San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-06-23
AUSTIN LETTER.
AUSTIN, Tex, June 81, 1899.

ASoNlNi IoA., june Il, loo1.
To the San Antonio LIGHT.
Hot-why that is not the word. tt
has been absolutely scorching in
Austin for over week, and there is
no sign of it's getting any cooler, in
fact as signs 20 1t lie every day grow
ing hotter. Austin never puts on
what might be termed q real lively
appearance and sometimes now dur.
ing the heat of the day things look
absolutely dead. Socially, though,
she is all right and business men say
that trade Is above the average for
this time of the year. The trouble 10
the excessive heat which makes people
stay indoors as much rs possible,
and therefore the streets appear va
can't and uninteresting. Those who
can are beginning to get away to the
north, but the majority will not 60
before July, as with the greater num-
Der the sooner of the sooner they
must return, and to be compelled to
come back the middle of August, for
instance, would not be pleasant.
The young people are making the
best of these delightful nights and
boatrides on the lake and spins
around the electric car belt are popu-
lar diversions.
Last week was the state university
commencement and 1t was the Attrac-
ton of all others; beginning with the
bacalaureate sermon on Sunday and
ending with the ball In the senate
chamber on Wednesday night. Many
visitors were in town during these
exercises, relatives of the students
and dozens Of the alumni. Fine fell
lows, these, who have been forced to
listen to "the passionless voice of
stern reality" and had many Of their
sharp corners and self conceit
knocked Oft by rough contact with
the cruel world. Two old room mates,
graduates of 'S9, met in the great a..
sembly hal, AN acquisition since their
day. After some pleasant references
to old times generally, they fell to
discussing the whereabouts Of some
of their old associates. A few CT them
were present, but many were far
away. OFFS who had boarded togeth-
or In 1913, only these two were present.
But what of the other 6? Why, they
were all married, and even one of
these two was q benedict, and had
been for IL months and more.
Following uron the heels of com.
mencement aud taking up the balance
of the week, came "The State Elocu-
tionary and Oratical Contest" under
the auspices Of the ladies of the
Worlds fair. The proceedings were
held in the Representative hall and
good crowds went each night. The
admission fee was fifty cents. On
each occasion ten contestants spoke.
some rare talent was evidenced and
every section of the state was repre-.
sented. The medals awarded were
handsome and very expensive. These
were given as first prizes. The second
prizes were trip to the Worlds fair
and all expenses paid. The exercises
were highly interesting and enlight-
ening.
Work on the dam progresses finely
now and that structure is assuming
interesting proportions. The river
has been completely .spanned and
conquered and in some places the
walls are nearly the whole height of
go feet. A beautiful lake extends
many miles up the river and there
are dozens of trim boats already float.
ing upon its smooth surface,
some half dozeu launches and tug
lend q lively spirit to the scene and
they steam up and down the lake
generally crowded with passengers.
The dummy from the Avenue to the
dam now runs far into the night.
Everything, in short, is lovely, but 1t
will be some months before the work
is entirely completed. Il. j. Y.