reading and writing by means of raised-letter print and the New York point system. The deaf are instructed by means of a system of signs and the oral method usual in such institutions. The institution is a State school-not an asylum.

In his report to the governor the superintendent states:

The music feature of the institution has proved to be the most interesting to the blind, who attain, on an average, a degree of mental efficiency considerably above that ordinarily attained. The work in this line is done by one teacher, the piano and the human voice constituting the means, so far. The teacher is efficient, conscientious, industrious, patient, and painstaking. These qualities, so necessary to one serving in this capacity, make the feature a source of delight to the pupils and gratification to the teachers. Private piano rehearsals are given the class by the teacher at regular intervals during the year; and frequently public vocal and piano rehearsals are given by the pupils. They are interesting and entertaining to visitors, as well as delightful to students and pleasant to teachers.

Shoemaking is one of the trades taught. The deaf boys are afforded the opportunity of learning it under a competent workman, who during the past year succeeded in supplying all the students with shoes-94 pairs having been made during the year. The deaf girls are taught the rudiments of plain sewing, and at present they are being taught drafting, etc.

We cultivate 30 acres in agriculture and horticulture. On the ground that previously grew nothing but Johnson grass we raised about 250 bushels of corn and all the hay we need-very best-oats, millet, and sugar cane. Much of this work is done by the deaf boys. We also raised all the vegetables we needed last spring.

There were 17 deaf girls, 27 deaf boys, 19 blind girls, and 19 blind boys in the school last session.

The institution owns 100 acres of land, and with the advantage of that in cultivation the expense per capita for maintenance is far below that of any other State institution.

OTHER BENEFICENT INSTITUTIONS.

Besides these charitable State institutions there are several orphan homes in the State supported by private and public contributions, in which, besides providing for the physical care of the inmates, more or less instruction is imparted to the orphans such as the Bayland Home, near Houston; the Buckner Home, at Dallas, and the Female Orphans' Home, in Galveston. The Catholics have similar establishments in some of the larger cities of the State.

Chapter IV.

CHURCH AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISES.

It is not the intention to attempt to give in this chapter an account of all the educational institutions organized or operated under the auspices of the several religious denominations in Texas, but simply, as examples, to sketch the history of such of them as have been most prominent as church or joint church and private enterprises whose records are most interesting and instructive by reason of either fortunate circumstances or checkered careers incident to their establishment and operation.

The Baptists and Methodists appear to have been first in educational work in the State, if we except the early efforts of the Jesuits with their "mission schools," to which reference has been made already in this volume. Other denominations, notably the Presbyterians, the Cumberland Presbyterians, the Episcopalians, and the Christian Church, have zealously entered the field and made considerable progress in educational work. The Catholics have several successful colleges, and nearly every denomination has numerous subordinate schools in the State more or less subject to church supervision. There are also several colleges founded exclusively by negroes, of which Guadalupe College at Seguin is a type, and others are well conducted under the auspices of the colored churches aided by missionary associations of various Northern denominations.

Such sketches as the writer could secure are given of the history of some of the principal institutions. As will be seen, many of them struggled through the most trying ordeals. The Methodists, as usual with that pioneer organization, exploited more largely, it seems, than any other denomination. The conditions of the country and its disadvantages, the population being small and having but meager facilities for traveling, did not justify expectation of any considerable support of the higher institutions of learning. Among their former enterprises may be named Ruterville, McKenzie, Wesleyan, Fowler, Marvin, and Soule colleges, the last named being, in 1873, merged into Southwestern University. In addition, a female college at Waco, which flourished for quite a period under the patronage of that church, had to succumb a few years ago on account of the foreclosure of a mortgage against the property, and, as far as the writer is advised, efforts to revive the college have not been successful.

64

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY.

Baylor University is now the oldest educational institution in Texas. It has been forty-four years under the same president. It has matriculated about 8,000 students and has graduated over 500.

In the collegiate year 1894–95 it gave employment to 23 professors and teachers and matriculated about 700 students. It is a coeducational school, and is the property of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, representing a constituency of near 232,000 church members. It is located at Waco, McLennan County, Tex.

