 The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, September 7, 1884 St. Xavier's Academy With a letter of introduction from J.H. Carey to the Sister Superior, a Gazetteer reporter visited St. Xavier's Academy on Thursday morning. We were kindly received by the Superior, who showed us through the Academy and over the grounds. The building is admirably constructed, well ventilated and kepts scrupulously clean and nice. We were shown into the class-rooms and were delighted to note the evident signs of discipline there prevailing. On entering all work was at once suspended, the entire class rose up, bowed and remained standing while we were present. We visited the dining rooms, sleeping rooms, chapel, vestry, etc., and were delighted at every step to see what good order prevailed throuohout. The couches on which the young beauties repose in slumber are comfortably arranged, and most of them have the advantage of the south breeze. The play grounds are well kept and supplied with a perfect forest of shade trees, a vineyard and some fruit trees. The place is certainly very cool, pleasant, cheerful and attractive, and the sanitary and hygeninic attention to the premises deserves more than a passing notice, and everything is carefully observed wh ich tends to the preservation and promotion of health. The present session opened last Monday with an attendance of 120, and each day adds new pupils. The Academy is now in charge of the Sister Supperior and 8 other Sisters of Saint Mary. Students outside of the Catholic faith are admitted, and no attempt will be made to make converts of them. However, they will be required to be respectful during prayers, and will be taught the cardinal principles of religion, i.e., that God is the supreme ruler of the universe, and Christ, His son, the Savior of the world. The curriculum is ample and the training praiseworthy. On entering the chapel we felt a certain degree of awe as we recognized the fact that we were walking in sacred and holy precincts; there stood the statue of the crucified Jesus to the left; on the right was a large statue of the Virgin Mary, holding in her arms the infant Son of God. There were many other images and representations, such as are usually seen in chapels. We would publish the names of the pupils enrolled, but the Sister Superior declined to permit it.  St. Xavier's Academy History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |