The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-07-12

of which is allotted for class rooms; the
other, for the special use of the Brothers:
Between the wings the grounds are cut t.. OH
into grass plots, where the tiowery lilac
shrubs and cvergreens Ill full bloom lena a
delightful charm to the scene.
Brother Isaiah, director and visitor, to
whose wise forethought and sound judg-
ment the Order owes the selection OF tins
beautiful spot for science and religion, re,
ceived your correspondent with his usual
we'll known urbanity. l was ushered
into grand, spacious .parlor,. of unusual
size and of very imposing style, sufficient
| in every way for the holding Of an exhibit
ton. From this you enter into the chapel,
large enough to accommodate the entire
household.
The dormitories are apart from the house,
across groundsentirely sheltered by densely
planted shade trees, offering a delightful
| retreat for the students to exercise in, I'M
touched by single ray from the summers
scorching sun.
The house containing the dormitories is
three hundred feet long and two stories
high one dOrmitOry runs the whole length,
containing one hundred beds, and giving
ample space between each bed. The room
on the ground floor is divided, giving one
half to beds the other is arranged as
wash room, all necessaries for the same
being amply provided.
The garden is we'll worthy of a visit, and
none should ever leave without seeing 1T.
1t is under the constant and skillful care of
a French Brother, who graduated in France
in an agricultural college. This garden
consists of several acres, running to depth
of forty, and contains, besides all our
Southern fruits reared by the most skillful
hands, several rare exotics brought from
Europe. l was there RECALLED with lus-
cious peaches and grapes, and saw most
They had sufficient supply of strawber-
ries for the house from early March. Alto
gether, the garden is wonder in itself, and
is well worth n visit from the Crescent
City to all lovers of botany. A hot house
is Just finished and will soon he in operation.
My tour of inspection for the day being
closed, sauntered out, with the brothers,
to enjoy the evening breezes that blew so
refreshingly over the bay, and took my
course to the bathing house, fully satisfied
that more delightful spot, considering all
the surroundings, for the location of col
lege, could not be found in the country.
Having satisfied myself of the beauty
my attention to the mental adaptabilities
of the college and it's claims to patronage
and distinction as an educational establish
ment. The following was the result OF my
inquiry: l found the studies divided be-
tween the collegiate, commercial, and pre-
paratory departments, comprising SIX
classes the professors of the same number
ing eighteen Brothers and about ten gentle
men unconnected with the Order. l
commenced to examine each class, from the
lowest upward, and in justice to all con-
cerned, l must candidly confess that was
most agreeably disappointed, much as l
had previously known and heard OF the
successful system of teaching adopted by
the Christian Brothers.
The small boys were at their writing
when. entered their class room, seated on
elegantly finished fixed chairs and at desks
of the latest improved pattern, imported
specially for combining elegance with
utility. The writing of this class, i'll all
essential and accidental qualities of uni
formity, style, and neatness, hesitate
not to say, cannot be surpassed by pupils
of their age in any part of the country. AS
a proof of this, as well as of anything else
advanced here in favor of the house or stu
dents, l would beg to refer the visitors
and parents themselves who will visit the
college during the examination and exhibit
ton, to be held this month, to an investiga-
ton for themselves.
VI / examined all the classes in order,
embracing the following: arithmetic, alge-
bra, English. grammar, and bookkeeping
by double entry; in every 'braTcf OF wf1Icf1
there was thorough knowledge mani
tested, which could only follow from per
feet system of teaching on principles, not
by rote or from mere memory. In Latin
from grammer to Ovid, Virgil, Sallust, etc.
in Greek, from grammar up to Homer, with
, the same happy results. In French, too,
there was no falling Off.
+ Having taken all these pupils by sur
prise, and with the determination to sif1
them thoroughly, l left off, at the close OF
the day, with the conviction that more
able, practical, and accomplished corps OF
!, teachers than the present faculty of the
College of Pass Christian could scarcely bt
s found.
' NV visit being entirely unexpected,
9 took all 10y surprise, and examined just al
ri I liked, without any view to please any
e body but myself; and thus, no coiluslol
. between the examined and teacher could
8 take place.
!; 1 would call the special attention o
i business men to the sets of books pre-
+ pared, not for show, but for their daily