A ————
reps —
Terms 2.00 A Year,in Advance
Bellefonte, Pa., April 19, 1895.
P. GRAY MEEK, - - - Epiror.
Taking Care of Themselves First.
After three months of efforts on the
part of the Republicans at Harrisburg
to multiply offices and increase salaries
—efforts that have proven successful
beyond the most sanguine expecta-
tions—Gov. Hastings and his cabinet
have suddenly wakened to the fact
that economy must be practiced some-
where, or the treasury will be lett
without the means to meet the de-
mands this increase of official salaries
will make upon it. They have counse-
quently concluded to reduce the school
appropriations, and to leave a larger
number of the charitable institutions
in the State struggle along without
stater.aid for the nest two years and
even suggest the doing away with the
annual encampment of the National
Guard,
Tha determination to economize,
when there is no more mouey to spend
is abont the best thing that yo.tt be
doe uid? the clrcamstances, and
till doubtless be warmly approved by
the Republican press. It is business,
to pay out no more than you have in,
but whether this business of paying
out all that was in to greedy office
holders and political heelers and leav-
ing the schools, charities and State
Guard to hustle for themselves is the
kind of business that will meet the ap-
proval of the people, generally, re-
mains to be seen.
As it is the Republican way of doing
business in this overwhelmingly Re-
publican State we are prepared to hear
the voice of the tax-payers crying
“well done good and faithful servant.”
Surely the farmer, who has voted
for years and years for Republican rule
when he comes to pay his increase lo-
cal taxes to make up for the shortage
in the school appropriation, will find
no cauee for complaint, because that
shortage was made necessary in order
that the salary of the late Republican
state chairman, who has been appoint.
ed commissioner of banking, could be
increased and a lot of additional clerks
given him.
The charitable Republicans of the
State will, when larger contributions
are demanded ot them to help the poor
and dependent, be satisfied when they
remember that it took the money for-
merly given to charities to make up
the increassd salaries of a Republican
superintendent of state printing, a Re-
publican superintendent of public
grounds and a Republican chief of the
agricultural department.
The soldiers, if they miss their
annual encampment, will of course
feel proud that their deprivation se-
cures to a lot of political heelers, for
whom new clerical positions have
been created, good fat salaries and
that hereafter appropriations for the
National Guard will depend on how
much is left in the treasury alter the
wants of these fellows are satisfied.
So that the determination of the
Republican managers to give what the
schools, the private charities and the
National Guard should have had
from the state treasury to the Repub-
lican office holders— a proposition
which upon its face looks monstrous—
will after all, no doubt, meet the appro-
bation of Republicans generally.
As Democrats we have no voice in
the matter. We can oaly {ook on in
astonishment at the political subserv-
iency of the tax-payers of Pennsylva-
nia and wonder when will this thing
cease,
———
Is it Inexcusable Ignorance or Willful
Lying.
‘Again we plead justification through an
other source, namely that our esteemed broth -
er, the Honorable Senator P. G. Meek, of the
Bellefonte Warcaxan, who supported the Bur-
dick bill in the last session of the Legislature,
which was a twin brother to the Marshall bill
and equally just.”
The above we get from an article in
the Gazette of last week, in which an
effort is made to justify Gov. Hastings’
approval of the Standard oil com-
pany’s legislation. Whether the edi-
tor is as ignorant of the facts about
which he attempts to write, as his mis-
statements in this matter would 1ndi-
cate, or whether he wilfully and ma-
liciously attempts to deceive his read-
erg, we do not know.
the other is the case.
The fact is, there was no “Bur.
pick” bill before the Legislature
during the last session, nor did the
Senator from this district vote for it
when it was That bill was
presented during the session of 1891,
and was defeated, the editor of this pa-
per, then representing this district in the
sevate, voting against it for the reasons
that its friends alleged that iis passage
was intended to and would insure a
higher price for oil 10 the producer,
Either one or
there,
creased the price to the consumer. As
the people of the 34th district were
consumers, it was to their interest to
have as cheap oil as possible.
