Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 78, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 10, 1985 Page: 4 of 14
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PAGE 4-PALACIOS BEACON, THURS..JAN. 10,1985
This Week in Texas History.
Miss Ney: scandalous state capitol sculptress
iwaimraicninv kaaflrtmno IK trAor.nM Hie- a, ahIciiIa thp hnunHc nf mutrim- six years scorn and suspicion. y „
BY BARTEE HAILE
Jan. 19,1903, at the state capitol
in Austin, 70-year old Elizabet
Ney unveiled her impressive
statues of two Texas giants,
Stephen F. Austin and Sam
Houston. The massive figures
served as a lasting tribute to the
talent of the German bom
sculotress. Texas’ first internat-
ionally renown artist. The capitol
statues were among the final
works of the flamboyant free
spirit whose trubulent life rivaled
the most fanciful nineteenth
century novel.
Little Elizabet took a precoci-
ous interest in her father’s
labors, the sculpting of religious
icons and tombstones, and ann-
ounced that she would fashion
stone creations. Her parents
dismissed the ambition as child-
ish whimsy, confident their daug-
hter would realize that girls
simply did not persue such
dreams.
Elizabet’s desire, however,
only grew stronger, and in 1851
the headstrong lb year-old dis- er outside the bounds of matrim-
closed her plans to study art. The onv.
Ney’s objections dissolved when Finally in 1873, with the
the teenager threatened a hunger relationship in its tenth year,
strike. She moved to Munich and Edmund persuaded Elizabeth to
was accepted as the only female wed. She agreed on the monum-
at a prominent academy. ental condition that their mar-
During the opening term, ital status forever be kept a
Elizabet met the romantic young secret. For more than 40 years,
Scottish radical fated to be her Elizabet delighted in the decept-
companion for the next half ion that she gave birth to two
century. Edmund Montgomery children out of wedlock and
was a dashing vetran of the street continued to cohabitate with their
tattles that highlighted the father.
German uprising of 1848. Purged By the early 1860’s, Elizabet ---------------------,, --
of his revolutionary impulsive- was the most sought after room centerpiece of the old Groce
ness'Edmund concentrated on SCulptor in Europe. The intellect- plantation constructed in the
the study of medicine while ua] e)ite, political leaders and 1850’s by Leonard Groce, one of
Elizabet's artistic promise began members of royalty stood in line the wealthiest early Texans,
to bloom. to be the subjects of her Predictably the eccentric fore-
Although the couple shared a expensive talent. Then it all came ign artist who had hobnobbed
pugnacious nonconformism, wh- crashing down. with crown heads and aristocrats
en it came to matters of the The details of the couple’s did not mix well with her
heart, Edmund was thoroughly sudden exodus in 1867 never rural neighbors. Knee length
traditional. He regularly propos- surfaced, but amateurish dabbl- gowns that daringly displayed
ed to Elizabet and always was jng j„ European intrigue appar- her ankles and Edmund’s refer-
refused. An outspoken critic of ently backfired on them. Compel- ence to her as “Miss Ney”
the institution of marriage, she |e(j to flee for their lives, they offended the morals of the
insisted upon their living togeth- wandered across continents for times. The result was mutual
six years.
After a short stopover at a
German commune in Georgia,
the two traveled as far north as
Minnesota and southward into
central America. Then in 1873
they followed the example of
thousands of their fellow country-
men and settled in Texas.
Bypassing the German concen-
tration in the state’s midsection,
Elizabeth and Edmund purchas-
ed a historic home in Waller
County near the town of Hempst-
ead. Liendo was the two-story, 16
scorn and suspicion.
A strange incident during the
summer of '73 made matters
worse. Three year-old Arthur
died of diptheria, and grief-strik-
en Elizabet cremated the tiny
corpse in the Liendo fireplace.
Wild rumors prompted a posse of
townspeople to demand a first-
hand explanation of the child’s
death, which Elizabet angrily
issued along with orders to
depart the premises.
For two decades the mysteri-
ous residents of Liendo lived in
nearly complete isolation. Edm-
und was occupied with medical
research while his non-wife
tended to domestic duties arid
allowed their creative genius to
lie dormant.
At the invitation of a former
governor, Elizabet molded a bust
of Stephen F. Austin for an 1893
exhibition in Chicago. Overnight
she was a highly publicized
sensation.
In Austin Elizabet opened a
studio and quickly became the
city s resident artist. Her age
and long layoff proved to be no
handicaps as she turned out a
series of well received busts and
statues.
Meanwhile, Edmund made a
place for himself in the affairs of
Waller County. He took an active
role in local politics and was
instrumental in the founding of S
black college which evolved into
present-day Prarie View A&Mj
In addition he helped to organize
the Texas Academy of Science.
