Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-02-23
SPANISH TANG
STICKS TO CITY
San Antonio Is Mixture OF Old
Spain and Mexico, and Hus-
ting America of Today.
ALAMO, SHRINE OF TEXAS
Scene Of Recent Disastrous Flood
Famed in Story and Legend
Once Spanish Town Now Hus-
Ting Thriving Metropolis.

Washington, ID. C.-San Antonio,
Texas, scene of the latest destructive
flood in the United States, is the sub
ject of the following bulletin issued
from the Washington, ID. C., headquar-
tiers of the National Geographic So
ciety.
'San Antonio is an intimate mixture
of old Spain and Mexico, and the hus-
Ting America of today" says the bull
letin. 1T began it's life in 1716 as a
tiny Spanish military settlement-'El
Preside de San Antonio de Bexar.
But that leisurely name officially lost
most of its trimmings when the town
became an American community, and
to many who have known it best--in-
Guiding o. Henry--it has taken on the
unofficial cognomen, 'Sanantone.'
Losing Its Foreign Flavor.
"A hundred years ago San Antonio
was almost entirely Spanish and Mex
lean. Fifty years ago 1t could be con-
sidered only half American Then the
railroads came TO quicken its life, the
rich COW country round about was
developed, and a few far-sighted bust
ness men woke up TO the fact that 1t
was situated without competitors in
the very center of territory that
would need unmeasured supplies.
Since that time San Antonio has grown
its forest of sky-scrapers and factory
chimpeys like scores of its fellow
American cities. Approaching the 200,
600 mark, and with greater popula-
ton than that during the winter tour
list season, it leads all other cities in
Texas though it is closely approached
by Dallas and Houston. An observer
set down suddenly on Commerce or
Texas street might easily imagine
himself in Syracuse, Atlanta, Mem
phis, Dayton or any one of dozen
other cities of similar size.
"As it has grown. San Antoaio has
lost most of its 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
sidewalks on which two pedestrians
dows are to be seen behind which coy
senoritas have stood as Spanish or
Mexican youths played the bear
Grated doors and gates in yard-thick
walls of the mission days hint at
mystery. Those who like the peppery
dishes of Latin America may find them
of quality not equaled outside the
Ne 81,
er cities of the southern republic.
"And in the center of the town,
stroling down ordinary business
streets, one comes suddenly upon the
historic Alamo, the 'Thermopylae of
America There in Texas war for
independence from Mexico, ITO Amer
lean frontersmen held off for ten
days Mexican army Of 5000 until
the last defender was killed. 1t is
battered old building raised by the
hands of Franciscan monks 2O3 years
ago as an outpost of the Christian re-
igiOn among the Indians. Because of
the part il played in their war of in
dependence it is a sacred shrine to
all Texans.
"A string of four other missions ex-
tending for fifteen or twenty miles
down the San Antonio river represent
ed. with the Alamo and the Preside
and the village of San Antonio. all
that there was of civilization in that
part of Texas 200 years ago. Automo-
bile buses now whisk tourists over
the mission loop and they Chamber
over the crumblng walls and halt
over the liquid Spanish names-Puri-
sica Conception. San Jose. San Fran
cisco de la Espada, and San Juan
Capistrano.
River Hidden by Business Buildings.
"a visitor to San Antonio could
hardly imagine destruction from the
San Antonio river. He might even
maintain that the city has no river at
ALL only creek. In the forest Of
modern business buildings the river
is as effectively hidden as is the
Genesee in Rochester. The San An
tonic rises practically within the city
limits, gushing full grown from rocky
fountains. Its narrow bed has been
paved. and II meanders slugglshly
through the city for all the world like
a medlum-sized irrigation ditch. In
stroll through the business district one
will cross the little stream half doz-
en- times In going less than score OF
blocks.
"San Antonio's little river has al
ways added picturesque touch to
the city. Throughout the business
district the banks Of the wsll-confined
stream have been parked, and groups
pause constantly on the many little
bridges to admire the sloping. close
cropped lawns set with flower beds
and shaded by tall, deep green clumps
of banana trees"