San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-08-18

DRlppINd SPRINGS. Texas, |
August 9th, 1881. J

We are having here what might DO
termed April showers, aud Il they con
until we get a thorough season, aud tho
Fall months arc dry, so that farmers
can pick out their cotton as |, opens,
tho yield will be greater than Tor several
years. Our corn crop, however, will
be light, owing TO a killing frost in the
valleys as late as the l4'h Of April, and
,he,abse.ce Of rain in June. Oats and
milet were very good Wheat yielded
from ten to fifteen bushels per acre.
Grass is good aud stock fat, On the
higher table lands there will be acorns
enough to give our hogs good start to
fa,teu, withou, drawing too heavily on
onr corn pens: so, on the whole, We
have but little cause to complain, but
much for which to DO thankful. The
health Of the country is all that could
desired, and it is so uniformly So. that
is unusual to say anything about the
health Of ones self or family in writing
10 abseu friends and relatives. | heard
a speaker few days ngo, in an address
to a large assembly. say, he did not
know what became Of the people OF
tho mountains, unless they dried mp
and blew away, aud il you could have
seen the people assembled with so large
proportion of old people, you would
not have pronounced the speaker n uch
of blower himself.
The people are beginning to realize the
importance of having good schools. A
teu-months school has been taught IN
the Phillips neigh borhood, and is known
us the Walnut spring Academy. This
school will be open again the LIST OF Sep
tembcr, for n ten months session. AT
this place dripping Springs) there is
going up an Academy. Its walls ARE OF
stone. Tho miin building is 3DxoO;
the wings are 3Ox:30 A music room
will ulso be attached It's expeo'el,o
be completed by tho last of Sepiem
Der. an the school opau the l't Of U,
tuber. The principal Of this academy will
be VIM NJ Jordan. late of Kentucky
"a teacher OF long experience, and
comes to us very highly recommended
II. B. Jacobs, 'rintendent OF New
Albany pablo schools, indiana, in u
letter TO friend here says: J" 1t gives
me great pleasure TO write you IN com-
mendation Of Prot Jordan. whom |
have known we'll and favorlbly ever
since the fall OF 1873. He is gentle
man of high moral worth and excellen.
scholastic atta,umenls, aud possesses
many of the essential qualities OF a lead
,ng aud successful educator. You will
. ini him an honorable Christian gentle
man, capable OF doing you good service
US an instructor. His qualifications
and experience emineutly.ft him to pre-
side over an educational institution.
Prot. j urdan WAS student Of Howard
College, Alabama. and prior to comlug
here, presided over the Baptist College
at Emuence, KY, and it is expected b.,
his frieads and patrons that he will
build up a school at this place that will
b. credit to this section, county and
State.
: On the 9th inst. the patrons Of the
school gave u barbecue. which was at
] tended by about five hundred people
1t WAS also the occasion OF laying thu
cornerstone Of the academy, by Fret
d Masons from San Marcos, Mountain
= City, Onion Creek aud Rlmbo Lodges
. Dept. NJ. q. NJ, Felix Smith con
ducting The ceremoni es, after which thu
procession marched to stand prep ,red
for the occasion, when our County clerk
Mr. Green, introduced our well-kuowd
and popular county judge, who delivered
the welcome ad iress. Mr. &. W. Wal
n tiers. also OF your city, followed in
d masonic address 1 would give yo,
e a synopsis of Ju ige Walters speach, i
o space would permit it. Let it suffice l.
say that it was a very able one, aud wei
J, received.
e After Judge Walters speech, til
e assembly unitedly joined in song
: Sweet Bye.ani Bye suggested,
, suppose, by some one who had beer
g cycling the long row Of table, on the left
o and perhaps shifting something in thu
way of roasted pigs. mutton, kids an
If beef.
d Alter dinner, (Which was ample wit
d many basket fu.ls remaining), and som
d general conversation and the exchang
of miny pleasaniries. and still NOR
d counting by the lads and lassies, III
q stand was again occupied, when Pro
,i Jordan delivered an address on genera
.t education. followed by Judge Kone, o
the purpose, aims and benefits ei I'll
J. public school system of Texas. A
honr or two later. all began to tax
y their departure. seemingly, Joyous 80
'g happy. and, we hope, better, PHYSICAL!
mentally aud morally.
t Perhrp. 7 should close here, but
you will allow me. I will add that
oftea think We Americans. and espec
ally the agricultural classes. lead To
,. -eclu led and mpno'ouons lives; that "
p should more frequently have our sOci'
gatherings. and have more ioterchsnG
Of thought and opinions. If We d.