The “twin brother to the MARSHALL
bill,” to which the Snyder county
statesman (?) refers as the BuURrDICK
bill, and which he has evidently got-
ten mixed with that measure, was no
twin-brother at all. It was the same
identical monopoly strengthening bill
that Governor HasTiNGs signed a few
weeks ago. It was introduced and
passed during the last session of the
Legislature and was vetoed by Gov-
ernor ParrisoN. If the editor of the
Gazette hes any desire to ascertain the
trath, or intelligence enough to know
it when he sees it, he will, by examin-
ng the journal of the Senate of May
31st, 1893, or the Legislative Record of
the same date, discover that the edi-
tor of this paper, instead of voting for,
as the Gazette states, VOTED AGAINST
ITS PASSAGE.
Wages are Being Increased.
What is this we see? An increase
of workingmen’s wages, Announce:
ments come from all parts af the coun.
try that employers are voluntarily giv.
ing fhets omnis cog more pay.
Among these “encouraging items of
news is one to the effect that Todas
Doran & Sons, the great woolen man-
ufacturers of Philadelphia, have grant-
ed their weavers a 15 per cent. increase
in wages. The Messrs DoLAN were
among those who believed, or at least
represented, that Democratic tariff re-
duction would ruin their business.
Other announcements are of similar
tenor. For example, on the 4th inst.,
the Globe iron works, of Cleveland, re-
stored the old rate of wages, amount-
ing to a raise of 10 per cent., and on
the same day the operatives of the
Washington mills, at Lawrence, Mass.
were notified that they would receive
an increase on the 9th inst. In the
Connellsville coke region H. C. Frick,
who has 7526 coke ovens in blast, and
W. J. RAINEY, another heavy operator
of that region, have advanced wages
voluntarily 16 per cent., and there has
been an increase in the pay of Car-
NEGIE's working people. On the Ist
inst., the employees of the woolen mills
at Andover, North Andover, Haverhill
and Franklin Falls, New Hampshire,
received the welcome notice that their
wages would be increased 15 per cent.,
beginning on that day. There have
been numerous notices to the same ef-
fect in other parts of the country, in-
cluding various branches of industry,
but those given above are sufficent to
show the tendency towards increased
wages under this Democratic tariff.
Contrast this state of affairs with
that which existed under the McKixn-
LEY tariff, when a reduction of wages
was the rule and labor disturbances in
every branch of industry were the con-
sequence, of which the Homestead
trouble was a conspicuous example,
There cannot be shown a single case of
increase of working people's pay under
McKiNLEY'S “protection.” But better
things can be expected in Democratic
times.
The President's Letter.
President CLEVELAND has written his
letter to the Chicago business men on
the money question. Like everybody
else he is for “honest” money, and
like everybody else he is against a
depreciated or worthless currency. This
is his. letter boiled down. As to what
he considers a safe currency, or ‘“hon-
est money,” he gives no intimation and,
in this, his letter is a disappointmeat.
In the entire country there is no man
of sense or standing who believes in
any other than “sound money’—
“honest money’ or a safe currency, if
you eo term it. To advocate the use
of any other kind of money would be
the veriest idiocy. The question is
not as to “honest” money, for no one
disputes the necessity for that, but as
to what constitutes “honest” money.
On this the President is as{silent as the
grave, and we know no more about
what kind of money he considers “hon-
est’ money and would have the people
supplied with, than if he had not writ-
ten a line.
If his plea for ‘honest” money
means a gold basis alone, for all of our
currency, and no more currency than
we have that basis for, he will find but
few followers outside of the money
trading centres of the country. If it is
a plea for a currency that can not be
“cornered” by gold-gamblers and mon-
ey speculators and a dollar of which
will pay a dollar of indebtedness the
masses of the people will be with him
to a man,
Increase in Wages Granted.
Augusta, Me., April 16.--The 10
er cent. increase in wages demanded
y the spinners and weavers of the
Vassalboro woolen mills has been grant-
ed and the strike has been declared oft.
All the help have returned to work.
which would necessarily have in-
—Subsecribe for the WarorMAN,
Cuba's Cause Is Lost.
Crombet Killed in Battle and Maceo in China
—The Young Republic Dies Almost as Soon
as It Is Born.
Havana, April 14.—Cuba's cause is
lost. Crombet lies on the battlefleld
of Palmarito and Maceo is in chains,
In a desperate battle fought yesterday
the insurgents were defeated, several
officers were killed and others were
captured. Reports from the scene of
the battle are meager, but enough is
known to demonstrate that the young
Republic born at Guatanaro but a few
days ago, is dissolved forever. Gen.
