Some History of Van Zandt County, Volume 1 Page: 27
220 p. : ill., col. maps, plates, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
SOME HISTORY OF VAN ZANDT COUNTY 27
Louisiana purchase, or even knew such a purchase had been made
when the expedition was sent forth, so far back as 1792, he was anxious
to explore the country between the Mississippi and Rocky Mountains; he
was desirous of extending commercial relations among the Indian tribes
of that region and to the more remote west, and of diverting to our people
the traffic of those countries which was then largely monopolized by
Canadian and British traders. He communicated with the American Phil-
osophical society, suggesting that the services of a suitable person be
secured to visit the Missouri river, thence cross the Rocky Mountains
and proceed as far as the sea; he expressed the hope to the society that a
subscription might be raised to aid such an object. Capt. Meriweather
Lewis, a captain in the regular Army, and at that time serving in Virginia,
heard of this proposition of Mr. Jefferson, and to him offered to undertake
such a journey. No means at hand, it was not at that time undertaken.
When, however, Mr. Jefferson became president, the project was still
uppermost in his mind, and in a message addressed to Congress, January
18, 1803, he recommended that an expedition be authorized at government
expense for the purpose mentioned. Congress responded with a generous
appropriation and a company was selected under the personal supervision
of the president. The early request of Capt. Lewis, who had been selected
by President Jefferson as his private secretary, was now remembered, and
thus his name with that of Captain Clark is inseparably connected with
this world-renowned expedition. Which adds to the fame of President
Jefferson.
MEXICO.
(By General George F. Alford.)
A few words about ancient Mexico (of which Texas was a part), the
"land of the Montezumas" of sunshine and flowers, and music; of rosy
dimpled cheeked, laughing-eyed, joyous senoritas; that beautiful far-away
home of profound repose and soft indolence and dreamy solitude, where
life is one long slumberless Sabbath; the climate one endless balmy, de-
licious summer day-where the dainty maidens, in whose bright eyes
mirth and midnight and mischief hold their high court, are walking
poems and realistic visions, and whose fascinations are as irresistible
as the charms of Eve when she wooed and won our first father to his
downfall.
No alien land in all the wide world has such a resistless charm for
me, no other land could so beseechingly haunt me, sleeping and waking,
through half a lifetime as that has done. Other things leave me with
a nameless void and an aching heart, but that abides forever. Other
things were as effervescent as breath of morning, but that remains
changeless as the eternal hills. For me its balmy airs are forever blow-
ing, soft as the fragrant breezes wafted from the "garden of Hesperides,"
delicious as the odorous zephyrs from the shores of "Araby the blessed."
Its summer seas flash unceasingly in the glad, bright sunlight, and I see
its garland crags, its plumy palms, its distant snow-capped summits float-
ing like white islands above the fleecy cloud tops. I feel the spirit of
its woodland solitudes and in my eager ears linger the gentle murmur
of its laughing brooks; in my nostrils lives the welcome breath of fra-
grant flowers that perished thirty years ago. In my memory dwells
unbroken, a living presence, the charming reminiscence of the quaintest
land and the most unique people this earth has ever known. How I wish
that I were a painter or a poet that I might perpetuate in living colors
or embalm by writers' magic art the matchlessness and imperishable
beauties which have gladdened my eyes; the strains of seraphic music
which my ears have caught, more delicious than the matin lays of song
birds in the early blushing May morning, when they soar with rever-
berating melodies in glad bright sunlight; soft, tender, sacred inspira-
tions which soften my heart, made almost callous by the adamantine
caress of cold and selfish associations; the heavenly visions which swell
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Manning, Wentworth. Some History of Van Zandt County, Volume 1, book, 1919; Des Moines, Iowa. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth61110/m1/27/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .