Writers and Writings of Texas
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PD Commons ^ s : . : ; ? UC-NRLF 250 535 7/3 7 / PD Books PD Commons PD Books PD Commons PD Books PD Commons WRITERS AND WRITINGS OF TEXAS COMPILED AND EDITED BY DAVIS FOUTE EAGLETON, M.A., Professor of English in Austin College AUTHOR OF The South and Its Literary Product; Sidney Lanier, Hit Character and Work; Progress of Literary Effort in the Lone Star State; $c. But count as the angels count, friend, and see What is the treasure I bring to thee! Mallie Moor* BROADWAY PUBLISHING COMPANY 835 Broadway, New York 1913 PD Books PD Commons Copyright, 1913, BY DAVIS FOUTE EAGLETON, M.A. To the Enthusiastic Interest and Co-operation of the Literature Classes of Austin College, Is Due, in a Large Measure, the Completion of this Endeavor to Disseminate and Perpetuate the Authorship of Texas 298662 PD Books PD Commons CONTENTS PAGE Foreword 4 Introductory Poem, "Texas" 4 Survey of the Field 7 The Declaration of Independence 17 Stephen Fuller Austin 21 Sam Houston 27 David Burnet 34 Mirabeau Lamar 39 Mrs. Maude Fuller Young .' 43 John H. Reagan 50 John Crittenden Duval 59 Mrs. Fannie Baker Darden 66 Judge W. T. G. Weaver 70 Richard Bennett Hubbard 79 Mrs. Bella French Swisher v 85 Mrs. Mollie Moore Davis 88 William Lawrence Chittenden . 98 ; Friench Simpson , 106 Mrs. M. M. Jouvenat no John P. Sjolander 115 Jacob Hayne Harrison 120 Mrs. Laura Bibb Foute 127 Mrs. Belle Hunt Shortridge 136 Howell Lake Piner 147 Garence Ousley 162 Jtsse Edward Grinstead 169 PD Books PD Commons PAGJ Sydney Porter 184 Mortimer Lewis Judd v 197 Miss Olive Huck 208 Paul Whitfield Horn 220 George Pattullo 228 Miss Katie Daffan 242 Harry Lee Marriner 257 Eugene P. Lyle, Jr 265 Morris Sheppard 274 Ernest Powell 282 Whitney Montgomery 291 Hilton Ross Greer 295 Mrs. Karle Wilson Baker 303 Harry Van Demark 306 Stark Young 318 The Story of Mineral Wells 330 Harve Preston Nelson 335 Judge John A. Kirlicks 337 Mrs. Jennie Kendrick Collins 341 Mrs. Sharlie F. Acree 344 Acceptance of Statues of Austin and Houston 348 Flag Song of Texas 358 The Texas Capital 361 Appendix 362 BIBLIOGRAPHY H. H. Bancroft: North Mexican States and Texas. Dixon: Poets and Poetry of Texas. C. W. Raines: Bibliography of Texas. C. W. Raines : Year Book for Texas, 1901. C. W. Raines : Year Book for Texas, 1902. Pennybacker: History of Texas. Clark: Songs of the South. Allan: Lone Star Ballads, 1874. D. W. C. Baker: Texas Scrap Book, 1875. Ella H. Steuart : Gems from a Texas Quarry. Library of Southern Literature. National Cyclopedia. The South in the Building of the Nation. The Dallas-Gah'eston News. The Houston Post. The Texas Magazine, Houston. Mrs. Taylor: Woman Writers of Texas. The Gulf Messenger (formerly of San Antonio). The Rwnd Table (formerly of Dallas). PD Books PD Commons FOREWORD A book is an answer to a demand : it may be more : it may be the cause of a demand. The most useful media of distribution are circuits; the atmosphere, blood, thought, altruism, then egotism. In time, one comes back to his own. Have the people of Texas not begun an introspec- tive process: completing the circuit? We have a large body of "home," yes, and "homely" writings, why not investigate and enjoy them? True, we have not, in our literature, reached the philosophic, the psychologic, the critical, the crucial period. But that spirit is born late in life and matures slowly. The age of unselfish enjoyment comes first. Why should the beauty, the youthful verve of our literature be ignored in our sloth and apathy, when there is so much to enjoy? This Manual makes no claim of a critical character, simply a collection, a foundation, a collation on the part of an enthusiastic sympathizer of some good work, not all, that the genius of Texas has produced. It argues nothing that some were born in other states; that some did not tarry us that all have not studied of long with ; the art versifica- tion. If they breathed the divine afflatus in our midst, as they breathed the fresh prairie and forest, and gulf and mountain breezes of our great expanse, they are ours, ours to love, to enjoy, to encourage. The endeavor has been to combine in the selections infor- mation and enjoyment; to prepare a book that may be used as a textbook for the school room, a reference work for the student, a genial companion of the idle hour. It is thorough- is claim ly Texan and Texas. There no to exhaustiveness : it could easily have been expanded to twice its proportions. I PD Books PD Commons 2 FOREWORD The securing of information has been a chief difficulty. Since 1885 there seems to have been little effort to collect in compact form the literary output of the state. The