Martinez Campos. Spain’s greatest
general will find nothing to do. Cuba’s
most ardent friends admit that the
cause is lost, and that on Palmarito’s
field Spanish soldiers dealt the insur-
rectionists a blow from which they
will not recover for years.
Spanish authorities, as soon as the
news was received, hastened to post it
on their bulletins, and loyalists in
Havana are celebrating to-night the :
There will, |
‘only three were absent, Tioga, Potter
ending ot the revolution.
of course, be some filibustering parties,
but without Crombet and without’
Maceo, there can be no real war.
The rebel forces at Palmarito
amounted to little more than 2,000
men, while the Spaniards numbered
about 3,000. A desperate battle took
place, The fighting, according to offi-
cial reports, lasted about two hours
and at the end of that time the rebels
retreated and Maceo was captured and
Crombey was killed,
A large quantity of insurgent arms
and ammunition were captured and
numerous letters that had passed be-
tween the insurgent leaders were
seized. The insurgent chief, Francisco
Estrada, has surrendered to the govern-
ment. The main body of insurgents
has lost 11 more conspicuous members
since the fight. The band led by Gen.
Perez, which was defeated and pursued
by the regulars, has taken refuge in
the mountains. The government is
sending out new columns in all direc-
tions in the disaftected districts, to dis-
perse the insurgent bands and hunt
down the fugitives.
Yellow fever is raging in Havana,
and particularly among the unacclima-
ted Spanish troops. The infantry are
most afflicted. The cavalry, unaccus-
tomed to precipitous mountaing, are
faring badly, Havana harbor is full of
men-of-war and foreign residents are in
a condition of anxiety.
United States Consul General Wil-
liams has been granted an indefinite
leave of absence, and will probably
leave for the United States this week.
Spanish feeling against the Yankee
residents of Cuba ie running high since
the Alliance was fired upon off Cape
Maysi. While ia San Domingo, and
in towns where the newly arrived gov-
ernment troops have quartered, army
lieutentant, sub-lieutenants and even
members of the so-called home guards
make it their businss to cause resident
or visiting Americans as much incon-
venience as possible.
Oue is compelled to show his pass-
port half a dozen times a day, and is
asked all kinds of impudent questions.
If you are not sufficiently fluent in
Spanish, to explain everything to the
satisfaction of these officials, they draw
their swords and march you off to jail
as a suspect.
An American merchant doing business
in one of the suburban villages, a sta-
tion on a railway leading into the in-
terior, lately put a flag pole on his
building, intending to raise the star
spangled banver should the occasion
require, but was warned by a Spanish
army officer not to do so, and was
accused of sympathy with the revolu-
tion. In conversation, the Virginius
case is almost every day thrown into
the teeth of Americans as an incident
of the Yankee government's cowardice
and as proof that Spain will never sub:
mit to Secretary Gresham's demand in
the Alliance case.
Maprip, April 14.—The Spanish
government has purchased the cruiser
built at Kiel for China, but not de-
livered because the Chinese govern:
ment failed to pay for it. The cruiser
will be sent to Cuba. The bank ot
Spain has opened a credit of 25,000,000
pesetas in behalf of Senor Castellanos,
Minister of Colonies. Capt. Gen. Cal-
leja has been ordered to return home
on the first steamer sailing from Ha.
vana after Gen. Martinez de Campos’s
arrival, It is understood that the gov-
ernment holds him to blame for allow-
ing the insurgents to organize so ef-
fectively.
————————————
Booming Crisp.
The ex-Speaker Mentioned as a Presidentia
Possibility.
WasHINGTON, April 14.—A special
from Atlanta, Ga., says that Speaker
Crisp is being freely talked of among
Georgia democratic politicians, as an
available candidate for the presidential
nomination. Mr. Crisp was born in
England, of American parentage, but
he is said to now be in possession of
satisfactory legal opinions that he is
eligible, and that the only question
ahead is that of availability. There is
hardly a doubt, the special further states,
but that the Georgia delegation to the
next National Democratic convention
will present the name of Charles F.
Crisp for the presidency.
The statements in the special differ
materially from the views expressed by
Speaker Crisp’s friends here. They as-
sert that Judge Crispis clearly con-
vinced that he is barred from eligibility
2 we presidency by reason of his foreign
irth.
