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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