During the decade of the 1880s, one of the most popular publications in America had Texas as its subject. Texas Siftings was the creation of Alexander E. Sweet (a Confederate cavalry veteran) and John Armoy Knox (who claimed to be a "reformed" Irishman.) Based in Austin, the weekly humor magazine contained humorous vignettes of of Texas life. It was a favorite of folks back East, selling 150,000 copies per week at newsstands and in railroad cars. Here is a collection of their best stories. If you want to understand how the rest of America came to regard Texans as they do, this book will be your guide.