Article IT, section 1, of the constitu-
tion of the United States, provides that
“No person except a natural born citi-
zen, or a citizen of the United States at
the time of the adoption of this consti-
| tution, shall be eligible to the office of
! president.”
No recognized constitutional lawyer
has ever placed himself on record as
holding otherwise than that the presi-
dent of the United States must be an
American citizen, born on American
soil. Speaker Crisp himself, in a signif-
icant manner, has given his adherence
to this construction of the constitution,
and in such a manner as to indicate that
he felt its full significance.
i central valleys the
Wright Chosen for Chairman.
Elected to the Office Yesterday Without Any Op-
position.— Wright Says He Will be the Lead-
er of the Whole Party and Not of Any Fac-
tion.
HARRISBURG, April 17.—The Demo-
cratic state committee convened in the
board of trade rooms at noon to-day.
Chairman Stranahan presided. Secre-
tary Snyder called the roll and there
were a number of substitutions among
the delegates, Then Chairman Stran-
ahan opened the nomination for chair-
man. Mr. Garman, of Luzerne,
placed in nomination Robert E. Wright,
of Allentown. The nomination was
greeted with applause and was second-
ed by Mr. Taylor, of Allegheny, A
motion that the nominations be closed
was adopted, and Mr. Wright's election
was made unanimous amid loud cheer-
ing. Mr. McCartney, of Northumber-
land ; W. K, Meyers and R. M. Lin-
ton, of Somerset, were appointed a
committee to escort Mr. Wright to the
room.
Out of the eighty-nine committeemen
and Bedford counties not being repre-
sented, When Mr. Wright entered
the room Mr. Stranahan introduced
him. Mr. Wright said: “I assure
you, gentlemen, that I appreciate your
unanimous action. It was supposed
that at this time it would not be possi-
ble to elect a chairman without fric-
tien, but it is a fact that your organi.
zation is practically unanimous. I
promise that if I am supported by you
I will give your party all the earnest-
ness of effort of which I am capable. I
shall endeavor to bring to the Demo-
cratic party in the State true harmony.
I would have it that every man, be he
a leader or a follower, exercise a voice in
the party deliberations,” Mr. Wright
favored party unity and urged the
dropping of factious differences. His
address was heartily applauded.
On motion of Mr. Lowrie, of Phila-
delphia, an unanimous vote of thanks
was tendered retiring Chairman Stran-
ahan.
The place for the next meeting will
be left to the executive committee,
Mr. Garman, of Luzerne, presented
a resolution endorsing President
Cleveland's financial policy and it was
adopted.
The election of the following divis-
ion chairmen was announced: First,
John E. Magee, New Bloomfield ; Se-
cond, Thomas J. Burke, Altoona ;
Third, Senator W. B. Dunlap, Beaver;
Fourth, Charles Schimmelpfang, War-
ren ; Fifth, George M. Bigler, Clear-
field ; Sixth, W. H. Holloway, Wil-
liamsport ; Seventh, John M. Gar-
man, Nanticoke ; Eighth, E. H. Lau-
bach, Northampton ; Ninth, A. M.
Holburg, West Chester. The com-
mittee ratified the elections. The com-
mittee then adjourned at 12:45.
Beef Cattle Very Scarce.
Not More than 20 Per Cent.of the Number Siz
Years Ago are now on the New Mexico Ranges.
ALBUQUERQUE, N. M., April 14.—
There are no steers at all on the ranges
in this vicinity fit for beef. Stock cat-
tle have advanced in price during the
last three months about 40 per cent, A
drouth for three years, with three un-
usually severe winters, caused terrible
losses to stockmen, and this, with the
lower prices, has had a very discourag-
ing effect upon the stock industry dur-
ing the last few years.
It is estimated that there are not at
the outside more than 20 per cent. as
many cattle in this vicinity as there
was six years ago.
El Paso, Tex., April 14.—J. H. Na-
tions, one of the largest cattle dealers in
the Southwest, says the price of steers
has materially advanced recently, and
although he is butchering many Ameri-
can steers, heis compelled to advance
the price of dressed beef. He is import-
ing Mexican cattle, but is paying more
for them than he anticipated when he
made the contracts. All cattlemen say
that the supply of steers is short.
ADDITIONAL LOCALS.
——The street committees of the Vil-
lage Improvement Society and every
one interested in the work are requested
to meet this Friday evening, at 8
o'clock in the Y. M. C. A. hall.
