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Catlwlic Educational Endeavors
to go to church. This gave no end of worry to the Brothers, who seriously contemplated the purchase and operation of a ferry boat. A bridge was soon built which ended the anxiety of the Brothers. The Society of Mary, at a great sacrifice and at the cost of many hard- ships, has expanded its educational facilities and has continued since that day to render invaluable service in the cause of Catholic education in Texas. Brother Charles Francis, the builder, took charge of St. Mary's Univer- sity in San Antonio in 1866, after the difficult years of the Civil War had passed. Under his direction great progress was made. Undaunted by a cholera epidemic during his first year, he undertook the erection of a new three-story building. His faith and judgment in the growth of the school were vindicated by the need of an addition within a year. Nine years after he took charge of the school, it became necessary to put up a four-story building and to purchase an adjoining half-lot. St. Mary's expanded and grew to the size it retained until 195 I. Its new building in 1876 was the tallest in downtown San Antonio. 35 The material growth was matched by its academic development. The rurriculum was enlarged and came to include Christian Doctrine, Geog- raphy, Grammar, English, Elocution, History, Arithmetic, Algebra, Drawing, Surveying, Natural Philosophy, and Chemistry. A standard grading system was adopted and regular reports were issued, the highest grade being 5, and the lowest 1. Extracurricular activities were not neg- lected. Dramatics was the most popular; public performances were given during the year at Christmas, Commencement, and other special occa- sions. Enthused by a program presented by St. Mary's students and staff, the San Antonio Express exclaimed in 1880, "It was presented in a manner that reflected credit.. .. St. Mary's is excelled by no other college in Texas." 36 The science laboratory boasted in 1881 a new electric light machine, donated by Mr. Holmgreen of the Alamo Foundry, air pumps that cost $500, and telephonic and telegraphic equipment was used for communica- tion with any part of the building. In 1887, to accommodate the large number of boarding students, St. Mary's Brothers obtained permission from their superiors in 1887 to purchase additional property in the West End and construction was started at once. On these grounds was to be erected soon the present build- ings of St. Mary's University, which began as St. Louis College in 1894.
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35 /bitl., 56-57. 36 /bid., 83-85.
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