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For the Mxcelswr Xow».
3 o or n ey In. in
1ST S#
By Q. M. Derek.
No. 6.
About si x oolock p. m., after a plcns-
ant fide of 212 miles and a grand
feast for the eye and mind, we arrived
at the c’ty of
Sax Axtoxio Texas.
This city is the county scat of Ra-
zar county, on San Antonio Crack, 80
miles S. by W. of Austin. It is the
center of a large trade with the inte¬
rior, and is the cattle market for .in
extensive region. It ranks as the
oldest city of Texas, its foundation
datiflffback two centuries before the
settlement of the country by Ameri¬
cans. Many of the private residen-
ces are very fine. The U. S, Arsenal
is one of the principal objects of in-
terest. Popnlstion is 12.156. In
1*60 it was 8,235. Sic newspapers
are puplished in the city.
We took a seat in an omnibus at
. about two miles ..
the depot, r and rode
of . the , city, paid , our
to tne center
back man 25 cents each, and with
buggage in hand set out to look for
board and lodging. We very' soon
noticed the following sign : “Ry-
AN’S ReSTAXTIIAXU. Menlt at all
tour* 25 cent*."
We entered and enjoyed a good
•upper, after which we called Mr.
Ryan to a seat with us, and engaged
for a while in conversation with him.
We informed him that we had come
to Sun Antonio to spend a few days,
that we wer<- stranger? and wished
ti> get some information from him.
A gentleman had told me on the train
that day that Byan kept a good res-
taurant, and that Jie was a perfect
gentleman. He said he hud forgot¬
ten where Byan’s place was, but if
we could find him, we might safely
confide in wind he told us. We
were, therefore, g'ad to find him so
easily, and we conversed with him
very freely. He said, “I see. gentle-
men, you are from some of the old
states. From what paitF’ “From
Georgia, sir.” “I suppose you in¬
tend to locate in Texas?” No,
we are interested in stock traffic.
We have been informed that horses
can be bought here for a song with-
out the tune. Are yon prepared to
give us any information in regare to
the general horse trade ?" “Well, I
know that there are thousands of
horses raised in this section, but I
am not prepared to tell you anything
definite about the terms, &o. I ad¬
vise you to go t,o Mr. Leal’s livery
stable. lie is a Mexican, but he is a
leading citizen of this place and a
very reliable man- He ••an give you
all the information you want, because
he is largely engaged in the business
of buying and selling every day.”
“Well will you call on Mr. Leal
tomorrow ? We fuel under many >.b-
ligations to you for the information
you have given us. We are tired and
would like to retire for the night.”
“I am not prepared to lodge you,
but I will conduct you over to the
old Plaza Hotel where you will
lodged for ... 25 cents . .
8 at el v apiece. V
*
. I he custom of , „ the house , is to , take ,
the money in advance, then you are
su re of your bed when you go for it
_ I advise . . to keep , , both ., eyes open.
you J 1
for this city is not a Rafo place for
strangers to bomb in. A man’* life
is not valued here like it is in ycur
state. We who live here are known,
and by keeping oursolvos in the prop¬
er place at the proper time feel but
little danger. The supposition is that
strangers have money, and they are
watched like a hawk watches a chick¬
en. I would advise,you to be cau¬
tious to whom you tell your business
and with whom yon associate ” We
thanked Mr. Ryan for his kinrlness
and told him wo would lodge at the
Plaza House and ' board with him
during our stay iri Ran Antonio.
We informed the land-bird of the
Pinza House that wo would lodge
with him several nights. He replied,
“7do not promise any person To Ig-
ing any longer than he pays for it in
advance.” So we paid him for one
night's lodging only, not knowing
what might turn up by the next
night. * conducted
We were to a very poor-
ly furnished room, containing two
single bedsteads, a small table and
two -hairs. Bt-riig very thirsty wi¬
called lor water, and was furnished
with a pitcher of limestone water
about milk warm, 8an Antonio is a
lime stone city Wo went to a bar
room and purchased some ice which
made our water wore palatable We
being fatigued s»on retired after lock¬
ing, bolting and barring every dftor
and window. We slept, very sound¬
ly till a late hour in the night, when
we wore awaked by some very har¬
monious music close by. We first
thought it was a company of serena¬
des, but the music w*s soon discon¬
tinued and some of as good practical
joking commenced as I ever heard,
followed by speeches, singing, ilance-
ing, hurrahing tind every kijid of ze\fy
eliiig that can be mentioned. We
then decided it was a social party, and
were tempted to arise and join it. but
that was one time we succeeded in
overcoming temptation, We had
traveled about 800 miles amr lost
sleep until we were almost worn out.
Tim amusement was so near, and in¬
teresting that wo slept no more till
the paity broke up
Saturday morning April 6th, we
took breakfast at Ryan’s then took a
stroll through the market, called on
Mr; Leal and several other livery sta¬
ble men, gaining what information
we could relative to the horse ques-
tion.
San Antonio Creek runs A’ through
the center of the city, an I suppose
there are twenty five bridges and'
fords across it. Ir has a rocky bed
the water is so full of lime till it is
peifectly blue. I think man and
beast drink twice as much of that
limestone water, as of our freestone
water. We strolled for a long dis¬
tance. along the bank of the creek.
ami saw large numbers crossing at
the fords, while it appeared that
their horses would kill themselves
drinking that limestone water.
The limestone rock are used prin-
cipally in this city and section fo:
building. Then- are several quar-
lies in-a: the city. We saw them
hauling the rock in largo wagons
drawn , by from six to . twelve , , mules.
’
The rock about , , soft , our pine
is as as
sawed . sized .
timber, . , and is in any
and shaped pieces they desire with
cross-cut saws. It makes a house
that will last for hundreds , , . of ,
We saw a groat many houses in San
Antonio so old till they were cover¬
ed with moss.
We found the inhabitants of San
Antonio as woll as of every other
place where we had traveled for hun¬
dreds of miles in a state of great ex¬
citement about thfe famous lion and
hull fight that was coming off that
day and Sunday following. While
we were in Houston the columns of
the news papers were litterally filled
with glowing accounts of the groat
lion and bull fight to come off at. San
Antonio on Saturday and Sunday 6th
& 7 th of April 1878. It was adver¬
tized by circulars in the hotels, bar¬
rooms, post offices, depots and at
every R. R, station from Houston to
San Antonio a distance of 212 nii’es.
Very nearly every' person with whom
I come in contact was going to the
great lion and bull fight. I reme lu¬
her one day in Houston as I was go-
ing from the post office to ray hotel
[ stop ad in n bar for a drink of beer
— while I was drinking my beer a
man offered the bar tender a $20.
bill, to tako his change for two
drinks. “I can’t make tbs change,”
said the bar keeper. “I have no less,”
said the customer, “but nevermind I
will pay you in San Antonio at the
great iion and bull fight.” “I am not
going to see thu lion and bull fight,”
said the tender “What! not going
to see the wonderful fight ?” “No.
sir, do you think I would travel 424
miles, and spend about $35 to see a
d-d old lion and bull fight
This circumstance shows the interest
that was tak n in it by nearly all the
people.
The. authorities objected to the cir¬
cus mail’s having his lion and bull
fight, claiming that it was contrary
to law. Ho employed counsel/ de¬
manded a trial, gained the case and
wenton with Vbs preparations. He
built an iron cage about 20 ft in di-
ameter that cost him $700.00 He
built u circle of seats in
style around the great iron cage in
which the powerful beasts wCre to
fight, sufficient to accommodate 3,000
persons. According to his program-
me the lioness and bull were to fight
on Saturday, and the lionfOld Ceorge,
the rmincater,)and the bull to tight
on Sunday. They were to go togeth-
er at 1 o’clck. Admission for reserv-
ed seats $1.50, general seats $1.00.
The city authorities would cot allow
liim to have his fight inside the city
corporation, so he had to pitch his
battle ground four miles from the
center of the city. He then offend
to carry every holder of » ticket free
of charge to the battle-ground. He
employed every omnibus, wagou and
carriage that could be hired in the
city, together with all his circus wag-
ons and began to transport the pco-
pie by hundreds to the battle-ground.
More next week.
For the Excelninr Saw*.
To Zioxs Travellers. A letter
written from Florida to ihe faithful
in Christ Jesus, who are scattered a-
brotid. Greeting,
Dear Brethren, my object is to try
t<> comfort the finally faithful in hu¬
miliating circumstances. And for a
stand point we will quote Proverbs.
16 : 19. “Better it is to be of an
humble spirit with the lowly, than
to divide the spoil with the
proud ; mind not high things but
condecend to men of low estate.
Proverbs .it) : 13. -There -s a gene: -
ition, 0 how lofty are their eyes, am 1
their eyelids are lifted
We understand from the Scripture*
that our Savior bees mo very well
acquainted with thesecircumstances’’
On one occasion he said. “Foxes have
holes and birds of the air have nosls,
bur the Son of nnu hrive not where
to lay his head.” Again, “For ye
know the grace <*t our Lord Jesus
Christ for though he was rich yet for
our sakes he became poor, that we
through his poverty might be rich.”
Wo learn from the foregoing
that our humiliating circumstances
is no hindering cause to our progress
Zionward, but is commendable.
Please referto the narrative of
the prodigal boh. There we learn
a lesson. Bear brethren, I am writ¬
ing this from experience in order
that I may encourage others. Some
will'say, “I am not prepared tqgo to
church for my shoes is getting old
and beginning to break on the sides,
and I have no stockings and my
Siinday clothing is getting old and
beginning to fade. These place more
value on their vestment than on a
never dying soul, and remind us of
the whited sepulchres, which indeed
appear outwardly with their garnish¬
ing very butious, but within are full
of uncleanness. This is our depravi¬
ty, and instead of our receiving of
these humbling circumstances as the
Lords good things. All things work
together for good to them that love the
Lord. These things are of divine ap¬
pointment to teach the children of
men their inabilities, and to reflect
light upou their minds, to teach them
their unworthiness for when the most
devout Christian properly reflects h^
can but say, “O Lord, I am unworthy
of the least of ts»y bleasings.” Who
except those Methodist preachers
who are living a state of sinless por-
fection for twenty years can say that
they have justly merited any thing,
We ought as did Paul in whatsoever
state we are in therewith to be c oil¬
tent, as is the present state of the
writer of this article. I am destitute,
I ,jni po- r, but thanks be to God
through his power I am making many
rich. Some may say they have no
way to go but to walk, and that is too
humiliating. I think not. There is
but one class excused, they wtio are
not able, and they must guard woll a-
gainst hypo racy. I am walking to
all my appointments. One is eigh¬
teen miles distant and I feel that my
labors is more abundantly blest than
if l was in higher circumstances, for
I feel that my condition is a very
good ordeal of humanity.
Brethren if any of yoy who are
better provided wish to criticise my
poor station t want to ask them to
contribute five dollars to help me,
and deposit with the editor of the
New*, if not I ask their prayers. On
last Sunday I walked ten miles,
preached Saturday and Sunday, bap-
fcizod three and left one awaiting
baptism at next meeting. The meet¬
ing closed with a multitude of ai.x-
ions soula asking for prayer. Breth-
ren pray for ua aw <y down here m
these icilated regions and especially
your humble survant who if ifc m
God’s will I will some day visit atid
preach in the bounds of the Baptist
Union Assoriutiwu.
If we meet no more in time meet