MARRIAGE LiIcENCES.—Issued dur-
ing the past week taken from the docket.
Daniel A. Grove, of Lemont, and
Catharine Longwell, of Benner Twp.
Charles E. Rupert and Maggie E.
Kessinger, of Liberty Twp.
Frank D Young and Mary C Royer,
of Potter Twp.
J. Harry Pickle, of Millersville, Lan-
caster county, and Fannie I. Twitmire,
of Bellefonte.
John W. Brennan and Jennie Breon,
of Benner Twp.
Frank E. Wieland, of Linden Hall,
and Carrie M. Miller, of Rock Springs.
R. M. Krebs and Laura E. Musser, of
Pine Grove Mills.
Henry G. Maurer, of Clintondale,
and Jose E. Rodgers, of Nittany.
MR. Foster Dozs’NT SAy MucuH
THIS TiME.—My last bulletin gave fore-
casts of the storm wave to cross the con-
tinent from the 10th to the 20th, and
the next will reach the Pacific coast
about the 21st, cross the western moun-
tain country by the close of the 22d,
the great, central valleys from the 22d to
to 25th and the eastern States about the
26th. This disturbance will be of very
considerable force, and while only a
small portion of the country will receive
rain from it, the principal rain-fall of
the month may be expected as it crosses
the continent. The warm wave will
cross the western mountain country
about the 21st, the great central valleys
the 23d and the eastern States the 25th.
The cool wave will cross the western
mountain country about the 24th, great
26th and eastern
States the 28th.
Founp DEeap iN Bep.—Last Fri-
day morning Mrs. Caroline Long, of
Howard, got up at her usual hour and
later went to awaken her husband.
Imagine the shock it must have been to
find him dead in his bed. Death had
come as a thief in the night and stolen
his life away without a note of warning.
He was 67 years old and was familiarly
known as ‘“forgeman Jake’ Long.
He leaves a wife and five sisters as
follows: Mary, wife of Mr. Jonathan
Davis; Vine, who is married to Mr.
Smith ; Betsy, wife of Mr. James Gard-
ner ; Sallie, wife of Mr. Curtis DeHass
and Mrs. Orin T. Noble, of Lock Ha-
ven. Burial was made on Sunday af-
ternoon.
Way THE COLONEL GOT MAD --On
Saturday morning Col Dunham, who
fathers the Howard Hornet, stormed in-
to our sanctum as mad as a wet hen. It
took some time to find out the cause for
the ripple that had disturbed his usually
placid humor, but when he told us what
was the matter we did'nt blame him one
bit.
In the Hornet's issue of April 6th
there appeared a little historical sketch
of the early lumber operations of Jehue
Packer, a man who flourished away back
in the early days of the century. The
article proved too great a temptation for
the scissors in the Gazette and Republi®
can offices and the following week it
appeared in both piratical sheets, as
original. The Daily News then appro-
priated it and, strange to say, one of the
Hornet men clipped it out of the News
and put it in that paper again last week.
Is itany wonder the Colonel was mad
when his paper gave another credit for
an article he had written himself ?
A REMINISCENCE OF THE DAYS OF
HicawAYMEN.—During the centennial
of the Huntingdon Presbytery, at Hunt-
ingdon last week D. D. Wocods, of Lew-
istown, was recalling some of the diffi-
culties and unpleasantries the preachers
suffered in its early days. Among them
he told of the following encounter Rev.
John Hutchinson had with Lewis and
Clark, the out-laws, whose names are
household words in this county and
whose treasure caves are being found (?)
every year.
“In speaking of the churches in
Juniata county, I desire to mention an
anecdote that may not be out of place
here. When I was a boy, Rev. John
Hutchinson was a frequent visitor at my
father’s and I was present on one oc-
casion when Mr. Hutchinson told my
father this incident. He said at one
time he was on his way to Bellefonte to
preach for Rev. James Linn, and on the
Seven Mountains he was stopped by two
noted highwaymen, Lewis. and Clark,
who infested the mountains of Centre
county. After robbing him of all the
money he had and his watch he said to
them: “Now, men, I wish you would
let me have fifty cents back ; I am go-
ing to Bellefonte to preach and I have
not a cent to pay my way.” Lewis
said tohim ‘Are you a minister ?”’
