Chapter 19

           IntheembryocityspringingupundertheprotectionofFortInge,the"hotel"wasthemostconspicuousbuilding.ThisisbutthenormalconditionofeveryTexantown—whetherneworfoundedfortyyearsago;andnoneareolder,exceptthesparsecitiesofHispano-Mexicanorigin—wherethepresidioandconventtookprecedence,nowsurpassedby,andinsomeinstancestransformedinto,the"tavern."

           TheFortIngeestablishment,thoughthelargestbuildingintheplace,was,nevertheless,neitherverygrandnorimposing.Itsexteriorhadbutlittlepretencetoarchitecturalstyle.Itwasastructureofhewnlogs,havingforground-plantheletterTaccordingtothegrotesquealphabet—theshankbeingusedforeatingandsleepingrooms,whiletheheadwasasingleapartmententirelydevotedtodrinking—smokingandexpectoratingincluded.Thislastwasthebar-room,or"saloon."

           Thesignoutside,swingingfromthetrunkofapost-oak,thathadbeenpollardedsometenfeetabovetheground,exhibitedonbothsidesthelikenessofawellknownmilitarycelebrity—theheroofthatquarteroftheglobe—GeneralZachariahTaylor.Itdidnotneedlookingattheletteringbeneathtoascertainthenameofthehotel.Underthepatronageofsuchaportraititcouldonlybecalled"RoughandReady."

           Therewasatouchoftheaproposaboutthisdesignation.

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