TEXAS MILITARY INSTITUTE.

This institution was first opened in Bastrop, by Col. John G. James, under the name of the Bastrop Military Institute, but was moved to Austin under the present name June 10, 1870, and remained in operation there till June, 1879. In September, 1897, the school was reopened at Llano in its present buildings and under its present management. At Austin it had over 100 students with every prospect of continued success, when its collapse resulted from the State establishing the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Bryan, with the military feature and the advantage of free tuition. Colonel James, who, with his brother, F. W. James, founded the institute at Bastrop, and was its superintendent from its inception, was subsequently elected president of the college at Bryan.

The site of the school at Austin, on which still stands the main institute building, an imposing castellated structure, is on an elevated plateau of some 30 acres of ground purchased from Mr. James H. Raymond, and as now embraced in the city's limits is very valuable. This property has passed into private hands. The Centenary College plant at Lampasas was offered for the reestablishment of the institute but was not deemed so eligible as the outfit at Llano, embracing 18 acres of land and the use of suitable buildings.

The institute is not strictly a sectarian school, being patronized by all denominations, but the main promoters in establishing it were prominent men of the Episcopal Church, among them Col. E. J. Massey, Col. C. F. Austin, Capt. A. N. Leitnaker, and the president, Rev. Charles P. Dorset. Bishop Kinsolving and Rector T. B. Lee, of Austin, have also warmly befriended the enterprise. The attendance of students at its rebirth was small, but the matriculates have materially increased each session.

Following is the organization of government of the school: President, Rev. C. P. Dorset; chief of staff, Col. C. F. Austin; commandant, Maj. P. B. Bittle; treasurer, Capt. A. N. Leitnaker, Austin, Tex.

The main building was erected and furnished for a first-class hotel, and was for five years used as such. It is built of brick and red granite, is 150 feet long by 100 feet in width and three full stories in height. It has also an annex 40 feet square, which is used as a kitchen and power house.

The gymnasium and armory, situated across the street from the main building, is a building 60 by 120 feet, well constructed of brick and blue granite. It affords an abundance of room for all general gatherings, amusements, military calisthenics, and indoor drill. A staircase at each end leads to a broad inside gallery which affords abundant accommodation for spectators.

OTHER CHURCH SCHOOLS.

Central College, at Sulphur Springs, was chartered in 1883, under direction of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Rev. J. W. Adkisson was the first and J. J. Squires is the present principal. The attendance of students ranges from 150 to 200. Value of property, $20,000.

Centenary College, at Lampasas, was chartered in 1884 under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Revs. Marshall Mellhany and Henry A. Hayes were the successive principals. It ceased operations some years ago, and the property was offered, but not accepted, for the Texas Military Institute, since located at Llano. It consists of two three-story frame buildings, each 60 by 100 feet, and 40 acres of ground.

Granbury College, at Granbury, was chartered by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in 1873. The first principal was Rev. W. P. Wilson, the incumbent is Prof. E. P. Williams. Attendance of students about 150. Value of property, $15,000.

Simmons College, at Abilene, was chartered as a Baptist institution in 1891. It has about 100 students. Rev. W. C. Friley was the first and George O. Thacher is the incumbent principal. Value of property, $25,000.

Carlton College, at Bonham, is a female school operated under the influences of the Christian Church since 1867. It has an attendance of over 100 students and property valued at about $10,000.

Chapel Hill Female College, at Chapel Hill, was chartered in 1851 as a Methodist school. The principal is Rev. S. M. Godbey, and it has an attendance of about 100 students. Value of property, $12,000. An act has been introduced in the legislature to consolidate it and the property of the old Soule University, under the name of the Chapel Hill Female College.

Glen Rose Collegiate Institute, at Glen Rose, was chartered in 1889, under the direction of the Presbyterian Church. It has an attendance of about 200 students. Prof. W. A. Bolles was the first and Prof. O. E. Arbuckle is the present principal. Value of property, about $10,000.

Northwest Texas Baptist College, at Decatur, was first operated under its charter in 1893. A. J. Emerson was the first and is still the president of the college. The attendance of students ranges from about 150 to 200. Value of the property, about $40,000.

CATHOLIC INSTITUTIONS.

The diocese of San Antonio (Diocesis Sancti Antonii) is the most interesting in the history of the Catholic Church in Texas. The missions, as constructed by the Jesuits for the joint purposes of churches,

schools, habitations, and fortifications, all combined in each structure, still exist in their outlines as so many lasting monuments of the annals and achievements of the Church, begun more than two centuries ago, in the work of civilization and Christianization of the Indians. That they were not more successful is no fault in their zeal and labor and great sacrifices in behalf of a heathen and barbarous people. As a writer of the history of the Church has expressed it

One is amazed as he views the massive structures and the crumbling ruins which constitute the celebrated Texas Franciscan missions. We look in vain elsewhere within the limits of the United States and of Canada for buildings of such peculiar architecture. New England has nothing equal to them to commemorate the passing of the Pilgrim and the Puritan. The battlements, round towers, and odd buildings of Quebec and Montreal fall almost into insignificance when compared with the churches and monasteries of the Franciscan friars in Texas. And naught but a great spirit of self-sacrifice could have erected to the living God piles of such enduring nature.

