The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-12-30
A Journey Through the South.

IA Paper read by Mrs, Thomas B. Dinsmore
before the Unitarian Alliance Dec End, and
unfinished by request of The Journal
The fame of the markets, eating
places, and the cooking of New Orleans,
is world wide. We enjoyed dinner at
Farbacher's, where soft shelled crabs
are served, and unless you know just how
to manage in eating them, you have to
be shown. And not to have breakfast at
Madam Johns, where the best coffee In
the world $50 they say is served, the
delicious French Dip. would be to miss
one of the unusual attractions.
When the itinerary for these trips Is
made, not to be out but one night at
time in sleeper is alw Us planned, and
to have our trunk at every stop Is
great comfort. The New Orleans ex'
perience was the only disappointment
we had.
As we left New Orleans and were
shown to our section, we heard quite 9
commotion outside and on looking Out
found it to be bridal party. There
was much laughing, and flowers were
thrown, and our good natured porter hac
all he could do to keep the crowd OF
Young people from coming into the cal
with their bags of rice, for rice is not al.
lowed in the Pullman. 1t was dark, sc
we did not see the bride, as they went
directly to their compartment. Later,
the bridegroom passed through the car,
and he was SO good looking l was filled
with curiosity to see the bride, but she
kept her room all the way, having hel
meals served there.
Here we crossed the Mississippi river
and arrived in San Antonio on time. II
is a city with an atmosphere, mixture
of the south and being so near the Dor
der there are many Mexicans, and also
strong Spanish element.
The railroad station is very handsome,
of plaster, and on the order of the old
missions. surrounded by beautiful
grounds and hedge like those l have
told you of that we saw in New Orleans.
1t has quaint Spanish buildings ano
winding, narrow streets where 1t was
amusing to see hung from the doors Of
the shops sign which read at night ir
large letters, Closed" and during the
business hours the sign was reversed ane
read "Open."
The crowd on the streets is cosmopoli-
tan. The Mexican, the COW boys ano
COW girls in their khaki suits and som
breros riding on horseback in most dar
ing manner. Through the city are love
ly plazas with beautiful palms, pome
granates and many other tropical fruits
live oaks with the wonderful clinging
moss, and pecan trees.
The greatest interest is around the his.
toric Alamo, 200 years old. The Alamo
was the chapel of the old Spanish Mon
astery. picturesque relic. At the en-
trance, which is through immense oaken
doors studded with iron bolts, sat a
woman dressed in deep black; woman
OF great refinement, who tells briefly the
story of the most heroic battle that ever
occurred. How, in 1886, handful OF
Texans, only 1870 in number, with Cen
erals Crockett and Bowie, persisted in
its heroic defence before General Santa
Anna and five thousand butchering Mex
leans. The Texan heroes defed the
MeXicans for several days and fought
against these great odds until every
Texan was killed. We heard her tell
this story several times. and each time
she ended by saying: "You are in the
cradle of Texas independence, and there
is only one Texas, and only one Alamo. -
There were few guests at the time we
were there, so we had pleasant con-
versatlon with her. She was greatly
wrought up, for there was report that
the Alamo and the old ruin was to be
sold to a New York syndicate, and she
was trying to raise money from the
State and otherwise, feeling IL would be
disgrace to have it sold.
We went up to Fort Sam Houston,
which is the second largest army post in
the United States. 1t is considered the
most delightful and healthfu station in
the army, and on Monday, Wednesday
and Friday at T. 80 p. m. dress parade
and review is held at the post, and the
public is always welcome. We went on
one Wednesday and it was we'll worth
seeing. When one has been in Mexico,
as we had, and seen what are called SOL
diers but really are bandits, whose idea
of war is cutting off the ears, breaking
the wrists or shooting from the roof of a
building; and then see the young soldiers
at Fort Sam Houston, feel sure you
would highly approve of President Will
sons policy of waiting and watching be-
fore sending our men into Mexico to
face such an army. The last time we
were there was when affairs were in such
a condition that President Taft had or
dered troops to San Antonio, and trains
were arriving every day loaded with SOL
diers and all the equipments of war,
making great excitement AS we had
lust come out of Mexico, where we were
within fifty miles of battle, those SOL
1iers looked good to US.
The Joy of it all was the st. Anthony
Hotel, and while we were waiting in the
lobby for room to be assigned to US the
porter came in pushing wheel chair,
and in it was seated the little bride who
Joined the train in New Orleans. She
was a paralytic, and her feet did not
come down to the foot rest. Beside the
chair walked her husband, who was as
fine specimen of young manhood as one
would ever see. Tall, athletic. unusual
ly good looking, and dressed like typi-
cal southerner with his broad brimmed
hat. We saw him often around the
hotel and patio, but always alone. He
would saunter around, then take the
elevator for his room. have never for
gotten them, and have always wondered
how such marriage came about. 1t is
one of the tragedies of life.
The hotel was full of guests, many of
whom came for the winter, for the eli
mate of San Antonio is considered very
healthful. 1t is beautiful house, with
lobby 27O feet long, furnished in the most
exquisite taste. On one side are French
windows which lead out on to veranda.
The other side is the ball room and one
of the dining rooms, separated by partl-
toms Of orloss in email diamOpd shaned