My early Texas ancestors were from New England and Tennessee. Some of them were in the lumber business, with many shipments going out of Galveston as ships.
"The people who live in the pine woods of Eastern Texas are very primitive in their habits. This this was the first part of Texas that was settled by the early pioneers, their descendants form the principal part of the population ..... You often find grown men and women that have never seen a prairie country, mountain or valley, railroad or steamboat. They grow to manhood and womanhood in the heart of the thick pine woods, and are contented and happy in their log cabins.
Their diets would by no means please the stomach of an epicure. Cornbread, bacon and potatoes, with an occasional treat of venison, give them perfect satisfaction. Nearly all the children born and reared in the pine woods have light hair; it is rare to see a back-haired family."
----- John A. Caplan, "The Sunny South," November 5, 1887
Their diets would by no means please the stomach of an epicure. Cornbread, bacon and potatoes, with an occasional treat of venison, give them perfect satisfaction. Nearly all the children born and reared in the pine woods have light hair; it is rare to see a back-haired family."
----- John A. Caplan, "The Sunny South," November 5, 1887
As posted on FaceBook by Traces of Texas on 8.24.22
Today's quote:
Pedantry and mastery are opposite attitudes toward rules. To apply a rule to the letter, rigidly, unquestioningly, in cases where it fits and in cases where it does not fit, is pedantry ... To apply a rule with natural ease, with judgment, noticing the cases where it fits, and without ever letting the words of the rule obscure the purpose of the action or the opportunities of the situation, is mastery.
-George Polya, mathematician (13 Dec 1887-1985)
Love the photo of the Pine woods. Take care, have a happy new week!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Eileen...I hope you week is also happy!
Delete...early settlers made do with what they had.
ReplyDeleteThat and an industry which was often established in the ages of tall ships.
DeleteThat is an interesting quote. I never think of Texas with trees and woods. I always imagine big prairies and lots of horses and cows.
ReplyDeleteYes west Texas is more dry, where cattle are raised. East Texas is a lot like other southern states, with woods all over the place, lazy rivers, and plenty of wildlife (or at least it used to be. Pine woods are so different than hardwood forests...and these huge old pines are quite different than the pine forests planted for paper harvesting these days.
DeleteOh, those beautiful pines! Parts of Florida were like that--and so were the people.
ReplyDeleteI have seen scrub pine forests in central Florida, never came upon trees this size anywhere. I do love seeing old oak trees hanging with Spanish moss.
DeleteA good shot.
ReplyDeleteTwo things from my propensity to scan and not read carefully. Before I clicked the link to this past, I was wondering about Texas PANSY Woods. And then I missed the quotation marks and thought you were on about your own ancestors. I suppose you were in part.
ReplyDelete