When I went to Galveston as a young newspaperman, I was told that islanders knew the history of the place. If I didn’t want to be laughed out of town, I’d better learn something of it myself. It was good advice.
Though I’m an old man and no longer live on the there, I can’t break the habit of collecting notes on things that happened in Galveston. Did you know Oscar Wilde visited Galveston in 1882?
He was 27, young, famous and full of himself. He gave a lecture at the Electric Pavilion, famous for its electric lights. Of course the power went out.
Wilde attracted hecklers with his attire and manners. But he liked Galveston. The also liked San Antonio, where he stayed at the Menger Hotel. He said less about Houston.
He observed that Texas men apparently are unable to go an hour between beers.
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