The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-01-03
TALK FROM TEXAS.
An Abbeville Man Writes Back from
the Lone Stnr, and Tells Some.
thing of the Grand Old State.

Brownwood, Tex, Dec. 26. 1893.
Editor Press and Banner: ,,.
This being Christmas, the students OF The
Daniel Baker College have the entire week for
recreation. Being alone, am little retro.
spective. and thinking perhaps The readers OF
the Press and Banner would like to know
Of Texas, I have concluded TO write up or
you may think 1t write down" before get
through, of Brown wood, Tex.
paint me a. / am" was the famous express
ion Dr. John Trunbu!l. TO the writer who was
| taking notes preparatory to writing the LIE
of that grand old patriot OF the revolutionary
period.
guide In giving TO you, dear readers, pen
picture OF this place. The boys out here
sometimes talk about painting town red,
| but In this case II will be black painting.
In q letterto the Atlanta Constitution, the
we'll known writer, Bill Arp, painted this
town in flying colors, so to speak, now do
not mean to accuse Mr.. Arp OF mtsrepresenta-
different standpoint, consequently be obtain
ed shade, color, that Is Impossible for me
TO obtain from my standpoint or view.
There ~ great difference In the standpoint
of view between the man who goes 10 place
as the guest OF the city and the man who goes
to hunt job, or even one, who like myself,
goes as q student.
The former is generally placed In fine
chariot drawn by good team Of match horses
and Is drlved to the most beautiful parks and
other places OF the city. He Is interviewed
|
boomers OF ever description, whU leave the
Impression on the visitors mind that they
are doing business on an extensive scale and
that their business Is not simply to reap b
fortune, but OF a more philanthropic nature,
desire to give every man q home and good
paying occupation. They flourish some bills.
Jingle some keys and little silver IN their
pockets and assume an air and speech that
| almost ladeps the atmosphere with the fra
GRANGE OF untold riches. Just as the fragrance
OF the roses ladens the atmosphere OF May
| to pluck the rose, he is saved the trouble by
his host. Consequently he never comes In
contact with the thorns.
AS to the man who Is hunting job. shall
allow you TO imagine how disappointed and
with what chagrln he looks when told that
there Is from ten to twenty ahead OF him and
after all the place is not such good paying
one as he had heard, read and dreamed Of
always keep an eye open to business, or try
to do so. and II there Is q position going beg
cling In this town, you cant IND anybody
who knows anything about IT, am lnforfn-
cd that there are ten men 10 every position
offered.
Brownwood has population OF about 3,OO0; ;
has a coteDn compress and some oil wells
There has been plenty OF natural gass and OIL
discoveries here. Those who like the taste OF
oil will find the we'll water Of Brownwood
most delightful To drink some nice res
fey good %e
sdSsn,age sIssts a in Gn that, l. If fellow gets tpsy
turay down town, he would never ind the
way out home n the night to abuse his poor
wife and children; There are re- some pm goepd % IN IN
and Howard Payne Colleges are both good
schools.
the social life Of this place, but shall r.,
fraln from 80 doing on the GROUNDS tnat
haven't the time.
The growth and.development OF town de-
pends TO q certain degree, on the development
and the resources Of the country that sur
rounds 1t.
For this reason shall turn my attention
to the country that surrounds Browuwood:
The soil is a red clay that IL very productive
ever W the case. This part Of the country is
subject 10 very dry weather. The farmers tell
me that they con get one crop year out OF
every three, and that IL takes all they can
make in favorable year to tide them over
the adverse years. This year being one OF
the latter, there was very little OF anything
produced.
pleasure OF being blinded and nearly blown
away by q sandsrorm or nearly frozen TO
death In uorther, then come TO West Texas,
where you can have them served iresh with.
out previous notice or extra preparation, some
afternoon on bright day you would zee the
northern and western skies grow suddenly
dark, then there would be rush, a roar and
such sight that would make you weak in
guess you would lake u storm pit, perchance
you were a few minutes late In reaching
place OF safety, yon would have an appear.
ance that would frishten your nelghbors. and
an experience that would give you good
theme tor q story entitled something life the
following:
"a hair. breadth escape" "a horrible ex-
perience in a sind Storm" "A fearful sight,"
But you would not start to writing iinmedi-
ately afterwards, at least not until you have
digested some OF the sand, cleared your eyes.
you might have q discl nation 10 refer TO the
matter until your nervous system becomes
| more settled.
A merry Christmas to you.