Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1921-09-22
MODERN TEXAS CITY.
San Antonio Still Retains Span.
ish Twang, However.

the following bulletin issued by
the National Geographic society ::
San Antonio is an intimate
mixture of old Spain and Mexico
and the hustling, bustling Ameri-
ca OF today says the bulletin.
1T began its life in l716 as u
tiny Spanish military settlement,
Ell Preside de San Ant,ni, de
Bexar. But the leisurely name
officially lost most of it's tr.n.-
mmgs when the town bceam. an
American community, ana to
many who have known it BEST
including y. llrnry-it has taken
on the unofficial cognomen. San
antone.'
"A hundred years ago San An
tonic was almost entirely Span
lsh and Mexican. Fifty years ago
1t could be considered only half
American. Then the railroads
came to quicken its life. the rich
COW country round about was
developed and few far-sighted
business men woke up to the fact
that 1t was situated without com.
pctltors in the very center of a
territory that would need un-
measured supplies. Since that
time San Antonio has grown it's
forest of skyscrapers and foctory
chlmneys like scores of it's fellow
American cities. Approaching
the 100000 mark. and with a
greater population than that dur
ing the winter tourist season. it
leads all other cities in Texas.
though 1t is closely approached
by Dallas and Houston. An OBJ
server set down suddenly in Com
inerce or Texas street nigh ca
silly imagine himself in Syracuse.
Atlanta. Memphis, Dayton or any
one OF dozen other cities of
similar size.
AS 1t has grown San Antonio
has lost most of it's exotic flavor.
but touches of old Spain and
Mexico are still to be found if
one searches for them, a few of
the narrow, winding streets of
the old days are left with side
walks on which two pedestrians
can hardly pass, Iron barred
windows are 10 he seen behind
which coy sen1ritaS have stood
as Spanish or Mexican youths
played the bear. Grated doors
and gates in yard-thick walls of
the mission days hint as mystery.
Those who like the pcppery dish
eS of Latin America may find
them of quality not equalcd
outside the City of Mexico and IA
few of the larger cities of the
southern republic.
And in the center of the
town, strolling down ordinary
business streets, one comes sud
denly upon the historic Alamo.
the 'Thermopylae of America.
There in Texas war for inde-
pendence from Mexico, 10 Amer
lean frontiersmen held off for 10
days Mexican army of 5000
until the last defender was killed.
II is a battered old building
raised by the hands Of Francis
can monks 2O3 years ago as an
outpost of the Christian religion
among the Indians. Because of
the part it played in their war
Tor independence it is il sacred
shrine to all Texans.
"A string of four other mis-
slons extending for II or 20 miles
down the San Antonio river rep
resented. with the Alamo and the
fresidio and the village of San
Antonio. all that there was of
civilization in that part of Texas
200 years ago. Automobile buses
now whisk tourists over the
mission loop and they Chamber
over the crumbIing walls and
halt to read over the liquid Span
lsh nameS-PuriSima, Conception,
San Jose. San Francisco de la
Espada, and San Juan Capis-
tranO.
San AntOnio's little river has
always added picturesque
touch to the ci:y. ThrOu uvhOut