Baylor University was founded in the stormy days of the Republic of Texas-between the dates of the fall of the Alamo and the battle of Palo Alto. While thus in the chaos of a bloody revolution, when nine-tenths of her territory was the hunting ground of predatory savages, when not only no railroad line was projected, but also when her only thoroughfares of travel and traffic were Indian war trails or the narrow ruts cut by the hoofs of migratory bison, then our Baptist fathers-few, poor, and widely scattered-secured the charter and laid the foundations of this institution. In 1842, only six years after the battle of San Jacinto, which secured Texas independence, at the meeting of the Union Baptist Association held on Clear Creek, it was resolved to found a Baptist university. The three leading spirits in that body were Rev. William M. Tryon, a native of New York, Rev. James Huckins, a native of New Hampshire, and the Hon. R. E. B. Baylor, a native of Kentucky, eminent as a United States Congressman, as a learned jurist, and Baptist preacher. These illustrious men, with their colaborers, formed immediately the Texas Baptist Educational Society in order to embody, develop, and concentrate the best talent of the infant Republic on the contemplated university. In 1845 this society procured the charter and located the institution at Independence, Washington County, not far from the house of the pioneer Baptist preacher, Rev. N. T. Byars, in which was written the declaration of Texas independence. At that time Independence, noted for natural beauty, was near the center of population and wealth. Among the early trustees were such distinguished men as Judge R. E. B. Baylor (after whom the institution was named), James Huckins, William Tryon, Hon. A. S. Lipscomb, supreme judge; Governor A. C. Horton, and Gen. Sam Houston. The infant university was only-what Jefferson called the University of Virginia in his day-" universitas in ovo." But from that "ovo" was to come the institution which like a young eagle would soar aloft above the clouds and storms of adversity and bask in the sunlight of usefulness and glory. In the same year (1845) Prof. Henry Gillette, of New York, was elected the first teacher, and the preparatory school was opened in a two-story building, 30 by 50 feet, 10323-03-5

It was

soon

at that time quite an imposing structure for Texas. crowded to overflowing. In 1847 Rev. Henry L. Graves, a graduate of the University of North Carolina and also of Madison University, New York, was elected president. In 1850 a second building of stone was erected, 50 by 65 feet; but at the close of the examination in 1851 the president and all his teachers resigned.

Fortunately, the morning after the resignation the Baptist State convention, which had in the meantime adopted the institution, met at Independence. Rev. Rufus C. Burleson was chosen as the successor of Dr. Graves. Dr. Burleson was at that time 28 years old, having spent seven years preparing for his life work in Nashville University, in teaching a select school in Mississippi, and in the theological seminary of Covington, Ky. The "universitas in ovo," with its young president and a new faculty, opened September 1, 1851, with 58 students-35 males and 23 females.

For ten successive years Dr. Burleson conducted its affairs, conferring in that time 28 diplomas, the first regular college class graduating in 1856. In 1857 the law department was organized, with a faculty of eminent ability, composed of Hon. R. T. Wheeler, supreme judge; Hon. R. E. B. Baylor, Gen. William P. Rogers, and John Sayles. In three years this department conferred 32 law diplomas.

At this juncture the educational stream divided, Dr. Burleson and all his faculty resigning to lay foundations elsewhere. In 1861, with the great civil war looming up, Rev. G. W. Baines succeeded Dr. Burleson at Independence, while the latter became president of Waco University, then and there founded. Following, first, the old Baylor current, we note that Rev. Mr. Baines served one year, conferring 1 diploma, and in 1862 was succeeded by William Carey Crane, D. D., LL. D., who presided with great fidelity and ability until his death, a period of twenty-three years, during which time he conferred 56 diplomas. He, in turn, was succeeded by Rev. Reddin Andrews, D. D., in 1885, who presided one year, or until consolidation in 1886, conferring 1 diploma. Thus, in all, under five presidents, from the date of securing the charter in 1845 to 1886, a period of 41 years, there were conferred 86 diplomas in the literary department and 32 in the law department by Baylor University at Independence.

In the meantime, after 1861, the year of the division, Dr. Burleson remained president of Waco University until 1886, a period of twentyfive years, during which time he conferred 226 diplomas. This institution was at the first organically connected with a district association, which afterwards was organically connected with the Baptist General Association of Texas that had been organized in 1868, and whose territory lay mainly in north Texas, while the State convention represented mainly south Texas.