Four years to the day after the
1903 unveiling of the celebrated
capitol statues, Elizabet Ney died
in Austin. Marble dust aggravate
ed a bronchial condition which
fatally strained a faltering heart}
The scandalous sculptress wag
buried on the grounds of seclude
ed Liendo.
During a lifetime, the aver-
age human heart beats 2.5
billion times,
ACROSS
1. Egyptian
deity
5. Division
of a
hospital
9. Beetle
10. An Iro-
qjioian
11. North Viet-
nam's capital
12. Sew loosely
14. Consumed
15. Thieves
17. Exist
18. Thin, as a
dog
19. Close to
20. An obliga-
tion
CROSSWORD
DOWN
1. Daunt
(archaic)
2. Lion's pride
3. Gold (Sp.)
4. Capital of
Kenya
5. Palmated
C. Saud's
subject
7. Stand up
8. Subtract
9. King of
Israel
13. Sen. Kefau-
ver
18. Province
of Canada
18. Pleads
20. Mr.
Ham-
mar,
skjold
21. Native
of
Helsinki
22. Ques-
tion
23. Loca-
tion
24. Cedar
of-
25. Strong,
vigorous
warning
29. Lucid
30. Companion-
able
Answer
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33. Ponder
34. Gaelic
35. Unadorned
38. Destructlv*
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23. Purloiners
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26. Supports
27. Skating area
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28. Jewish
month
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29. Plant shoot
30. Personal
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7
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pronoun
32. Place of
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35. Body of
water
38. Harden
(var.J
37. Asiieof type
39. Bones
(anat.)
40. Felt concern
41. Never-
(poet)
42. Three, at
cards
mwmwmmM
amximmmmn
mrnmmsmiis
mmmmmrn
1 Letters To
The Editor
l
i
1
i
I
Tribute to one of the beat Mothers
I wish to pay tribute to a grand
lady and one of the "Best
Mothers in the World”. 1 can
attest to this because her home
was my "2nd Home” during
childhood, and 1 was treated as
one of the family.
Although Mrs. Crawford was
always firm in her beliefs of rieht
and wrong(no one questioned her
decisions) her easy-going, frien-
dly manner and her warm,
vibrant personality always brou-
ght humor and laughter, not only
in her home, but also wherever
she happened to be. If you’ve
never heard Mrs. Crawford tell of
an incident, in her own hilarious
way, you have really missed
something in life. Everyone
enjoyed being in her company.
Her home and yard seemed to
attract neighborhood children,
just as the old saying, “Honey
attracts Bees." We all learned to
abide by "her rules" and become
better persons because of her.
Mrs. Crawford was an accomp-
lished musician, and chose to use
her talent in serving her lord as
pianist and organist in the
Presbyterian Church for many
years. Anytime the doors of the
church were open, you would see
Mrs. Crawford headed that way
with her quick, energetic steps.
She was also a emeber of Eastern
Star and Athena Club for many
years. I’m sure that whatever she
chose to do, she did well.
1 must share just one of my
warm, fond memories of her.
Frequently, I was an over-nite
guest in her home. We children
would be awakened in the
morning with a vibrato piano
“March" billowing up from the
downstairs living room. We
would jump out of bed, line up,
and “march” in time with the
music, down the two-landing
stairway and circle the downst-
airs. Then Mrs. Crawford would
change the tempo of the music
with a new selection. We would
become "balerinas,” twirling
with arm gestures and perform-
ing high-bicks throughout the
living room. WHAT A WOND-
ERFUL WAY TO START THE
DAY-with music and dancing
before breakfast! Would you
doubt that we ate heartily? Who
else, but "The Best Mother”
would have thought of providing
her children with fun, exercise,
music appreciation, and good
appetites upon arising?
With Respect and Affection,
Mrs. Nettie Charlene Lewis
Why lights go out at Christmas...?
Editor:
Is it my imagination, or were
there fewer Christmas trees this
year? Fewer houses with lights?
Of course, downtown Palacios
did not have jts strings of lights
across the streets which had
always looked so festive.
Was it because we were so
busy doing other things that we
did not have time to decorate our
homes? Is it because the lights
are more expensive, or the light
bill higher? In any case, 1 missed
the lighted yards and homes.
Special thanks to the Vietnam-
ese people for their lovely display
of lights, star and crechs. It was
beautiful from a distance and
even more so up close. Perhaps
there are other towns that have
such a unique display, but I have
not heard of them, so we indeed
had something special to share
and to show during the Christ-
mas holidays.
