"Gone to Texas."

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 69, 27 September 1884, Page 5

"Gone to Texas."

A courkspo.\i>k\t signing himself "H.C." sends us the following account of his experience as an immigrant in Texas :—: — In a comparatively recent issue of your journal you stated that there was likely to boa great exodus of "ne'er-do-weels" to this State dining the next three j'ears. "To pi event disappointment to some of these," wrote a correspondent, "I quote the following from the last-published report to the Foreign Office from the British Consul in Texas, dated January 26 la>t : ' The agent in London of one railway is inclined to represent Texas in too glowing colours. . . . This is a good country for men with small capital, accustomed to farming, and also for those who have learned a trade, such as carpenters, blacksmiths, stonemasons, and bricklayers. Young men from a desk in an office, unacquainted with country life and unaccustomed to manual labour, had better stay at home.' Now, Mr Editox-, as an Englishman, unaccustomed to manual labour, as 1 was when I came here, let me recount my experiences, which may possibly be of service to ' young men from a desk in an office.' I arrived in this city (Galveston) shortly after Iroquois had won the Derby and Foxhall the Grand Prize, with absolutely nothing but the clothes I stood in. On landing at the wharf, I heard of a man who needed a wood-chopper, and at once called upon him and got employment. I had to go to a wood with about sixteen others, and was to be paid one dollar and a quarter a 'cord' of wood when it was 'stacked.' A cord of wood stacked is four ftet in width, eight in length, aud four feet high. In two days I managed to cut one cord, but the unaccustomed work and the bad water I had to drink gave me malarial fever, which lasted two weeks. At the end of that time, of course, penniless and now ragged, and in debt to my boss, I managed to reach Galveston Hospital, where I was most kindly cai'ed for. When I became well enough I sought and found work, this time as coachman (I could not drive), but I only kept the situation for a very few days. I again obtained employment as clerk in a steam laundry ; here I stayed four months, and managed to save a few dollars. I bought myself a good suit of clothes, and, well-dressed, visited all the wholesale merchants in the city. I got a place, and since then have made other changes for the better. I am now a traveller for one of the best houses< here or anywhere. I like the Americans better than any nationality on the face of the earth. They are true friends, but they do not like to believe two things — First, that every young Englishman that comes out here is the youngest son of a nobleman ; and second, ' that the blasted Americans are such cads, don't you knaw. S))

Madame Patti has signed an agreement with Mr Mapleson to ssing in America in tho autumn. Although she does not leave till Y. \ ' mber, she has already received £1,600 , . cadi, and is to have £3,000 more in Jctober. In addition to this, security is to be given for a further sum of £10,000 before she sings a note. The remuneration is io be at the rate of £800 for each concert, and a|i expenses paid,—" Truth.,"