The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1911-12-20

1909 San Pedro Ave,
san Antonio. TEXAS.
Dec. II. 1911.

N@0~-~N
West. Fortunately. however, just as
was approaching Louisville, the rain
ceased, the clouds parted and a glorious
Kentucky sun babe us farewell. Glori-
oas Old kentucky Long may her flag
wave, the emblem of proud, brave and
happy people.
After spending a few days in New
Orleans, we proceeded 10 San Antonio
The rain had followed US; or rather it
was raining all along the route. San
Antonio, muddy and rainy, is about as
undesirable place as a man ever saw.
The mud is gumy and sticks like wax
70 your shoes. You can't escape it for
they do not have concerted sidewalks or
street crossings. But San Antonio, dry,
is about as delightful place as one can
find. The most of the time we have
had fine weather, but the conditions
here have been unusual, like at other
places.
San Antonio Is growing rapidly, hav-
ing gained 50 per cent in the last de-
cade. She promises to Guido this in the
next decade. In fact it is claimed that
1915 will see city of 2O5, 900. 1t is now
10000 Whether this is hot air talk or
predicted on cold facts, don't know.
However. experts employed by the
street railway company and other big
business concerns, made this report.
Commercially San Antonio is behind.
1t is awakening o its opportunity. II is
the gateway to the southern coast. The
western coasts of Gulf Of Mexico viii be
the ports of first call and this makes
San Antonio the gateway for the canal
trade.
There are many old ruins here, evil
dences Of the Spanish efforts at chris
thanking and civilizing the Indians.
They are called missions. The Alamo
is still standing. My family takes great
interest in the same. Mrs Lilly and l
were walking on the Alamo Plaza one
day when, whom should we meet but
Marion and Grant going to the Alamo.
They had ''cut school, to make the trip
and had walked two miles. They never
tire of the story of heroism of the AL.
amo, nor looking at the pictures of its
heroes hanging on its walls, Crockett,
Bowie, of Kentucky, Travis, etc.
''Thermopolee had its messenger of de-
feat; the Alamo had none The heroic
struggle gave birth TO the Empire OF
Republic" of Texas. Texas is one
of the greatest of the great states. Con-
tanning over 265,OOO square miles OF
territory GIGS, TAI, 900 acres) it can house
all of the people the q. S. and give TO
each ia mily of five, ten acres of land.
Its wonderful extent of territory, reach
ing from the coast line and running
back tn very high attitudes, gives every
variety of climate-the wet and arid;the
hot and cold and the temperate. Every
industry can be foIlowed-mining, coal
ing, timbering, farming and ''skining'
Northern tourists. You can live in the
open air twelve months of the year.
You can work every day. But enough
Of its geography and history. One Of
my good friends thrilled me just little
about my letters and said that l had
written about everything in Texas ard
Mexico and had annexed Mexico to the
U. S. but had said nothing about San
Antonio. its people, ETC. Well, San An
tonic has people. They came from
everywhere. The lame, the blind, the
halt, the rich, the poor, the wise and
the unwise. You find an exquisite re-
finement. the elite, the blase. the splen-
did type of individuality, the man Of
energy, nerve and iron will, the pusher,
the reformer and the knocker with big
assortment of hammers. Blessed be the
knockerl A country without its knock
ers would go to sleep. can't tell you
about its lawyers, have studiously
avoided the court house. However
those. whom l have met, seem men OF in
tellect andcharacter. Its pulpits are fill
ed with able, earnest men. The business
man, in general, possesses the charac-
teristics of business men elsewhere. On
the whole there is but little difference In
humanity the world over. We lack the
hustle Of the North. We take it more
leisurely, we have more time in which
to take it,
On the future, have nothing to say.
The winter climate is fine but the sum-
mer may not be so good. Howev r, l
shall not climb that hill until reach it.
1t is land of sunshine, cactus and the
horned toad, a land OF peace, plenty aud
opportunity.
Do intend to stag / came, not with
any idea of permanencY but with the
intention of returning to my native land.
DO prefer to live in kentucky Yes.
Why Because it is my native land and
scorn to give aught other reasons why.
Win | returh? Not yet When | look
around and take survey of the field.
and we, myself and family all enjoying
life, health and strength, happy and
centended, it urges me to stay though
il costs me and them many pangs of
regret 10 be away from Kentucky and
our fellow Kentuckians, our friends and
relatives. Ii is needless to say that we
think often Of our happy home and
friends left behind us and while | pen
these words, there is a little mixture
gathering that dims and obscures the
lines. We await the coming of the
home papers with no little impotence
and when handed us we all read them
eagerly, advertisements and all. And
now must bring this to close.
A happy. merry Christmas TO ali.
May the blessings Of peace. happiness
and perfect love always be your lot.
Sincerely.
GRANT E. LILLY.
A large as sortment Of decorated lamps,
toilet sets and vases can be found at