Yours very truly,
Colleen Clayboum
State Capital Highlights
By Lyndall Williams
TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
AUSTIN—The New Year’s holi-
day combined with a brief inow
storm to slow down government and
political activity at the Capitol last
week.
Three inches of snow fell onto the
unprepared city and state employees
were sent home to safety.
Meanwhile, falling oil prices on
the world market continued to cause
concern among the Legislature's
leadership on the effect of the de-
cline on dwindling state revenues.
Governor Mark White, along
with governors of several other
states, questioned whether President
Reagan's budget and tax proposals
would cause yet more loss of stai
government dollars. ,
White asked the 30-state Inter-
state Oil Compact Commission to
form a task force to study the im-
pact of the tax revision proposals to
determine whether they will further
depress oil and gas production in
Texas.
Revenue Sharing
Two other federal budget pi
•Is worry Texas officials: the elimi-
nation of the federal revenue-sharing
program within three yean and the
repeal of itemized deductions for
state and local taxes.
The revenue-sharing program al-
locates millions to cities for such
basic services as schools, police pro-
tection and sanitation. The elimina-
tion’s effect would be either a cut-
back in services at the local level or
an increase of state and local taxes
to pick up the burden.
Another federal proposal would
eliminate the tax exemption for in-
terest on bonds issued by state and
local agencies, a method of raising
money for housing and other loans.
Texas Unemployment
Unemployment figures for Texas
were reported a little, higher in
November, and the Texas Employ-
ment Commission reported it was
due to an increase in workers look-
ing for temporary Christmas work.
Nearly half a million workers, or
435,100, were reported unem-
ployed, a rate of 5.4 percent.
The McAllen-Pharr-Edinburg area
suffered the highest jobless rate of
21.1 percent
Other Rio Grande River towns
showed rates in the high teens, while
cities in the refinery areas of Beau-
mont-Port Arthur had a jobless rate
over ten percent
GOP Director Leaves
The executive director of the
Texas Republican Party said last
week he will leave his job in March
to direct the oolitical committee of
New York Congressman lack Kemp.
Presumably, .he committee is a
prelude to Kemp's candidacy for
president in '88, and the addition of
John Maxwell would increase
Kemp’s hopes of carrying Texas.
Maxwell is highly regarded for
his work at Texas GOP headauar-
ters over the past two years. In his
statement, Maxwell warned against
a renewed surge of party infighting.
State Sned
A state employees union last week
filed a lawsuit against the Texas
Department of Mental Health and
Mental Retardation, alleging the
Austin State Hospital harassed
workers who reported poor condi-
tions.
The lawsuit claims the workers
were disciplined after they became
active in a Texas State Employees
Union effort to prove the hospital
violated a federal court agreement
From the Palacios Beacon
Palacios early files,
20 YEARS AGO
Coach Charles Shreve was
selected runner-up high school
coach of the year by the Texas
Sportswriters Association.
Eighteen girls had entered the
race for Valentine Sweetheart.
Gilbert and Jerry Ellis were
in Methodist Hospitol in Houston
for a kidney transplant operation
scheduled for Jan. 12. Gilbert
was to receive one of Jerry’s
kidneys.
A group interested in a Cub
Scout program in Palacios met
Monday to organize a den.
Sweeny defeated Boling 100-70
to win Palacios High Schools
boys basketball tournament.
Mr. and Mrs. Donnie Beard
were parents of a baby daughter
Nancy Ruth born December 29.
25 YEARS AGO
A.R. Schwartz, young Galves-
ton attorney and former state
representative, was elected state
senator in a special election
Saturday to fill the post recently
vacated by Jimmy Phillips.
Tennessee Gas Transmission
Company's No. 2 E.O. Ramsey
was completed for 352 barrels of
oil on upper tubing and 152
barrels of lower tubing.
Dave Boling, guard on the
Sharks team, was named on the
second team of the Class AA All-
state football squad selected by
the Texas Sports Writers Assoc-
iation.
A DC-3 plane was scheduled to
arrive at the Palacios Airport
Monday bringing four, if not
more, notables to the football
banquet that night. Aboard the
plane will be the principal
speaker Dana X. Bible, Gen.
K.L. Berry, Col. Parks Bowden
and Major Oates. *
30 YEARS AGO
Miss Ann Luther was honored
by employees of the telephone
company for her 30 years service
to the company.
The spring convention of Distr-
ict 16, V.F.W. will be held in
Palacios on February 12-13.
A Tres-Palacios Chamber of
Commerce, whose membership
would be composed of persons
living in commissioners Precinct
3 and 4, was being discussed and
plans formulated.
