San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-09-27
Texas Scenery.


partly overshadowed by them, the
little town pursues its daily avoca-
tion in a quiet way. Leading out
from the square surrounding the
Hays county court house the neat
streets lead alongside or creep up
the hills, where fragrant cedars
and ancient oaks tend to hide and
cool those modest human habita-
tions.
1t is happy people that dwell
here, cultured and temperate in all
things. The vice and poverty &C
companying the habit of strong
drink is unknown in the prosper
Gus village and an unbroken calm,
! like a blessing from above, rests
over its inhabitants, and yet, the
town is not asleep, although sur
rounded by conditions inducive to
dreaming, for compared to other
towns of its size and opportunities
it's growth is regular and I'M
interrupted, while its municipal af-
fairs are conducted so as to serve a
model for many of it's sisters.
Near this model Texas town,
ever smiling under the clear south
ern sky, the San Marcos river is
sues, a murmuring giant from out
the rock. A wonderful stream Of
living waters journeying forth I'M
ceasingly from its unknown depth,
as though a Moses of old, to deliv-
er his children from the periodical
drouths of the land, had COM
manded the rock and performed a
miracle to remain a sign and Won
der for the generations to come.
The hand of man could not let
the river remain undisturbed in
its self.made bed, but by building
a dam about half mile below the
springs, the river forms mag
nificent lake, which, protected by
the mountains on one side and by
forest trees festooned with the
bearded Tillandsia on the other, lies
like mirror in the valley to image
the passing clouds and the green
banks. Slowly the small craft of
the boatman leaves the shore to
seek its way between smooth leaved
water ivy, feather-foil and peppery
crosses, until it enters the channel
Of the lake, when the boat glides
easily across the surface, past float
ing water cabbage, with their vel
vet leaves, and water lilies, which,
as they receive the ripple of the
oars, nod their heads in salute.
Leaning over the sides Of the
boat l gaze into the depth below
Such small craft entrusted to the
care of human lives above an ap-
parently fathomless deep! For
the waters, though as clear as crys-
tai, conceal depth as dark as the
blacklist night. Here and there,
however, is rising in the bottom of
the lake, bringing to view white
limestone rock with a peculiar
blush tint, caused by the depth
Of the water, while snails and
other aquatic beings crawl over
its surface directly under the
watching eyes of fish both large
and small, that are gazing from
among growing weeds, and darting
out from their hiding places, re-
veal their. silvery sides to the gaZ-
ing eyes above them. Held firmly
in place by the roots of floating
islands are the boats Of fishermen
who have come here from noisier
places OF life to find the balm Of
Giliead in the quiet and shadow of
PUSHES, Willing away the hours in
wait for the gamy trout, which
latter break the monotony now
and then by giving a sudden jerk
to the line, then to be landed by
the happy fisherman, who as night
approaches seeks his way home
ward :more contented with the
gift of life.
At last our boat arrives at the
spring; we have partaken OF the
Godgiven fountain and following
a new course we seek our
way slowly between tall rushes
and beautiful hooks and windings
Of bayou which has been filled by
the backwaters from the lake.
Gradually night has set in. So
dreamily the hours slipped by that
the shadows of night stole almost
unnoticed over the narrow passage
of the lagoon, above which we see
in all its grandeur the starspangled
sky.
What a wonderful sight the
Texas sky! How silent the night !!
How magnificent the perspective q!
No where on Gods wide earth is it's
beauty brought out in so majestic
nh fro,,,