Hardly less remarkable are the great acequias, and reservoirs connected by them with the hundreds of magnificent springs which form the unfailing source of the beautiful river which rises near the city. These primitive but remarkable aqueducts, and the missions--all the work, doubtless, of the converted Indians, as directed by the engineering skill of the Franciscans-constitute San Antonio one of the quaintest, as it certainly is one of the most picturesque and interesting, cities in the whole country. It was, indeed, an ideal spot for the work for which it was selected by the missionaries, and naturally its selection has made it the nucleus, as a great inspiring center, for the continuous work of the Church, including the establishment of educational as well as church institutions, which, with the Catholics especially, go hand in hand from the parochial schools to the higher means of education.

ST. MARY'S COLLEGE, AT SAN ANTONIO.

This well-established institution of learning of the Catholic Church was founded in 1852 in San Antonio, and numbers among its graduates thousands of good men in all sections of Texas and Mexico. As claimed in an authorized publication of the Church

Its history, like that of most of the Catholic institutions of the country, is one of humble beginning and gradual development under the protection of Providence, amid trials and sacrifices, unaided by State or private help, to a position of educational equality with other similar institutions which flourish through encouragement by generous donations and munificent endowments.

How Bishop Odin and others finally accomplished its establishment, after great efforts and sacrifices, is most interestingly recited in the publication referred to, and so instructively as to the difficulties of such undertakings as to invite reproduction here of much of the narrative as an illustration generally of such experiences in behalf of the

Church. The book from which the writer has gleaned most of the other information as to the Catholic schools in the State is a compilation of church history recently published by Carrico & Bowen, of San Antonio. The narrative as to St. Mary's College is as follows:

It was early in the year 1852 that the Rt. Rev. J. M. Odin, of saintly memory, undertook a fatiguing journey to France to solicit missionary aid for his extensive diocese, which then embraced nearly the whole of Texas. Brothers Nicholas, Koenig, Lineaux, and Mauclere were placed at his disposal. In May, 1852, they arrived in San Antonio, and without delay entered upon their new career. They applied to the Reverend Calvo, a Lazarist father, who then ministered to the only Catholic parish in the city. The reverend father accorded them every mark of interest and courtesy, treated them hospitably, and aided them in their preparations to open a school. This school was located on the west side of Military Plaza, where some years later Mr. Guerguin conducted his well-known Monte Pio. A room was rented on the second floor of a livery stable, crude school furniture improvised, and in September of the same year a boarding and day school was opened under the name of "St. Mary's School." This nucleus of the present St. Mary's College was taught by Brother Edel, director, assisted by Brothers Koenig and Lineaux, Mr. O'Neil, and a novice of the order, who, however, died before the close of the year. Among the first boarders were Mr. Doyle, who soon afterwards became associated with the school as an instructor; John and William Wallace, the former of whom also was later connected with the school as a teacher, and subsequently joined the Confederate army. R. and G. Pereida and the Flores brothers are remembered to have attended at this time as day scholars. The community of brothers and boarders resided in an humble adobe house at the corner of South Laredo and West Commerce streets.

The visible blessing of God accompanied the labors of the brothers, as was seen by the liberal patronage accorded the school; in fact, the increase of boarders and the attendance of day scholars were so encouraging that soon after the opening of the second session it was evident that more ample accommodations would be required. Accordingly, in November, 1853, the school and residence, which till then had been separate, were joined and transferred to the present site of the institution-the original building, a stone structure, 60 by 80 feet, and two stories high, now forming the central part of the enlarged building fronting College street, then known as Water street. At the close of the session of 1854-55 the attendance of the school was 150 pupils, 40 of whom were boarders.

About this time the genial Mr. Boyle became connected with the growing institution. He is fondly remembered by his fellow-teachers and the old pupils for his devotedness and his ability as an instructor. Rev. Father Sped, also an energetic priest of the diocese, who had come to this country with Rev. Parisof, O. M. I., took an active interest in the school about this time by volunteering his time and services in teaching. In consequence of this increase in the corps of teachers and the systematic instruction, the improvement of gradation in studies and proper classification of pupils were made possible, and the object of the brothers to elevate the standard of the school to the rank of a college could gradually be accomplished. When, in 1859, Brother J. Moore, a thorough scholar and an accomplished educator, became connected with the school, its ascendency received an additional impetus. It was about this time that James and Bryan Callaghan, Anton Adam, B. Mauermann, H. Elmendorff, C. F. Kleine, A. Biesenbach, A. and E. Steves, and others who afterwards attained recognition in administrative positions or became prominent citizens of San Antonio, attended St. Mary's.

Brother Edel, whose untiring energy was the mainspring in this gratifying progress of the school, prudently foresaw the future possibilities, and took measures for