The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-22

Vlgor OF youth, no maturity of manhood
| can erase from our memory the plac,
| where our infancy was first Graded ant
defended
On the I'd day Of March, 1885, while the
| advanced grades OF the BRENNAN public
schools were united in patriotic exercises
In commemoration of the siXtieth ami
versary of the signing OF the Texas Dec
laration Of Independence, the idea OF
erecting shaft received its first nuhlic
voicing through the patriotic utterances
FOR our most worthy instructor, Prof Il.
w. Tarrant. MEETING the hearty approval
Of all the senior class was commissioned
to act as general committee and the
boys of the same class specified as a
finance committee to solicit the aid of
the school children OF the State in this
most prsiseworthy undertaking Plans
were accordingly laid and some 500 circu-
lar letters printed and addressed to the
various schools throughout the State.
But two responses to this patriotic APP
peal were had, ono from San Augustine
Academy IN the sum OF 1915. the other
from the Gay Hill school of this county,
IN the sum OF ..>s--.s,as.- making total OF
$685., which sum was duly turned ovdr to
the custodian OF our funds.
The month OF June came and the class
of 80 passed from school life into llfe's
great school and subsequently lost unity.
The duties imposed upon us fell to Others
that more concerted action might'be had.
Somewhat discouraged but never despond-
ent, the authorities in charge decided to
make this, then, product of the patriotic
labors Of the school children OF Brennan,
fully realizing. however, that the success
of their hopes necessarily rested upon the
voluntary contributions, the private NUM-
fcence, and the general favor of the clt-
zens OF Brenham and suffice 1t to say that
these hopes have never been disappointed.
The class OF 'D6 claims but the honor OF
laying the foundation stones and paving
the way into the hearts of their psopla
by their plans. 10 the succeeding clesses,
lower grades and our most worthy In
structor. Prof, E. w. Tarrant, we cast
the palm of victory, feeling justly proud
of having done so much OF our duty as
the Fates saw fl to decree.
Lonely seems the future home OF this
humble tribute, yet builded on Soil con-
secrated by the blood OF great people
and surrounded by the rich memories Of
departed sovereignty, Old Washington
offers her home not rich in the build
ings OF men, but magnificent in the history
OF her patriots. We walk today among
her ruins fully conscious OF the prestige
she once held as the metropolis OF the
proud young Republic of Texas: along
these very paths once hedged with fra
grant rose, now veril ysown in. noxious
weed, the daily procession OF her states
men, farmers, commerce, professions or
ever-~ class, wendell its way TO the various
ends of its calllngs. Just over there in
that last ard silent BlYouac of her dead
all h. --.6oT5' lles buried Ia the bosoms Of
her patriots and wa are left to read her
hise1yy and The story Of that humble cabin
by the light which radates from her ira
ditlons. ---
Frow that lowly built Independence
hall there came forth on the I'd day OF
March. 1886, a congress of patriots, who,
forming themselves into an invincible
band, a few weeks laer swooped down on
the Mexican hordes on San Jacinto's virgin
plain, humbled the proud Napoleon OF
the West" and sealed by deeds OF valor
and with heroic blood the mastery o.
Texan will and character and the indie
pendence OF struggling people; fe"
years later these same patriots in common
with other sons OF the South met on the
ramparts Of Monterey and at Buena Wis
ta's bloody pass and won for the American
arms an Immortality of renown; in the
dark days from '6l5 this same blood
coursed through the veins OF thrice Illus
trious Lee Is handfrt u braves who stayed
the tida OF victory, when all other had
failed, To- that bloody battle OF the Wider
.-resped the richest harvest" OF the best
blood that flo yad through American
veins; and II was a sprinkling OF this
same blood that twenty-one months ago
raced up San Juan's rugged hin and re-
newed afresh the American soldiers tue
TO superiority.
To the memories OF her heroes Texas
nan build 70 -aonhment so fitting as she
herself stands today
Her plains once red with oatue-suie'
Row wave with golden grain,
And the hero who gave his life,
Gave not that life in vain"
Texas today. with her millions % v-de-
veloped wealth. her thousands OF acres o.
coal fields as vet untouched. her vast
extent OF virgin forests that but need the
Rhythmic buzz OF the circular saw to be
into homes in her citiss' her