Evening star., 1936-03-08

time permits, the tourist may lengthen
the journey by so miles or so and
visit washington -on-the- -Brazos and
Independence (where the Texas dec
laration of liberty was signed and
proclaimed March 2. 1880. then
Brenham and La Grande, returning
to u. s. 80 at Gonzales, the "Lexing-
ton of Texas" where the first shot Of
the revolution was fired, and on to
San Antonio.
Today's Battle of Flowers.
The annual Fiesta de San Jacinto. .
week of festivity climaxing with the
battle of flowers on April a, is ma
tionally famous. A series of celebra-
tions began March. 2. Other spec
tacles and pageants are on the centen-
NAL program for later in the season.
In the heart Of downtown San An
tonic is the Alamo, cradle of Texas
liberty, the old mission where every
Texas defender gave up his life rather
than surrender. Under Spanish rule,
San Antonio was the most important
mission center in the New World:
among the numerous missions to be
visited, San Jose. on the southern out
skirts of the city, is acclaimed the
most beautiful and interesting mission
in America. The Mexican quarter of
the city is truly across the Rio
Grande" in spirit, and there today
Spanish is the only language heard.
From its beginning in 1885, the city
has been one of the chief garrisons of
whatever nation owned it. Today it
Is the largest Army center in the
United States with Fort San Houston,
Camp Travis. Camp Normoyle, Camp
Bulls, and Randolph, Kelly, Brooks
and Duncan fields making up the
huge military establishment. Ran
dolph Field, the West Point of the
Air" is the largest air training center
in the world.
The several big guest ranches access
slble from San Antonio will give the
tourist a taste of real ranch life in
the Southwest section of the State,
and U. S. 81 south out of the city is
the best route to the Mexican border
the tourist will encounter on this
itinerary.
Into Mexico via Laredo.
Laredo, on the Texan side, and
Neuvo Laredo, just across the border,
join forces each year in elaborate and
colorful border fiesta. Laredo is the
starting point for fascinating trip
through Mexico. For those wishing to
visit Mexico without going too far, a
trip to Monterrey Is suggested.
From Laredo the tourist may fol-
low the Rio Grande south and east
to Brownsville. Better highways, al
though the trip is far longer, will be
found by following U. S. 96 to Alice,
here picking up U. s 2s1 into Browns
vile. Here, at the southernmost tip
Of the United States lies one of Amer
lca's richest garden spots. citrus fruit
region. Golf in numerous valley
towns, tarpon fishing off Point Isabel,
sea bathing in Boco Chico, excursions
into Old Mexico are among the varied
diversions awaiting the visitor.
Retracing U. S. 281 to Alice, it is
just a short trip from this town to
Corpus Christi, year-round pleasure
resort, and a seaport of Importance.
Alvarez de Pineda landed here in
1919. mapping the coastline as he
Vainly searched for a western passage
to the Orient. U. S. l8l is the short
est route north and west again back
to San Antonio.
From San Antonio it is 80 miles
over U. S. 81 north to Austin. which
the tourist will find one of the most
attractive cities in the Southwest.
The city is built upon the site where
Stephen F. Austin, Father of Texas"
had planned to build his home had
his death not intervened. Upon a
commanding height stands the State
capital. There, too.. is located the
imposing structures of the University
of Texas. one of the wealthiest schools
in the country. and On its campus
there has been erected the Texas
Memorial Museum. at a cost of over
sl,890000. under the sponsorship of
the Texas Department, American
Legion. The University Exposition,
which opened in December, will be
in progress through May as a GEN.
tennial year feature.
Modern Trading Post.
A few miles southeast of Austin Is
Bastrop, one of the most inviting
tourist resorts in the State. There,
on 2.000-acre tract in the Lost
Pines of Texas" are to be found two
excellent golf courses, a 6o-acre arti-
fetal lake. teeming with bass and
perch, and pioneer village" of 20
rustic sandstone lodges and trad
ing post" all thoroughly modernized,
but recalling the pioneer history of
Texas.
Waco. where Cameron Park. one of
the outstanding municipal parks in