The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1894-11-29
ST MARYS OF THE SPRINGS.
A FAMOUS INSTITUTE OF
LEARNING.
Inspected by a Sentinel Reporter
A Beautiful Place, a Warm
Welcome, a Pleasant
visit,

| One day last week l made my frs
and long wished for visit to St Mary
of the Springs, near Columbus. S
Marys is near relation of mine, ant
know her life history by heart
Both my grand fathers helped cut th'
!. logs and build the first cabin for til,
church at St Josephs nearly hundred
E years ago, and helped, also, few year,
; later, to put up the first building fol
the Sisters at Somerset, and as long
as they lived, doing what they coule
to aid the church and the school
The story of the Sisters is the of
; told tale ofprivations endured, brave
ly met and grandly overcome; and al
another time l may tell some noted
events in that long history of trial
and 'iumph, through deadly pes.ilence
and destroying fires, SO well known
and so cherished by all the sons and
daughters who trace back in line OF
memory from the good old country Of
St Josephs and St Marys.
With my mind dwelling in the
little "shanty" where the Sisters first
lit the Lamps in this country, it is not
possible for me to tell the feeling that
came over me, when stepping from the
train, | looked up on the hill above
and saw the grand and beautiful
building before me, outlined against
the sky and looking like the palace of
Kings. ] have seen in pictures, which
were hundreds of years in building.
and in countries settled and civilized
for as many as thousand years.
The approaches to the building
through ever wide open, welcoming
gates are over smooth, wide walks,
through grove of trees of all sizes,
one old Elm in a gully by spring
big enough and old looking enough to
have served onr namesake, Chief
Logan, as fitting place for his speech.
The trees were bare IF leaf, and show
ed against the building and the sky
like japanese lace work. Here and
there noticed ever-greens and
81 remember, / reme mber,
The fr trees dark and high
used Ia tank tn l.. slender topS
Touched up against the sky
And it does seem from all the sur
roundings Of gradual hill, and vernal
slopes freckled with russet leaves.
reposing in the soft, quiet, Indian Sum
mer sun, that the sky did bend down
close and heaven is not far away from
St Marys.
A lofty mound stands in the center
of the yard in front of the building,
surmounted by a statute of Our Lady |
of Lourdes and flag staff, emblernatic
ofthe kinship Of the virtues of patriot
ism and religion. Statusry of the
Sacred Head, Guardian Angel, ap-
propriate liz design and beautiful in
finish, add to the charms eff the out |
door surroundings. The bui ding is
four stories. The entrance is reached |
by fight Of long and wide tone steps. |
Above the door stands a life size
statute Of the patron saint.
We were met at the door by a |
Sister and conducted to the reception
room, where We made ourselves known.
and expressed a desire to see through
the building.
Being in an Educational Institution
Of course | first wanted to see the
Stud. Hall. This is large room,
light and airy, wish high ceilings, sup
ported here and there by columns.
The Hall has accommodations for
about one hundred pupils. Each pupil
is provided with desk. The Prefect
of Studies occupies seat on raised
platform and watches that quiet is
preserved, and that the rules are
always observed. The pupils NUT
Keep perfectly quiet: no talking, no
about, no noisy, fussy manners.
At certain hours the classes are called I
,ut to Recitation Room where q
;eacher hears the lessons, explains
What is not understood, and gives the
esson in this branch for the next dav.
The class then returns to the Study
Hall and takes up the lesson for the
lext hour. A dozen or more classes
nay be out recitlng at the same time
Morning and evening, the Study Hall
9 filed with the attendance of the
,ntire school.
The Class Rooms are supplied with
lates, paper, black boards, maps,
harts and necessary furniture.
The music rooms occupy one side
# the building and each is supplied
With piano, and the "practicing" of
he one does not interfere nor inter-
upt any other. although twenty may
e taking lessons at the same time.
The Art Rooms are delightful
laces. ere we saw paintings in
rlter colors and oil and statuary in
II stages to completion. The China
alnting was particularly attractive
0 me. The vases and other articles
re moulded, polished, painted, and
len baked in a furnace convent
ntly near. The rooms Tor fancy needle