Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-05-11
DOWN AMONG THE TEXANS.
Charlie Parker Tells Of Queer Doings
in "Han Antoine"

opening OF one OF his companies,
When asked about his trip, and how
he liked Texas, the following snap
shots were obtained:
Eyes had very enjoyable time,
in spite Of the fact that the opening
Of thirty-car show and directing its
operations consumed some few hours
Of hard work. Truly grea. place,
l learned great deal while there.
When q San Antonian wants to dis
cover where you really and truly be-
long, or are merely tourist, or some
other 'skiunable' person. be tries you
on the pronouncing Of 'Bexar' which
was part Of the original name of San
Antonio. II you call 1t Bear you
belong, but II you pronounce it
'Bexar' with the * you are fish to be
fried and they fry you. The under
takers are enterprising. They have
advertisements painted on the fences
inviting you to come in and drop
dead Young men wear sombreros
with their evening clothes.
1.-THE kangaroo walk has apparently
Just reached San Antonio. Many Of
the young women we're trying it on
the streets during the Great Parker
Amusement Company's engagement.
They haven't got the hang Of it yet
but they are working hard. l asked
one old gentleman If he had been to
the Parker Zoo yet and he replied,
mo thank you, I'll stay at home.
My Oldest daughter is learning the
kangaroo walk, my second daughter
takes like parrot, my son laughs
like hyena, my wife watches me like
q hawk, and my mother'in-law says
am an old gorilla. When l 90 any
where ! want change
Public automobiles stand around
the plaza. 1t costs 81 to get in one,
and IS to get out. opr cars were
located q great way from up town,
where the shows were located, and
after closing hours the street cars
,ease running and we were obliged to
take an automobile or walk home.
"There are u great many small
barber shops and oil look prosperous.
no one shaves himself.
The street cars run leiSurely and
conductors are very obliging. One
lay got on a car during a heavy
ain storm. A woman alighted at
treet corner, and the conductor left
lis work-at collecting iares-as'
listed her off to the street, and even
pened her umbrella for her.
"a favorite drink is a short toddY.
t has Just as much whisky in 1t as a
ong one, but 1t takes hold sooner.
Dozens OF Mexicans peddle slabs Of
weets with nuts in them. They sell
eadily. The policemen wear SLOUGH
ats while on duty and smoke cigars
nd cigarettes. One Of the biggest
billboard advertisers is blacksmith.
lie has painted for miles around. we
hew horses, not flies, and declares 1t
'ays.% am sure 1t does II they come
s fast in proportion as the work we
ave him, as he charged me two dol ,
.rs per hour for shoeing one horse, {
nd used the old shoes at that.
1.-THE walters at the numerous res
spot strangers BY the way !
hey eat 'tortillas' which resemble !
aucakeS and taste like blotting paper. '
you are used to the Mexican dishes
GU will aoP of the top tOrtillA, be-
ause 1t 10 cold, and eat the one I'M. 7
erneath- II you are a stranger you i
1t the top one. and the check is fixed 1
,cOrdIngly, because they then think
ou are legitimate prey.
4
1.-The girls are almost % pretty - 9
anSas girls. They wear white :
ressss and rOOi.gArden hats. The .
IN Antonio river runs through the !
inter Of the town. The local poets /
,eak Of It IS the 'Shimmering' river,
at its simmer was out Of order '
hen saw 1t, apparently, for its 0
,lor was 9 blush gray. During the !
anniversary of the Battle Of San Ja- /
INTO, King OMAHA WaS to have come
,wn this river in his gaily decorated
,at, aud landed with pomp and dig
ty on . small leland near the center >
town. Something happened to the s
YER about this time and the waters s
90, blOttIng ont the island entirely,
the king omitted the landing cere-
INV AZ the fslaud and GOT ont Of hia y