San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-07-10
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS
NO. 3.
The Picnic on the San Juan--The
Delightful Society to be Met
i'm Monterey--Fourth of
July and the Ameri-
can Residents


can Residents.
ToPo CHICO SPRINGS, July 6.
Daily LIGHT.
My last letter was from Monterey,
and 1 arrived here by street car the
following day. This line is a great
convenience, as one can make connec-
tions with the depot to take any train
and can go into the city to spend an
hour or two, returning at will. The
house is full, the largest contingent
being from San Antonio; among them
are Mr.. and Mrs. Mayfield, the Misses
Dora, Allie and Carrie Mayfield
Mr.. Mayfield, Jr., and Master May
field, the Misses Hepgen, Mr.. Burns
and q number of other ladies and
gentlemen whose names have not
yet learned. Every body is necessari-
ly very social for the baths are the
only amusement We nave. They are
short distance from the house and
you can wash and drink as often as
you please. Everybody has their
own experience, as the hot mineral
water affects in various ways. The
general feeling when one energies is
extreme weakness and very shaky
legs. 1t is necessary to sit in the
outer room until one is sufficiently
cooled to prevent the possibility of
chilling after such a drenching of
heat and perspiration. Afterwards a
sense of peace and good will and ut
ter disincIination for anything but
rest pervades the inner man and wO-
man. TOpo Is surrounded by noun
tains on all sides and the most enter
prising of the guests who can secure
burros proceed to climb. Very de-
ceptive are the distances, howev, r. in
this clear atmosphere The uniniti-
ated one starts out with the firm in
tention to reach the foot of the noun
tain in about ten or fifteen minutes
and reach the top in about half an
hour. Nearly every mountain is
from eight to ten miles away.
Every body sleeps with their
doors wide open, as it seems
there are no thieves to break through
and steal. A blanket becomes nee
essary during the night. The sun
does not appear to be any less fierce
here than in Texas, but the air is
cool and bracing. The waters are
entirely free from the nasty odor and
taste of most mineral springs, they
are just as clear as crystal and just
both feet at time. One pool is cool
sulphur water, right in the midst OF
the boiling springs. On the Fourth
there was an excursion on the Next
can gulf road to the San Juan river, 80
miles south Of Monterey. 1t was q
private affair gotten up by patriotic
Americans in honor of the day. Their
Mexican friends were invited and al
together about $50 people moved out
in one of the handsome new cars of
that road at 5 p. m. A pavilion in a
beautiful grove, near the banks of the
river was used for dancing. was
quite struck with the great friendli-
ness and warm social intercourse
which exists between the native fam
lilies and the American residents.
There is a mutual knowledge of Eng
lish and Spanish; indeed, there Is
scarcely family who does not speak
excellent English. They seem. these
gracious and warm hearted people,
to have the greatest admira-
ton for the Americans and speak
with great delight of their visits
to the United States or the prospect
of such. 1t would be an impossibility
for a Spaniard to speak discourte-
GUS word, or fail in the smallest trifle
of courtesy to any human being, but
| to Americans or English in particu-
lar, they give the friendliest, most
| smiling welcome that ever warmed
the heart of a stranger in strange
I land. One family there is here, fiom
Madrid, whose daughters are the
fairest type of highbred Spanish
beauty, being educated in the princi-
| pal cities of Europe and in London,
they speak several languages flu
emily. And they are only sew
eral of many most beautiful
and charming women of this
strange and fascinating country.
They have all the vivacity which is
supposed to be the peculiar property
OF Americans, with, be it confessed,
infinitely more grace. A thousand
little gracious ways, and almost un-
spoken courtesies, which are q reva'
lation to a foreigner. We Angie
Saxons may call 1t mere "red tape"
superficility and palaver If we will,
but these trifles light as air, smooth
the wheels all the same, and this
polish of theirs is laid on in 80 kind
, ly way, and generations of custom
J have made if their very nature, thai
there is perhaps tar more genuine
!. ness about 1t than we think. You
e correspondent was most kindly In
vited Dy Messrs Grace and Copelan
the latter Gen. Passenger agent o
the Mexican Gulf road, the othe
u gentleman's official position