Father Hutchinson answered :. “1 am,
and am going to Bellefonte to preach
for Mr. Linn.” Then Lewis said to
Clark : “Give this man back his watch
and money.” To this Clark demurred
but Lewis made him do it, and said:
“We don’t rob poor men or ministers ;
they are paid little enough.”, So Father
Hutchinson got his money and watch
back and went on his way rejoicing.
GETTIG—MEYER.—As previously an-
nounced in this paper the marriage of
William E. Gettig, of Altoona, Pa., to
Miss Anna Laura Meyer, eldest daugh-
ter ot J. H. and Phebe Meyer, of near
Boalsburg, was solemnized in St. John’s
Reformed church, at Boalsburg, on
Thursday evening, April 11th, at eight
o'clock. Prof. P. H. Meyer, Centre
county’s talented musician, presided at
the organ and played ‘Lohengrins’
beautiful wedding march, while Rev.
A. A Black, of the Reformed church,
spoke the words that united the parties
for life in the bonds of wedlock and was
assisted by Rev. Charles Smith, a cousin
of the bride, from the Hublersburg Re-
formed church.
The bride was pretty in a dainty
cream cloth gown and her bridesmaid,
Miss Cora Durst, looked sweet in pink
lansdowne, while the groom and his best
man, Mr. Samuel J. Wagner, of Tus-
seyville, wore the conventional black.
The church was crowded by the peo-
ple of the community who came to see
the contracting party start ouf in a new
life and the relatives and invited friends
of the bride and groom sat on reserved
seats in front and on the right and left
of the centre aisle.
After the ceremonies at the church a
reception was given at the bride’s par-
ents home where a most elaborate wed-
ding collation was spread for the guests.
Over the table was the beautiful motto
designed by Misses Maggie Bailey and
Della Ishler, intimate friends of the | enough to shelter all Texans if occasion de.
bride, “Eat, Drink and be Merry.” The
bride was the recipient of numerous
useful and ‘costly presents.
The bride was one of the most popu-
lar young ladies of Boalsburg and was
a member of the choir in the Reformed
church and will be missed by that or- |
ganization. The groom is the second
gon of the late William Gettig, of Potter
township, who has a position with the
Pennsylvania R. R. Co., at Altoona,
where he will take his bride and com-
mence housekeeping at 103 Lexington
Avenue in that city, and it is the wish
of their many friends that they may
have a long and prosperous life.
A Glimpse of Texas.
The Wonderful Climate— The Old Alamo and His.
torical Places in San Antonio as Seen by @
Pennsylvania Girl now in That State of Vast
Extent,
Texas, is so far out of the usual path of
travelers that it is not surprising to find such
erroneous ideas regarding it existing in the
minds of the average Northerner. Its peculiar-
ities of climate, sky and vegetation make it
truly the “Lone Star,” for while southern in
position, western in the activity of its people,
it is decidedly northern in its “northers.” On
every side are reminders that it is the largest
of our forty-five states, such a reckless lying
waste of rich, tillable land is there! To a new
comer there is an impression of barrennes®
and dustiness, for unlike the Eastern states it
is not copiously rained upon, and visions of
the latter's beautiful farming lands and green
awns cling to the mind as being of Acadian
verdure. These are fleeting for who could
withstand the charm of such continued sun-
shine, moonshine and ever gorgeous, ever
changing sunrises and sunsets! This has
been the driest and coldest Winter known here
for many years as snow rarely falls as far
south as Austin ; but unlike the devastation
caused in Florida it has been a blessing to
this State. © Usually the peach crop is ruined
by premature budding in January, but this
year cold prevailing at that time there is now
every evidence of a bountiful fruit yield. The
popular notion is to the effect that the Texas
“northers’’ are something terrible ; and it can"
not be denied thatthey are a little cool some-
times. They are not a curse, but on the con-
trary, one of the greatest blessings Providence
can bestow on this land. They are dry, stimu.
1ating, electrical and heathful never lasting
more than three or four days and leaving us
sttoniced” to revel in sunshine under cerulean
skies.
