San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-08-02
A GREAT DAY.
ChautanQua Hill Proelaims the Prime
Necessity OF Fostering our Public
schools, and OF a New School Building.


Surprising, az ,is probable, the
Texas Chautauqua will remain at San
Marcos, then the importance OF new
public school building here becomes,
II possible, the moro conspicuous,
tho want Of il the more glazing,
Only think OF our five hundred public
school pupils consigned to imperfect
education, or no education, at the seat
OF the Texas Chautauqua! Would
they be in q condition to profit by
that institution Obviously not. To
build up you must begin at the hot
tom. We trust this most important
matter will receive consideration on
Teachers day at the Hill tomorrow,
for it is OF far.roaching significance.
While penning the above para
graph for our last issue. while we
hoped something might DO said in
tho direction indicated, we had no
idea that we were actually sounding
the keynote OF the meeting OF FRI
day. Governor Ross and Superin-
tendent Cooper failed to be present,
but in their stead-thanks no doubt
to Prof. Bryant-we had A. p. Wool
bridge, so long connected with the
public schools OF Austin, Judge Full
more, former county judge Of Travis
county; Judge Clarke, regent of the
State University; Frank Rainey, gu
perintendent Of the Asylum for the
Blind, and others The addresses OF
the three first named gentlemen were
all decidedly in favor Of popular, as
we'll as higher education.
Mr.. Woodbridge made the first
speech, or rather informal talk on the
direct subject Of public school mat
ters in San Marcos, in the light of
the experience of Austin on that sub
ject. In the beginning he said oil
was chaos in regard to educational
matters in that city. The community
system" prevailed, and was in all re-
spects unsatisfactory. There was q
widespread disbelief that the people
OF tile city would vote to take charge
of the public schools, or tax them
selves to erect buildings and carry
them on. But the result dispelled
all doubt. The people were prompt
to give all needed aid just as fast and
far as they became satisfied it was
needed. So it would be in San
Marcos. The success of the Chau
tauqua presupposes successful sys-
tenn Of public schools rs the requisite
basis. People congregated on that
hill, looking toward the city would
inquire, where is your public school
building? Public schools were the
OF the higher schools, the
State University and the State Chau-
tauqua. They were really of the first
Importance rs we'll as the first in the
series of the means of progress,
churches not excepted. The thing
10 be done was to tax ourselves to
insure their success and efficiency OF
the highest degree. TO do this, a
lew school building, sufficient for
our wants, and fitted with all the
modern appliances, is Indispensable.
Judge FILLMORE followed in n
similar strain, also supporting his
by the experience OF Ans
lin, and unanswerable facts and fig
Tres. There was good audience,
III of whom must have been con-
,inced, if never before, of the justice
md necessity of these measures 80
advocated. Our only regret
vas that our whole community could
lot have been present on this most
occasion.