need is great: and while words of sympathy and encouragement have been abundant and delightful, they have not come alto- gether as a matter of surprise. Such a work is needed, and there seems to be a general realization of the fact. Especial mention should be made of the interest mani- fested by the literature classes of Austin College. Indeed, here is the hopeful sign: if the youth of our schools and colleges have an active, abiding interest in the literary growth of their State, particularly of the home localities, the interest will soon become general, and our writers no longer have cause to mourn in secret over the apathy and indifference of their ov:n people. Many errors of dates, localities, spelling of names, etc., have doubtless crept in. In the many authorities consulted, differences have been found that could not be reconciled. In such cases the editor has used his best judgment. Any corrections or emendations will be thankfully and thought- fully received and corrections made as opportunity may offer. Lack of space has prevented even the insertion of explanatory notes, but histories and other reference works are at the present day easy of access. This work should be but the beginning of a widespread, as well as of a critical, study of the literary genius and thought of Texas, Texas, so rapidly passing to the fore- front in political and commercial leadership, why not in authorship and criticism? In hoc signo, vincemus ! No copyrighted article has knowingly been used without first securing the proper permission and giving proper credit. But in a work of this kind, oversights are possible, even probable. In such cases the editor disclaims any intentional dereliction and shall be glad to render due credit. To mention all who have given assistance in the collection of this material were not easy. Everybody seems to have "had a mind to the work." Chief in active interest, however, FOREWORD 3 must be mentioned Miss Katie Daffan of Austin, Mr. John P. Sjolander of Cedar Bayou, Mrs. Kate Alma Orgain, now deceased; Mr. Larry Chittenden of Anson, and Professor H. L. Finer of Denison. The editor's only regret is that the publishers would not allow more space for the proper recognition of other excel- lent writers whose works were received too late for inser- tion. DAVIS FOUTE EAGLETON. SHERMAN, TEXAS, March I, 1913. PD Books PD Commons INTRODUCTORY POEM TEXAS There are groves of green willows where echoes have spoken, are And waters of brightness from rude rocks flung ; Where solitude reigns, and the solitude is broken At morning and night by the mocking bird's song. There are woods where the pine tree its proud head upheaveth the kiss of the sun To meet warm life-giving ; While through its dark branches the soft south wind grieveth In mystical music o'er days that are gone. There are prairies outspreading a miniature ocean Of emerald billows all brilliant with bloom; Where the wing of each zephyr that lendeth a motion, In passing is bathed with the richest perfume. The rocks piled on high like the castles of story, fast rivers all and By flowing frowning grand ; While the live-oak, outreaching, gigantic and hoary, With moss-bannered branches o'ershadows the land. 4 INTRODUCTORY POEM 5 There are graves of the heroes whose deeds are im- mortal, And rival Theryopylse's history old; In the Alamo death opened glory's grand portal And nations applaud when its story is told! There are fair smiling cities in valleys embosomed, Where clear streamlets wander from pure flowing springs ; When tropical verdure in beauty hath blossomed, And tropical birds plume their glittering wings. There are riches untold in the heart of the mountains And plains where wild horse and buffalo dwell; And health is the free gift of her mineral fountains; She hath caves where the honey bee buildeth his cell. But with treasures of mountain and valley and forest, She boasts of others more precious by far, Of all God has given, the noblest, the rarest, The hearts of the people who love the Lone Star! Mrs. Mary Saunders. PD Books PD Commons SURVEY OF THE FIELD The beginning of Texas literature is unique in that there was no infantile period. The nation sprang, full panoplied, as it were, a Minerva from the aching head of a Jupiter. Lured by the reports of adventure and danger, many a young man with intellectual training sought his fortune in this land of the Lone Star. Houston brought with him his Iliad, James Bowie his aristocracy, David Crockett his experience in Con- gress, Stephen Austin his administrative statesman- ship, Mrs. Ray, Mrs. Holley, Mrs. Long, and their confreres, added practical business ability, sympathetic companionship, and the thrilling powers of the racon- teur.