'242 Beyond the Sierras. 



structure was consumed by fire, together with twenty-three (jf the stalwart 

 engines belonging to the company. 



There is coal in this country, and the rumor of coal. Much manufacture, 

 hirge fruit-growing interests, and many other elements of prosperity, are dis- 

 cernible to the actual eye; and there is much more to the eye of faith. The 

 Texan of this region has a good eye of faith, and his ear is of that variety 

 which hears the tramp of the coming millions. All this is to say that Den- 

 ison, as well as many other places in the Lone Star State, has a vast and vig- 

 orous boom; and to the casual observer her people seem.to be preeminently 

 worthy to enjoy its advantages. 



The reception of our excursionists had been prepared under the auspices 

 of the North Texas Horticultural Society. Garner & Haynes' Hall was 

 selected as the place for the reception and banquet. As soon as the three 

 sections of the excursion train had reached the .station a committee of recep- 

 tion met and conducted the Society to the commodious hall, where, under 

 the direction of the ladies of the city, eighteen tables, all crowned with 

 flowers, groaned under the weight of the banquet which had been prepared 

 for the city's guests. Three evergreen mottoes adorned the walls : " Wel- 

 come to Denison," "Texas, the Lone Star State," " Welcome to our Guests.' 

 Fruits and blossoms were heaped on every hand, and the handsome ladies 

 of the city stood ready to serve the guests. The entertainment and banquet 

 the first of many which we were destined to enjoy, were as generous as this 

 favored region of country and the liberality of the citizens could make them. 

 The banquet was hardly ended at night-fall, and an evening reception was 

 added. The music and dancing were continued until the hour of departure. 



We have now arrived at that great North American necessity — the mak- 

 ing of speeches. In the afternoon the guests were welcomed to the city and 

 the banquet by Hon. Samuel Hanua, mayor of Denison. A brief address was 

 made by a member of the Society in response. In the evening, while the 

 entertainment under the auspices of the Choteau Dancing Club was on, for- 

 mal resolutions by the Society were read by Mr. Sylvester Johnson, of Indi- 

 ana. These were enthusiastically adopted. Cheers were given for the 

 ladies of Denison, for the city, for Texas, and for whatever else was reckoned 

 worthy of a cheer; and the entertainment concluded at eleven in the even- 

 ing. As the excursionists gathered into their berths, and the hum of excite- 

 ment subsided, the Titanic engines headed away to the west of south for Fort 

 Worth. As the last section was drawing out from the station, an alleged 

 poet, who chanced to be among the excursionists, handed to the editor of the 

 Sunclay Gazetteer, the following stanzas, as expressive of the sentiments with 

 which the guests of Denison took leave of her hospitiility : 



OUR ANSWER. 



I. 



How brighter is the traveler's devious way, 

 For frieiuliy faces and tiie warmtli of meeting 1 



The grateful hand records tiie hour anil day 

 Anil memory of every gracious greeting. 



