The Soul of East Texas

Reflections and recollections of life among the shadows of the Piney Woods.

by Prudence Mackintosh

Vigil at Treaty Oak

To the people of Austin, the poisoning of an ancient tree was more than a crime; it was a blasphemy.

by Stephen Harrigan

How Do You Say "Perestroika" In Spanish?

The parallels between Mikhail Gorbachev and Mexico's Carlos Salinas just might end when it comes to their effectiveness at achieving reform in their nations.

by Dick J. Reavis

Old Salts and Ancient Mariners

In which a landlubber chronicles the saga of getting his sea legs aboard the good ship Elissa.

by Gary Cartwright

The Day Leroy Died

When a small private bank was closed on August 7, depositors lost all of their money, a pillar of the community came tumbling down, and the town’s trusting way of life was shattered.

by Dana Rubin

Texas Primer: The Herkie Jump

Three cheers for Lawrence Herkimer and his leap to fame.

by Joe Nick Patoski

Art

Home Is Where the Art Is

Two museum shows culled from private collections illustrate that Texans know what they like—and it's not just Monets and Renoirs.

by Michael Ennis

Behind the Lines

Waiting for anointment.

by Gregory Curtis

Education

That Brainpower Guy

Incarnate Word was an obscure Catholic school before Lou Agnese launched his multimillion-dollar ad campaign. Now the college is booming, and Agnese is a local star.

by Peter Elkind

Books

Whistling in the Dark

Larry McMurtry explores the far side of forty in his new novel.

by Suzanne Winckler

Reporter

Animal Fights

The Animal Liberation Front terrorizes Texas Tech: RVs lumber through the Big Bend drug net; eclectic eats served to a boogie beat in the Hill Country.

by Joe Nick Patoski

Roar of the Crowd

The Haves and the Have-Nots

Ranking the rich; playing the game; watching the show.

State Secrets

We Wuz Robbed

Water, water, everywhere—in New Mexico, but Texas can't have any; Mexico invades Texas; picking the winner in the race to succeed Mickey Leland.

Edited by Paul Burka