San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-05-03
San Marcos Summer Institute.

San Marcos, Tex, April 27.-San
Marcos, Justly famed for the number
of her churches, the excellence Of her
schools, the morality of her people
and the elevated tone of her society,
has, by reason of her healthful loca-
ton, invited numbers of health sock
ers in both summer and winter.
The next summer will add to her
other attractions the San Marcos
Summer Institute, on the Chautauqua
plan.
The Sunday school assembly and
summer institute was established
here four years ago. Rev. DIR. Du-
Bose, assisted by the liberal donation
of San Marcos people, bought the
ground, q beautiful cedar-crowned en-
inence overlooking the source Of the
San Marcos River, and tho exercises OF
the first session were conducted un-
der spacious tent. The attendance
from abroad was not large, but the To-
cal interest was great, and the projec-
tors were encouraged to push the
work so auspiciously begun. In the
second year substantial improvements
were made. The grounds were ter
raced and planted in shrubs and flow
ers; fountains were put Allowing; o
tabernacle, with q seating capacity
of 600 to 800, was erected, which,
with the DuBose cottage, a gift from
our people, gave permanence to the
enterprise. The two sessions held
under the tabernacle were largely at.
tended. Several schools were inau-
gurated, and lectures by eminent
scholars and clergymen were deliver
ed. During the last winter the man
agement was transferred from the To-
cal board to board consisting OF
Revs. DuBose. Mcintyre and others,
all gentlemen of observation and ex-
perience in the conduct Of schools on
on the Chautauqua plan, who will or
ganize for the coming season such
schools as are in vogue ct Chautauqua,
N. Y; Montege, Tenn, and elsewhere
in the United States. The purpose
is to enable all persons to pursue at
home course Of study that will re-
suit in an education comparable with
that obtained by O collegiate course.
All the departments incident to sum-
mer assemblies will be represented
here. Schools of oratory and of art,
music and the science Of teaching,
penmanship and drawing, philosophy
and theology, oil will be taught.
Camp fires and the round table will
bring the sage and the seeker after
knowledge in close communication,
and the task of study will be lighton-
ed by the social pleasures OF 'recess. '
Eminent lecturers have been retained,
and the session promises one contin-
ued "feast of reason. g..
The managers are already placing
the grounds in order. The taber-
naclo will be remodeled and its seating
capacity increased. Restaurants,
lighthouses, etc, are being built, A.
900 fe ct of new pipes will distribute
water through the grounds, and sew
eral hundred furnished tents will af
ford outdoor homes for visitors. The
river is being cleared Of the surfact
vegetation that married its beauty
and little steamboat viii give safe
transport to the head Of our marvel
Gus river.
The view Of the San Marcos vnllsl
from the tower on Chautauqua hill il
one Of unsurpassed grandeur an'
, loneliness. A recent visitor declares
that it rivaled in beauty the Shenan
. doah valley in Virginia, as seen from
; the summit Of the Blue Ridge.
, The San Marcos Summer Institute
. largely the work Of San Marcos pee
' pie, deserves the encouragement Q
. al friends Of liberal education.
1t is not designed 10 be local ~ IL
= benefceuce, aud offers the people o
the whole state opportunities 10 ava
I themselves Of a plan Of study such a
: is afforded by other schools Of hk
character that have been 50 fruitfl
; and 50 fsr-reachihg IN results--GAl
weston News.