San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-07-03
SAN MARCOS RIVER SPRINGS.
The Best Detailed Description

The Best Detailed Description.
We have heretofore published the
article of Bishop Doggett as the best
brief description of our river springs,
and the following by Boston lady,
Mrs. Mary O. Billings, now of Hico,
Hamilton county, Texas, wife of Rev.
James Billings, the Universalist min
!stor of the latter place, we have also
published as the best more full and
complete description. She visited
this place in the spring of 1885, and
her article was written for tho
Christian Leader. Boston. 1t gives
graphic and faithful picture of the
springs and their surroundings, as
seen both from their shores and from
boating over their surface. For the
benefit of persons wishing 10 send
copies abroad, we republish the arti-
Gle below. We can also supply a
few copies of Bishop Doggett's de-
scription,-Ep. FREE Press.
We took holiday. Starting for a
long walk of more than mile, up to
the head of the river, which broaden
ing out into miniature lake flows
from springsy.issulng from beneath
the hills. Onward we rambled over
the embowered footpath at the base
of the hills. Sometimes down on the
brink of the river, and then follow
ing u track over some rocky steep,
from which, peeplng through the tan
gle of vines and shrubbery,we caught
glimpses of the lovely clear water
below. We Chamber down the rocks
and gather loug tresses OF Spanish
moss dropping In profusion from the
overhunging 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 diff.
ferent blossom. those of the southern
species being of two colors. And
such lovely wild flowers peeping out
: at us all along the way, from the gold
| en- lantana Cultivated as house and
summer garden plant with us at the
!. North) to the wee blue forget-me
nots. We see great punches of the
prickly-pear cactus; one or two Span
r ish daggers-we mean nothing more
| dangerous than a plant by that name
, called by us the "yucca,' often grow
ing in Texas to gigantic size. In
Gonzales we noticed two of thom
growing like tropical trees with scaly
boles, bare except at the top, where
they are crowned with great cluster
of sword -bladed leayes piercing
straight upward.
Onward we saunter, with that hap
py feeling of abandon that makes
holiday trip so enjoyable. Now We
descend to the rivers brink; we heai
what seems to be the loud pipe of d
birds note. We listen, and walk
slowly, watching with interest the
rocky pool, whore the flags and lily
pads make good hiding places for
aquatic birds; when 10! we hear STIR
q plunge and then chuck, and Mr..
Frog-an immense fellows out of
sight! Everything is on a large scale
in Texas, even to these green coated
gentry of the marshy pools. We toss
a bit of grapevine into the crystal ex-
panse, 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
a fish darting mp to inspect the
strange object! Like flash another
and another swim swiftly and grace
fully along until we count five. We
hold our breath lest we rrighten them
away, but in another moment they
disappear. No farther coaxing can
induce them to show themselves
again.
Now we come to the mountain
springs that bubble out from beneath
the rocks clear and sparkling, while
the river expands into lake, smooth
and CLASSY, with its islands of water
crosses and lily-pads, one kind OF the
latter being of an oblong shape, cut
square at the ends and looking as if
crimped by a machine. This plant
is peculiar in its growth, its roots
being on the surface OF the water,
their fibers stretching from plant to
plant, leading q floating life, unless
entangled in stationary vegetation.
TIE BEAUTIES OF THE UNDERWORLD.
Through the kindness Of friends
we were treated to the most charm
ing boat ride that il has ever been
our good fortune to enjoy. Ian
guage fails to describe It fully. 1t
can only be thoroughly appreciated
by actual experience. Little islands
Of floating vegetation here and there;
springs bubbling out from under the
hill side rocks, which tower mp steep
from the brink on one side, while on
the other there are stretches Of cult
waited gardens and fields. The water
IL clear and OF such remarkable puri-