feel more concern than it has heretofore manifested, though it may well be claimed that it has made important advances, despite some errors in its efforts in behalf of the education of the colored race. In the constitution of 1866, adopted just after the close of the civil war, when the intention was to benefit the freedmen, the following provision was made:

All the taxes which may be collected from Africans or persons of African descent in the State shall be exclusively appropriated for the maintenance of a system of public schools for Africans and their children, and it shall be the duty of the legislature to encourage schools among these people.

The mistake was in imagining in the absence of statistics that the tax on the Africans applied exclusively for their benefit would produce a larger revenue than would their pro rata share of the tax from the combined white and colored population, which was not the fact on account of the negroes, though very numerous, being still not so many as the whites and having but little property compared with that of the white people. Such special provision was, however, dropped from the constitution of 1876, thus allowing for the education of colored children the benefit of a pro rata of the State's entire school fund instead of the limited amount collected by taxation from colored people.

ELEEMOSYNARY INSTITUTIONS.

There are several State institutions whose work is in an educational as well as charitable line. These are the State Orphan Home, of which William A. Wortham is superintendent, at Corsicana; Texas Institution for the Blind, E. T. Becton, superintendent, at Austin; Texas Deaf and Dumb Asylum, B. F. McNulty, superintendent, at Austin, and Institute for Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Colored Youths, S. J. Jenkins, superintendent, at Austin.

STATE ORPHAN HOME.

The policy in the management of this institution, as stated by the board of trustees, is to "make it a home as near complete in all its arrangements as it is possible to make a public institution."

Three things have been uppermost in the management and have been heartily concurred in by the board, superintendent, and matron: (a) To give the children good moral training; (b) to see that they are given such an education as the common schools of the State of the first class guarantee to every child; (c) to teach them habits of industry, and make them as near as possible self-reliant and selfsustaining, and to teach them, above all things, that the honest, industrious, and intelligent citizen will always succeed in life and command the respect of his fellow-creatures. With this policy in view, to make it as practicable as possible has been the desire of the management, and

everything has been done that could possibly be done to make it effective.

When the present board took possession, March 10, 1894, there were 163 children in the home, and when they filed their last annual report to the legislature there were 263 children in the home. Since that time there have been admitted into the home 171 children. Of the whole number, 5 children have died, 6 children have been adopted, and 21 children have been returned to friends and relatives, leaving now in the home 402 children.

The school is graded and the curriculum is such as to give the children as good an education as can be obtained in any of the public schools. An industrial department has been added, in order to better maintain the institution as a home such as should be given to the orphan children of Texas.

The expenditures for each student are about $100 a year. Value of property, including 200 acres of land, buildings, stock, etc., is about $60,000.

INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND.

The importance of this institution consists in the fact that it not only affords a home for a period to children to whom the world is almost a blank in the general pleasures of life, but in a large measure qualifies them for work for their own support as far as they are capable of such instruction, and with some of them their aptness and capacity for learning is marvelous. On this account the institution has been affiliated, on a line with the high schools of the State, with the State university, at which one of its alumni, Franz J. Dohmen, recently graduated with the highest honors of his class. Some of the male graduates are earning a living in making brooms, mattresses, and assisting in furniture making, etc., and girl graduates find employment as church organists, music teachers, and in certain other work for which they have been trained at the institution. In a letter to Dr. Becton, President Winston, of the university, states that

Mr. Dohmen's record for scholarship is the best in the graduating class of the university.

And that

This is an event in which not only the Institute for the Blind, but also the university, takes the deepest pride and satisfaction, for it establishes two facts: First, the complete efficiency of the training given in our Institute for the Blind, and, second, the ability of the blind to receive the highest university education.

An exhibit at a recent State fair of work done at the institution, showing the general character of instruction and industries at the school, was a great revelation, and the exhibit as a whole was awarded a diploma for general excellence in all departments; and, as it was the

first one ever sent from the institution and was in the nature of an experiment, the results were highly gratifying.

In his report Dr. Becton states:

Of the 165 pupils in attendance, 107 are State pupils; that is, in addition to board, tuition, medical attention by the superintendent, and eye treatment by the oculist, the State pays their railroad fare to and from Austin and furnishes clothes for them while here.

The majority of blind persons in Texas are children of poor parents. This is accounted for by reason of the fact that there is a disease of the eye coming on soon after birth, which, if not promptly and actively treated, results in blindness. Parents do not understand this, and if they did, in many cases are unable to pay doctors' bills. Domestic remedies are used, and blindness ensues.

The books of the institution show that the annual per capita for the maintenance of the students is about $75. There were four graduates last session.

THE DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM.

This is an institution for the education of the deaf-not an establishment for the treatment of diseases of the ear.

After admission pupils are supplied with everything except clothing, which must be furnished in sufficient quantity and of suitable quality by the parent or guardian. The State does not pay fare on railroads. In case of real indigency, and only in such cases, assistance can be given toward clothing and traveling expenses.

The students are taught on the usual lines of academic instruction in such institutions, and in printing, bookbinding, shoemaking, and such other industries as may be provided for them by the State. They have the advantage of extensive grounds for raising fruits and vegetables, etc., and in that way contribute to reducing the per capita for their maintenance to about $85 per annum.

The late superintendent, A. T. Rose, in his report to the governor represents the attendance of students as follows:

During the past year we have enrolled 299 pupils, but it is not to be understood that we had this number present at any one time. The report year, running from October to October, includes part of two school years. During the school year ending June, 1897, we enrolled 263 pupils. Since September of this year we have enrolled 27 new pupils, and 9 old pupils not in school last year have returned. At the close of school in June, 4 pupils were graduated and 6 dismissed. Of last year's enrollment 31 have up to this date failed to return, and one boy was expelled. Deducting these (42) from the total enrollment, leaves an attendance of 257 at the date of this report. If we had the room and could admit them, the attendance

would reach something near 300.

INSTITUTE FOR DEAF, DUMB, AND BLIND COLORED YOUTHS.

The literary feature of this institution is conducted by a principal and three assistant teachers. Instruction is given in all the elementary branches taught in common schools of the State. All pupils are instructed in such branches. The blind are instructed in tangible

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.