The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-04-17

1t was the EDITORS privilege Satur
day TO visit st. Josepb's Academy at
Loretto and observe for day the life
of the scholars at that superb school.
Loretto Is little settlement on high
pine land, three miles west of Man
DARN on the st. Johns river, and a
dozen miles south of Jacksonville. Tho
Ii looks new, 1t has probably been
known to white men over 900 years.
and farms have been in its vicinity for
the greater part of that time. 1t has
an exceptionally healthy location. and
Is the center of a very fertile section
st. Joseph's Academy was established
In 1873. and has pursued the even
tenor Of it's way ever since The
school is not so well known as many
others of less merit; il it was. 1T would
be crowded, for It is one of the best
situated and conducted schools for
boys In the state.
The writer arrived about II a. m,
and found the boys all out on the play
ground There were about half a
hundred of them. all the way from lit
tie shavers of seven to big, sturdy
boys of fourteen. They are a healthy.
happy lot. There was not sickly
locker in the bunch. They were play
ing with a healthy intensity that was
refreshing to see. After the newspa-
per man had watched them play
awhile, he heard bell ring, and they
formed in military order and marched
to a big, spotlessly clean dining room,
where they partook of a solid meal
After their dinner they went back to
play. About 8 o'clock in the afternoon,
they all went in the swimming pool.
fo so mi n io1
a stream Of sulphur water constantly
flows. The boys enjoyed themselves
tremendously. Learning to swim is a
part of their education. They went
into the water headfirst, feetf1rst, side
ways and backwards-it made no par
ticular difference; they were at home
in 1t. The little chaps less than four
feet high would go into the water a
yard over their heads with as much
assurance as the biggest boys. The
sulphur water is particularly beneficial
to them.
The school rooms and dormitories
are large, airy, well ventilated and
well furnished. The boys have all the
comforts they need. but everything is
plain and simple. and they are moi
pampered. The managers of the schoo
aim to keep the scholars in the bes
possible physical condition, finding i
the greatest aid to effective study.
The study hours are steady but no
over-crowded. The boys are called III
at 6 o'clock, and after some exercise
have their breakfast. Then they play
awhile and then go to study. Lessons
and play alternate all day. They neve
study more than two hours at a time
They put in more hours in the schoo
room than do public school scholars
but they do all their study in schoo
hours. There is none of that porin:
over books late in the night that sap
the health of some ambitious publ
school and college students. The teach
ers are always with them. When the.
strike problems beyond their powers
they don't have to hunt up an olde
relative or friend to do the work 70
them. They are shown how in wa
that solidly helps them, and it is
hopeless boy that has to be shown tn
same thing many times.
There are nine of the Sisters of s.
Joseph at Loretto. Teaching is thei
life work and they carry it on by
system that has had its efficienc
proven by the experience of man
years. They are up to date in soil
and necessary instruction, but they d
not teach fads. They are truly eide
sisters to the boys-care for them i
health. nurse them with skilled at
tentfon in sickness, instruct them i
manners and morals as well as in boo
lore; comparatively few are the wome
who look after their blood brother
with the intelligent devotion that tn
Sisters of st. Joseph show for thei
charges.
The convent consists of five hand
some. roomy buildings. connected b
porches and shaded verandas. beside
number of necessary outbuildings.
one wing is the chapel, recently com
pleted, and "a perfect gem in con
struction and furniture. There is ais
large auditorium, where tn
public exercises of the school tax
place.
Near the convent stands the paris
church, very handsome and elegant
furnished little building, the service
in which are attended by a considers
BILE number of people.
1t must be understood that while s
Joseph's is Catholic school, it ha
many schools from Protestant familie
and these are not expected to do c
study anything that may conflict wit
There is a magnificent sulphur we
at Loretto. The water is palatable t
drink and of a medicinal qualit
superior to that of many springs tina
people pay large prices to visit TIL
water is piped thru the convent fo
the use of the teachers and scholar
and there is also a fine roadside four
tain for travellers and their animals.
The convent Is surrounded by we
cultivated gardens, the vegetable
from which supply the table at a
seasons of the year. And no on
could help admiring the rosebushe
which at this season are loaded wit
magnificent American Beauties. Mare
chal Niels and other superb varieties
All in all. St. Joseph's Academy 6
L.ofetto is well situated and we'll cor
Quoted, and there is probably no plac
IN the world where a boy can put |
the years from seven to fourteen wit
better advantage to body and mind.
SPARKNIAN AGAIN IN FLORIDA