Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-03-16
San Antonio, Texas.
Feb. 25. 1897.

Feb. 25, 1897.
Here we are on the border of Mexico,
and quaint old town it is. Such a
conglomeration of people never saw.
Americans, Negroes, Mexicans, and
Jews, all mixed together. The Mexi-
can men look like our Indians, only
more effiminate; the women are beau
tiful, with dark hair and eyes, and
such pretty accent when they speak
English. l am quite in love with the
town. The houses are nearly all but
one story high and plastered outside
and in, in the old part of the city. The
public buildings are grand, large and
costly. In the newer parts are pretty
cottages with large green lawns and
palms for shade trees. L saw peach
tree in blossom this morning, not
leaf on it, but the blossoms so thick
that the tree looked like great flower;
the deepest shade of pink, almost a
wild rose when the rose is just out
The climate here is pleasant the year
round. Today is like one of our May
days. | needed no wrap when l went
out into the country on the street car.
We were in New Orleans over Sunday,
and such hot, dusty place, / would
rather live in Chicago. We nearly
melted there, and put our wraps in our
trunk, when it turned cold i'm the
night and we needed them before we
reached Lake Charles, where we visited
one day with the Eegglestons. They
are very enthusiastic over the climate
and living down here. They are in
Louisiana just before we get to Texas,
due west from New Orleans. They
have alligators, snakes and mosquitoes
right on their farm: also bananas, figs,
roses, oranges and everything else that
grows down here Mrs. Eeggleston
went into her milk house one morning
and took down pan of milk, and there
sat an adder, kissing at her. They are
in the midst of acadia" of Long
fellows description, and the natives,
mixture OF Negro and Mexican, are
called "Cajuns" (Acadians.) The town
has many northern people, and is
very pretty progressive place. This is
such an easy place to get around in.
The conductors get off the cars and
help ladies on and off and are very
kind and obliging. | find no colOred
men in the cars, nor in the stores. The
Mexicans and Negroes work on the
stleet or as house servants and coach
men. l saw large Mexican and his
wife keeping curiosity store, and
there was a bright Mexican in the drug
store yesterday where we got lemonade.
Yesterday we went through the
"Olamo" and out to "Camp Houston"
There are about eleven hundred soldiers
here now. 1t is city by itself, with
its barracks, officers, homes and all.
The parade ground is on the side of
hill. "Gor. Hip it is called, and is an
immense square surrounded by the |
houses and soldiers quarters. Today /
went out to Laurel Heights,"a sub.
urb, passing the menagerie and San
Pedro Springs on the way. The shrub |
muskeet and cactus grow wild in every
place where it has chance. / pity
the barefooted boys, and there are
plenty of them. hope we can go to
see the old Mexican missions tomor-
row. They are about three miles from
the city and we have to drive out. Last
night there was concert in the ro-
tunda, and everyone dressed up and
went out in the hills to enjoy it. All
the hills are carpeted with red velvet |
carpets, the woodwork is all light wood !
and the walls are light, which make it
very pretty, and the chairs are all easy. |
There are many people who came here
to improve their health, consumptives,
especially. The climate is so mild
they can just live outdoors. We have
to drink rain water here and that Is
good for everything. Every house has
a tank behind it to catch the rain
water and it is pure and clear.
ID