The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-01-27
TEXAS SCENES.
Interesting Letter From Miss Alice
Grannis,

Grannis,
The following letter received by Mr..
and Mrs. S. H Grannis will be of in
terest to our readers:
SAN ANTONIA, TEXAS.
Dec 25th, 1898.
MY DEAR PEOPLE:-We left Waco
Friday evening and arrived here the next
morning We met Cousin Name at the
Menger House 1t is southern resort
hotel built in court style. The building
is built all around the outside of square
with an inside court gallery" around
the inside of the house The court is
a garden of palms, Mongolia banana
trees, shrubs and vines. Judge Aubury
of Waco is here and he met us after
dinner and took us to 'tsee the sights"
One block from here is the famous
"Alanso," one of the oldest buildings in
America. 1t was once chapel, and the
Texans, in fighting for their liberty,
occupied it as fort. One hundred and
,seventy-fve men held it for days until
every man was killed Some of the
famous men were Bowie, Davy, Bon
ham, etc. The building is of light
stone, the walls five feet thick, all de-
faced by the marks of cannon balls and
shot. Inside, the walls are changing to
fossil One feels it irreverent to,laugh
or even talk loudly with the pictures of
the warriors, and the marks of that
awful attack all about.
From there we walked for miles down
little narrow streets just wide enough
for two lines of carriages, where one
could nearly reach across the street and
shake hands with friends. We saw
MexicsnS carryin trays on their heads
and the big Mexican sombrero hat and
at every town the dirty Mexican beggar.
We went to the old Mexican San
Fernando church We purchased some
tiny images of the st. Joseph and child
which are said to be blessed by the
Pope. We carry these in our purses
for good luck This old church is over
300 years old. 1t being Christmas time
the inside was all fixed out in stage,
showing the shephards, angels, manger,
babe and cradle, mountains and snow.
We held our breath in admiration and
awe. The incense in the air, the beau
tiful rose pictures all seemed like
dream. From this place we went to a
curio shop where we got few odd
Mexican wares to take home, they are
cheap as dirt. ....... We went out after
dinner to see the celebration of Texas
Mexican Christmas eve They do just
what we do on the Fourth of July
horns, bells, fire works, flags, etc.
Christmas eve was such beautiful
evening; we could read out doors and
so warm we needed no wraps Decem
Der 30-This afternoon we went to see
the Missions near San Antonio.
There is line of these old stone Mis-
sions extending from San Antonio to
California. Some of the carvings on
the doors of these Missions is claimed to
be the most original and beautiful in
all the world Solid stone walls with
Indian figures carved all over the walls.
These old buildings are from 800 to
1000 years old. go. This evening Mr..
Hammond took us to real Mexican
supper cooked by an old Mexican lady.
We had ''chillie froholie s, beans, eggs
and "chillie"- bread, corn meal and
water, chocolate pepper in everything
red pepper, too!
Monterey, Jan 3-This afternoon
we went to see the military fort and
the evening drill of the infantry and
cavalry, over 1000 soldiers. 1t was
sight. The infantry wear white duck
suits and some wear blue and red.
The cavalry wear blue and red and
ride bay horses We saw them make
two charges 1 shall never forget it.
1t was one mass of glitter and CLEAN of
color From here we drove to the Bull
fight grounds. We missed the fight
because it only comes off on Sunday. In
the evening we sat out on the gallery Of
our hotel listening to the music and
watching the people gather 1 wish |
could give you a glimpse of the pleas
ure, the wierd music, CLEAN of lights,
the pretty yellow of the oranges
through the leaves. The ."Senoras"
wrapped in heavy blankets of red and
blue and green and big, wide hats.
The "Senoras," guarding the "Senor-
itas," who walk round and round the
plaza fighting with the eyes," which
we call flirting. The men walk one
way and ladies the other, so that they
meet face to face and give each
chance to use their eyes to good ad-
vantage That is the way counting is
done After seven or eight months OF
this lighting with the eyes" he writes
to her and they get married. Miss
White and 1 walked around and we
found it great fun fighting with the
eyes" The rest of the time we spent
in prowling around old shop stores
Of ba1