The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-09-13
A Southern Watering Place.
Especial Correspondence

GALVESTON, Aug. 22.-Galveston is the
fashionable watering place of Texas. In
decd, it draws from the whole southwest
1t has many unique features The CITY is
situated on ON island about three miles
from the mainland and appears to be about
1875 inches above sea level. The altitude.
however, Is the only low thing about the
town. Provisions, dry goods and the nntes
In poker are reported very high. Enter
tainment Is high, I know, but don't know
whether it is the cost of provisions or of
poker that runs the price up.
However, visit to Galveston is worth
all you pay for it. The streets nre so Glenn
the breeze, from whatever direction. is so
salt and fresh, the bathing so invigoratino.
that one feels sure of health and buoyancy
The air Is full of the sound of laughter and
music and Is laden with the perfume of
flowers. The enjoylnentso of se1nitropical
watering place are here in intense degree.
Galveston is known as the Oleander CITY.
Hedges of this beautiful shrub run up and
down the principal streets and inc!ose the
yards, making gorgeous stripes of color
across the town aud cloying the atmos-
phere with their heavy perfume.
Galveston belongs to that long list Bill
Nyo has made OF tho very richest towns of
their size In the United States. IL has manv
The simple southern style of architecture
OF square houses with the galleries sun
ported and ornamented by heavy pillars Is
almost universal; the humblest cottage
has row OF pillars, no matter how plain.
whlle the lordly mansion revels in hi1hlv
wrought and artistically arranged classic
types. The postoffice building and some
of the school buildings are among the
finest public buildings of the south. The
magnificent school buildings are nonu
ments of private munificence, having been
presented to the city by some of the old
citizens who have grown rich and power
full here.
But tho chief glory of Galveston is her
unf1valed beach. For thirty miles or more.
within foot or two Of the tapping waves
OF the gulf, one may drive around the is-
land on road that Is perfect in smooth
ness and 'spring." with the salt sea air
tanning the face and stirring the blood.
and with picturesque scenery charming
the eye
On the beach huge hotel hes been
built, and on its broad verandas and on
the velvety lawns that surround It every
prominent Texan-with his cousins and
his aunts and other female relatives-may
DC found sooner or later through the sum-
mer. On the lawn In front OF the hotel a
noted orchestra gives nightly concerts
Near at hand are the ball grounds, gar
dens and parks, end over the edge OF the
water stones throw away is monster
public bathhouse that has nothing to
hcommend It save that it opposes remark
ably few barriers between the would be
rather and the sea- Up and down for
many miles along the beach private bath.
houses are numerous. The water is cold
enough TO cheer. but not to give You the
sshivering jimjams, while the slope of tho
bottom Is 30 gradual that one can be sure
OF any given depth. and accidents are nl-
most impossible Certainly the Oleander
fame will increase as the days go by.
LEONARD LENNON