San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-04-23
AUSTIN LETTER.
AUSTIN, Tex, April %, 1892

AUSTIN, Tex, April %, 1892.
Yesterday was San Jacinto day and
the town was vacated. Every indi.
vidual who could possibly do so went
to the country on q picnic. Nearly all
places of business were closed and
not q single bank was open.
The streets were as quiet as very
country village and even quieter than
on Sundays.
The firemen held their annual pic
mic at Hyde Park, the terminus of the
electric railway, and the short dis.
lance from town added to the attrac-
tiveness of the place and occasion
drew great crow de throughout the
whole day.
A great many went over to San An
tOnio and san Marcos on the early
train, the majority of them returning
last night. Every body reports hav-
ing had glorious time in
the country and report the
country never prettier. Certainly q
more delightful day than yesterday
could not have been found in the
whole 365.
The capitol was Ion essme place
yesterday; what with all the depart
ments closed, the only sound that,
broke the heavy quiet of the old
building was the busy chipping of the
little swallows that in hundreds and
thousands are building their ugly
little nests in the classic corners and
crevices of our great state house.
Gov. Hogg made his opening speech
of the campaign at Wills Point yes
terday. The selection of this location
as q starting point was no doubt with
y purpose, as that is well known to be
Senator Kearby's stronghold and in q
Hogg district. The Governor went
well fixed for the fray, no dOubt fuil
to OVERLOOKING with hypocritical
ideas and San Jacinto patriotism.
His main gag though for catching
Farmers Alliance suckers and gran
gers generally, lie his new straw hat,
big white and commodious, such as
farmers wear in the hot summer sun,
aud appearing as il you might find
hayseeds clinging to the straws of
which IL ls made, and looking like an
old fashioned bee hive above his big
fat face. No, the hat does not be-
come the governor, but IL serves to
catch suckers, and that is of course
the one idea ia the unhappy life Of .
politician. He thinks to please the
ungainly son of toll he must descend
to their level and If possible make
himself appear as ridiculously rustic
as they do. But this lie great mis-
take. The country man admires and
respects his city contemporary who
appears to q better advantage
than he, and he is quick to
see the patent hypocricy of the
selfishly diplomatic politician. He 10
proud to be seen with we'll dressed
man, though he would never ADMIT it
In the world, and If questioned as to
opinion would no DOUBT speak of his
we'll dressed brother contemptiously
as dude, though heartily wishing
that clrcums tances We're such as to
enable him to appear half 30 well
himself. But all this may not apply
to governors and Hogg may corrsli
many vote by going around among
the boys In his big straw hat.
Farmer Shaw, of Dallas, speaks at
the court house tomorrow night. 1t
has been suggested that the floor of
the room be spread with straw and
that instead of electric lights, tallow
candles be substituted, apropOs of
this distinguished friend of the
muchly prosecuted farmer.
The trial Of Purnell, the crazy MUIR
derer of the superintendent of the
lunatic asylum was rather interest
ing. The county attorney tried to
make him out crazy, and did succeed
in SO doing to the satisfaction of the
court, but Purnell himself wanted to
be hung, because, as he said, he de-
served TO be, inasmueh as he was as
cane as any man and killed the super
tntendent simply because he wanted
revenge for cruelties he had suffered
at this officers hands. Those who
witnessed the trial and heard the
evidence say that Purnell showed q
far clearer head and deeper knowledge
Of law than did the able attor-
new for the state. Purnell says he
had rather be hung any time than
spend the rest of his days In an
asylum. He will hardly be confined
here at Austin, but The superin tendent
of the asylum at San Antonio, il is
said. states that he will resign before
he admits him to his institution, as
the murdered doctor was an intimate
friend of his.
II the Colorado river will just con-
tinue the even tenor of it's way for an.
other week and not bring down one
of its sudden rises, the foundation of
the great dam will have been COM
pletely laid across the river and the
most difficult part of the whole work
will have been finished. T. J. G.