The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1903-03-12
"reminiscences OF the Past
By "Unele Snort
EDITOR ENTERPRISE:

y
read the Enterprise, the best county
paper in the state, might be inter-
ested in reading about some of the
scenes and incidents in the life of
one who has been long time In
North Texas. While it is true that
l am not an old man-you know the
reason why / am not-it is also true
that have been here long time
and have seen nearly every portion
of this grand state.
To tell just when / came to Texas
would be "dead give away" but
suffice to say that on certain Bird
of Nov. reached the home of my
Ii miles north OF the
city of Dallas in Dallas county.
There were then just two houses
between his house and the little
town of Dallas.
Shortly after l got there my
brother and / had bid to what was
then called "storm party" about
seven miles from home. OF course
we went The houses were indeed
miserably poor excuses for "shelter
in the time of Storm" yet, l shall
never forget the honest hearted and
Joyous welcome that we received
from the host and hostess when we
arrived. There was no affectatIon
or stiff and cold formality in their
welcome. They were pleased to
have us come and we were equally
pleased to be there. Introductions
were given and cordially received
by noble, intelligent, honest and
well bred young men and pure and
bright, sweet girls of education, the
right kind of refinement, many of
whom had rubbed their backs
against college walls" in many of
the leading colleges OF the older
states, But Notwithstanding these
things we were in Texas and were
met together to enjoy life and we did.
Many of the young gentlemen and
young ladies present had ridden on
horseback from their homes 10 or Is
miles away.
A splendid supper was royalty
served and heartily enjoyed. We
were then lot of grown up children
turned loose to have a real Jolly time.
We played about every little inno-
cent child's play that was then in
vogue. But / well remember that
"snap" was then one of the most
popular plays. j now want to say
just here that all that balderdas h
that has been so often told and
believed, that every young man
then carried a six-shooter hitched
around him and deck of cards in
one hip pocket and bottle of whis-
in the other is positively false.
| cannot express how much l
enjoyed the easy-go-as-you-please
style that was then prevalent in
Texas. | have seen men and their
families in those days go TO preach
ing on Sundays six, eight or ten
miles in a covered wagon drawn by
oxen. Those were days of ''pure
and undefiled religion" AS before
said settlements were few and far
apart. 1t was one broad expanse OF
almost limitless prairie. The prai-
RE grass grew to the height Of from
2 to feet and in the hog-wallow
fats at the head Of rayines were
often large sceena-brush thickets
and in them could be found at
almost any time deer and wolves
In the creek bottoms there were
vast numbers of deer, wolves, wild
cats, catamounts and occasionally
panther. And strange to say, though
game was abundant, 1t was only
occasionally, in those very early
days, that it was hunted or killed.
Good fat beef was as good as VEN
ison and much more easily obtained.
Those were days OF peace and plen-
ty-the happiest and brightest that
real Texans have over enjoyed.
The heavy prairie turf was brok-
enthen with the old-fashioned wood
en- mouldboard prairie plow with
from TO g yoke of oxen hitched to
it. Pine lumber for building and
fencing was hauled on OK wagons
from 125 to 100 miles with from to
6 yoke of oxen attached To the
wagon, and cost So to So per hundred
feet.
The main sport of boys then was
riding what was then called "pitch-
ing" ponies or horses and yearling
steers or two years old and four
and five years old. Boys in those
days didn't seem to know fear but
were ever ready for anything that
was reckless or funny.
IT is true that Texas In an early
day had it's hardships and disavan-
taReg from which many faint hearts