith that when l get
back to Mississippi I shall fad all these
luminaries serenely doing business at the
same old stand. >,
The greatest object of interest to all
visitors to SIN Antonla is, of course the
Alamo. / had heard of the Alamo since
my boyhood, and many a time and oft
has nv blood thrilled and my digestion
been disturbed by hearing and reading
of the glorious deeds of the famous firm
Of Bowie, Crockett, & Co., I presume it is
hardly necessary for me to state that this
! Hrm has gone out of business. perma-
untlv. They did wholesale business
however, the day of their dissolution.
The house where they closed their final
account is an old stone Church, known
as the Alamo.
Alamo is Spanish for cottonwood.
There are several more OF these old
missions as they are termed. in the
vicinity of San Antonia. They were
built by Spanish Priests, one hundred
and fifty years ago. The Alamo was
built in a grove OF cottonwoods, hence
its name. Ifyou don't believe this you
can come out here and see the cotton
wood for youselt still standing. The
walls of the Alamo are of stone. about
four feet in thickness The roof is arch
ed, and of the same material. The floor
is also tireproof and was there at hand,
or under foot, when the architects first
began to build. 1t is built on plan
similar to Ferguson's livery stable. Two
story in the centre and single story
wing on either side. The apertures fo'
windows have TO glass in them. Moth
ing but iron bars, which gives it sort
of iail-like appearance. The interior is
gloomy enough. There is only one
door in front, in the centre. The main
central room was used as chapel. On
either hand, as you enter, small room
is cut off, in the winga. These rooms
were used by the Priests as cloisters
where they did their alleged praying
In the left hand OF these rooms is where
Bowie is said to have been She
down, on a sick bed, after the Mexican
gainad possession OF the building. Jus'
within the FROM door is where Crockett
is said to have fallen. The general as
pect of the building is dark and gloomy
and uninviting. hardly know why
but I was disappointed with the Alamo
1t is now the praperty of the State, ant
is kept in charge by Texas veteran
who looks for all the world to me like
veteran policeman. There is absoiutel
nothing of interest in or about the Alan
except the building itself, Not q relic
any character or description. Not can
non or muskei, not even II musket bal
Nothing but the bare old walls. In
keeper seems to be impressed with the tea
that every stranger who comes ther
to try to steal the old building, and car
nv it away, as there is nothing OIL cart
there 10 show them or interest then
7 suppose it is natural for him to thin
thew must all be ac,uated by some sini'
ter motive. ,
This section has recently been blessa
with fine rains which were badly necde'
and very large Texas cotton crop i,
now assured. some estimetes place u
crop ofthis State at 1900, 900 bales tn
wear, but | think that little too altit'
dinous. OLlVER SUDDEN
SAN ANroN1A, TEXAS, Aug. 10, 1889
EDITOR S SENT1N MEL San Antonia h
several "Plazas," SO called. In Missi
sippi or Tennessee we would call the
"Piaz4s" squares. / don't know tn
,hey are ge eometrically square, Tor SOL
Of The sides may be longer than y
Others, aud then vice versa, some =
sides may be shorter than others.
Plaza Is Spanish for "place," and t
plazas are simply open places or space
During the day they are filled wi
wagons, and horses and so forth and
6fth. but when the day begins % wal
and The shadows are heightened 'abo