Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-07-27
BY A c

THE old folks shake their heads
disapprovingly and frown at the
twentieth century. In the next
breath they sigh for the good old
days" Even some Of the romantic
youngsters yearn for the gay ana
naughty nineties" they have read so
much about.
What were these good old days
like, after ali? Getting the question
closer home. what were they like IN
Brownsville?
Seeing this Is Sunday, and as
whoever may be reading this has 2
day at home. with nothing special
to do, we'll Just take a backward
glance, at the same time comparing
the gay nineties with the present
era.
The comparisons may seem I'M
fair a times. The twentieth century
has so much more 10 offer in the
way Of progress and amusements
that ID is not Just TO compare y
two eras-but with this signing for
the past IL is necessary TO stick a
pin in the balloon occasionally. And
sticking pins in balloons IS, after
all. Just good, clean fun.
On your mark get set-GOl
The Main Stem-1S95
1t is summer time. The Main
street in town, named Elizabeth, IS
bordered with large trees. Wooden
awnings held up by iron posts elao-
orately decorated. cover the SIDE
walks. The sidewalks are made OF
brick, Uneven. and Of varying
width. One block might find 4 walk
ten feet wide-further on there
might be a three Or four-foot wide
path.
None Of the streets are paved.
Dust is inches deep. blistering hot.
The sun beating down on the white
dust forms a terrific glare. The cl-
tizens, the majority OF them Latin
American, prefer TO remain indoors
during the heat Of the day. In fact,
most Of the stores close during the
hottest portion Of the day.
Hitching posts and rails are
scattered all over town, and TO them
are tied horses with saddles, wagons
and a few buggies.
In the shade a be seen some
men whiting and gossiping-a
typical country scene, altered in
this case only by the smattering pic
turesque clothing. Most Of the men
are cowboys and carry revolverS
strapped TO their waists. Some carry
machetes.
The stores are mostly general
stores. selling everything from pins
to windmills, from thread to wag-
n and furniture. Food, powder.
household necessities, saddles,
leather. cloth. everything.
Rivaling in number the general
stores are the saloons, well patron
lied at night and during the cool
hours of the day. Fights are num-
erous. but little attention is paid
them. 1t was life.
The Main Stem-195O
T%hirty-five years later, Browns
vile boasts paved streets in even
the sorriest of suburbs. the main
street, still called Elizabeth, bord-
cred with tall buildings instead of
trees. and wide. clean. cement side
walks.
Contrasted With the small and
shabby signs A. IS years ago. we
find electric signs flashing on and
off, some Of them doing tricks.
The city is clean.
Men, as a rule. are busy at work,
OF II not busy. appearing to be. One
is ashamed to be seen whiting in
the twentieth century-it isn't be-
ing done.
Stores of every description are IN
evidence. Specializing has divided
the general store into a hundred
parts. We find hardware stores,
clothing stores for men and wo-
men. department stores. machine
shops, hotels. curio shops. restaur-
ants. drug stores, jewelry stores.
barber shops. cleaning and pressing
establishments and laundries and
on and on.