35 YEARS AGO
A gain of $112,252.71 was
registered by the City State Bank
of Palacios on Dec. 31, 1949, as
compared to Dec. 31, 1948.
Installation of dial telephones
was to be started by May 15
according to a letter received by
Mayor J.L. Koerber.
Guy Johnson was seeking re-
election as county commission-
er and Harris Milner, as sherriff.
40 YEARS AGO
The Chamber of Commerce
annual banquet was held Mon-
day night. A. Rioux was elected
president.
Edward B. Foisy, son of E. B.
Foisy, was reported missing in
action since December 18.
Guy Minting was appointed
deputy sherriff and S B. Buffaloe
was appointed constable.
M.O. Cavallin was appointed
water superintendent after E. I.
Chiles resigned.
Mr. and Mrs. Oswald Kubecka
were the parents of the first
baby born for 1945 and Mr. and
Mrs. M.W. Dillard were the
parents of twins, a boy and a girl.
45 YEARS AGO
A heavy rainfall followed by
the coldest weather of the season
was experienced and temperatur-
es dropped to below the freezing
point.
Election of county officers was
gaining interest and the
following names appeared in the
announcement column:R.F.(Bob)
Peden, re-election county attorn-
ry;S.O. Eidmen, re-election tax
accessor and collector and Mrs.
Helen Cates, treasurer.
County Commissioner Guy Jo-
hnson reported the new county
hospitol had been leased by Miss
Nell Abshite and Miss Ann
Tommason.
50 YEARSAGO
R.L. Price purchased the stock
of the Traylor Hardware Comp-
any.
The body of H.O. Welch
lighthouse keeper at Half Moon
reef, missing since December 12
was found on a reef near Port
O’Conner about 12 miles from
the reef where he disappeared.
Marriages announced were
Miss Katheryn Cornelius and
Ted Davant and Miss Lucille Law
and Hunter Compton.
55 YEARSAGO
The announcement column
carried the following seeking
county offices; for judge,R.F.
Anderson and W.E. McNabb;
assessor, Oscar Barber; collector
R.A. Kieska; sheriff , Joe
Mangum, Frank Carr and T.J.
Ewing; clerk, Mrs. Ruby Hawk-
ins; school superintendent, Mrs.
Clara Pollard.
60 YEARSAGO
A boat service between College-
port and Palacios was being
operated by E.R. Allen.
65 YEARSAGO
A sewer system was assured
for the city after months of work
by those interested in the need.
Oris Montgomery announced
for the office of tax collector
Jim Fitzmaurice for county clerk.
Two weddings were reported
during the holiday season. On
Christmas day Miss Florence
Thompson and Roy Gillespie
were married and on New Year’s
day, Miss Mariana Elder and
Joseph Baines of Dallas were
married.
70YEARSAGO
Business changes included:J.
H. Seagle sold his interest in the
Palacios Steam Laundry to his
partner, T.M. Patton: S.S. Mont-
gomery opened a grocery store
on Commerce Street: H.M. Smi-
th discontinued his jewelry bus-
iness and moved to Dallas.
calling for improved patient care
and higher itaff-to-patient ratios.
The alleged harassment resulted
in one employee being fired for
absenteeism, two employees being
put on six-months probation for en-
gaging in union activities during
work hours, and one employee
being transferred involuntarily from
night to day shift.
Prison Plan
A federal judge last week ap-
proved a plan to cut down on
guard-against-inmate brutality in
Texas prisons, but he warned prison
officials against evading the plan’s
terms by claiming they don’t have
enough money.
U.S. District Judge William
Wayne Justice, who’s court ordered
prison reforms a few year’s ago
masked the beginning of a scandal-
ridden scenario in the prison system,
ordered the anti-brutality plan im-
plemented immediately.
A prison spokesman said the Tex-
as Department of Corrections is now
caught in a squeeze between Judge
Justice on one hand and the Texas
Legislature which must approve the
budget
Shop
Palacios
First!
n»f>«r -|WJt
'alftclos JL Beacon
PUBLISHER
NICHOLAS M. WEST
OFFICE MANAGER
ELAINE TEMPLEMAN
Second Class Postage Paid At
Palacios, Tex. 77465
Published each Thursday by
THE PALACIOS BEACON
450 COMMERCE
P.O. BOX 817
PALACIOS, TEXAS 77465
13121 972-2610, 972-3009
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space limitations. Letters are also
subject to review by Beacon
regarding libelous or slanderous
content.
Wedding stories are limited to
two typed, double spaced pages.
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Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 78, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 10, 1985, newspaper, January 10, 1985; Palacios, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth726674/m1/4/: accessed July 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Palacios Library.