The history of Texas is one of romance and
adventure. A desperatg struggle, deeds of in-
dividual daring and desperate bravery were
features of the contest that made a part of our
noble republic this vast State, young in years
but rich in names that will cause the Texan’s
heart to thrill with pride as long as history
records their valorous deeds. Most interesting
too are the remains and ruins of a period ante -
dating this Nineteenth century of realism and
luxuries. This strange comminglingof Span-
ish, Mexican and American influence on
architecture, dress etc. gives a charming
uniqueness almost amounting to personality,
a feeling intensified truly by a visit to San
Antonio. A city possessing all the con.
veniences, push, beautiful stores, fine build"
ings—for the Court House and Post-office are
unusually so—of northern cities, is also rich in
ruins, places of interests, curios and types
highly interesting to one fond of history or a
lover of the beautiful.
The older streets, laid out by the Mexicans,
are in places so narrow as to seem impassable
and what with the Mexican candy-
sellers on every corner; the tomauli man be-
tween, the plaza’s lined with booths at which
can be bought the coveted pottery and
other native products, the chiliconcaine sup.
per, it seems all of a Mexican eity.
Most interesting are the Missions built by
the Franciscan Fathers for religious purposes
and for protection against the Indians. The
first in importance is the old Alamo built in
1718, and in 1836, the scene of the most heroic
and deadly contest known in modern history,
when Travis, Bowie and Crockett, with a few
faithful supporters, tried to repell the Mexican
troops under the butcher, Santa Anna, who
took the place by storm and put to cruel death
all the ‘surviving defenders. The old ruin
re-built in 1850, has walls of solid masonry,
four feet thick now damp, rusty and dark-
some enough to have been the scene of any
number of blood-curdling incidents, but front-
ing on the beautiful Alamo Plaza, luxuriant in
palms, bananas, and yucca’s and so many
characteristic plants, that looking at their sun.
flecked fairness, the horrors are gladly left
within the mouldering walls of the ofd fort,
Three miles below the city on the San
Antonio river is the Mission of Concepcion.
Built in 1731, originally of the tiniest and
great rocks of limestone and covered with
a cement that hasbeen worked upon by the
elements” until the whole looks like the re-
mains ofia geological era; is a most satisfactory
ruin, quaint, how quaint! with its queer old
towers outlined against the blue sky of a
March noon-day. The outer walls crumbling,
the roof overgrown with grasses and mosses,
under the crumbling walls an old well, with a
moss covered bucket hanging on a rusty
chain, serves now as one hundred years ago, to
slake the thirst of the weary way farer. Open,
ing the creaking door, we were in the chapel
so sepulchral and resounding with echoes,
yet so awe inspiring as we looked at the
straight wooden benches and earth floor worn
smooth in the devotions of those zealous
promoters of religion. The dining room
and cells, without one ray of sunshine, the
walls thick with mould and moss and the
rough hewn, narrow steps leading to the up-
per chamber seem crowded with memories
of lives spent in fasting and sacrifice !
A mile further on is the Mission of San Jose,
much larger and considered architecturally
far superior ; but it is so much higher and
airier that it is less impressive. It is all in
ruins but the chapel and soon the elements
and festive vandal will have completed the
work. No picture can do justice tothe ex"
quisite carvings around the door and window
facingsy said to be the work of the celebrated
artist Huica, who was sent from Spain to spend
years on the work.
There are two other Missions further along
the river that are less beautiful and not as well
preserved, in addition to which, in the city
proper is the Catherdal of San Fernando, built
for a parish church in 1732, from the old
tower now torn down, was displayed
the blood red flag of Santa Anus during the
memorable siege and sacrifice of the heroes
of the Alamo.
Such an air of sacredness and sacrifice mel-
lowed and hallowed by age pervades these
missions, that it cannot readily be dispelled
even by the music and attractiveness on Gov~
ernment Hill. We happened there for guard
mount and oh! how more than good to hear fine
music again. The barracks, much larger than
Pt. Comfort, is said to be the third largest in
the United States and indeed seems large
manded. According to our driver's story
there are now two thousand soldiers stationed
. here, a statement more to our way of thinking
' than a later and correct one from the office
which claims only five hundred. The officerS
quarters are pretty stone houses with
grounds tastefuily and painfully trim. The
mess hall situated on a knoll, with its im
mense windows opening to the floor on every
side, was so cool and shady and scrupulously
clean, even to the w hitely scoured pine tables
that the conventional dining room suffered
by contrast. Such coffee tanks and boilers!
vou would think an army to be fed and in-
deed if the army was in proportion to the
State it would be immense.
——Read the WATCHMAN.