The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-30
ST. MARY'S ACADEMY
CLOSE OF THE TERM--IN1EREST-
ING AND ENTERTAINING EN-
ERCISES WEDNESDAY.

ERCISES WEDNESDAY.
Among the many accessories of Austin
which add to the attractiveness or the
city, her schools are foremost. Already
she is distinguished for the number and
character of her educational institu-
tions, and may well be called the "Athens
of Texas" Prominent among them, and
deserving especial notice, the more so be-
cause of the modest demeanor and unob-
trusive course of the management, is "St.
Mary's academy"
This institution, being under the man
agement of, and conducted by religious
order, Is incorrectly called the convent"
It is in no sense Convent" in so far as
the word conveys an idea of walls and
locks and seclusion from the world, for
there is no restraint other than that nee
essary to proper and healthful dis
cipline. 1t is day and boarding school
of high grade, for girls and yonng la
dies, where, in addition to the intellectual
training and development of pupils, every
attention is paid to that of health, and
morals, and the refnements of social
character. The elegant three-story stone
building, situated on an elevated site,
overlooking the lower part of the city,
and the beautiful Colorado val
ley,. with its purple back
ground of cedar clad hills, is constructed
with every attention to hygiene, and, as a
consequence, it is rare that the 1nfirmary
has any little inmates. Religious exer-
cises constitute, az they should, part of
| each days duties, but in no way is it
sought to impress the peculiar views and
tenets of the Catholic order upon children
of Protestant parents.
But it was not of the school itself we
| proposed to speak here and now; the
above only by way of correcting what we
believe to be a very general misapprehen-
sion of facts.
The scolastlc year OF this institution
closed Wednesday with a most interesting
literary and musical entertainment by the
pupils. Day scholars, of whom there are
a large number, daughters of our citizens
of all denominations, and boarding pu.
pills IN all, to the number, perhaps, of zoe
ranging in age from the diminutive
brlght-eyed little "minims" of 6 to 10, tc
young ladies and misses of the junior ani
seniors, from IL to Is years of age.
large number of the boarding pupils are
motherless, and some have neither mother
nor father; and to these what an asylum
what refuge-a God send is this cheer
full, pleasant, beautiful home, with itl
delightful surroundings-all breathing o.
peace, order, happiness; made "home" in
deed by the loving care and protection O.
the good sisters, whose tenderness and un
firing devotion to their moral, social, nv
genie and intellectual interest could b,
excelled only by a mother, and which
robs their orphanage of its sadness, ant
makes glad their hearts and bright an,
sunshiny their little lives. We know
whereof we speak, and make most CRATE
ful acknowledgment of the fact. We DE-
not know when we have witnessed a NOR
pleasing and interesting entertainment
Being conducted by the kind Sister Su
| perior, Sister Mary Pauline, into the spac
} ious recitation hall, which, with its higl
ceiling and numerous and large windows
! In whose inches we're tastefully arraye
numerous, rare hot house plants in crooks