The Hill Military Academy. HILL MILITARY ACADEMY. H Among the many fine edifices now in process of erection in Portland one of the largest and handsomest is that of the Hill Military Academy, at the west end of Marshall street. The building, which is already under roof and rapidly nearing completion, is four stories high and castellated with a view to military effect. It is of slowburning construction, having no hollow wall and floor spaces. An inspection of the interior and of the floor plans shows that everything possible has been done to provide all the accommodations and conveniences of a successful school and comfortable home. The academy is located in one of the most attractive portions of the city, there being many beautiful private residences in the neighborhood. The school is on high ground and commands a splendid view of Portland and its surroundings. The snow-covered mountains, Hood, St. Helens and Adams, are in plain sight, while from the upper stories of the school there is afforded a fine prospect of the Willamette River. A short ramble brings one to the City Park, Willamette Heights or to Macleay Park. Thus the school, though situated in the city and enjoying all the municipal advantages, is sufficiently remote to be free from the cramped life and distraction of the city's business center. The founder and principal of the academy, Dr. J. W. Hill, firmly believes that boys attain the best physical, mental and moral development in a private school under military discipline. In a private school teacher associates with pupil in the home life and at recreation, and since the resident teachers are college-bred men this association in itself serves to give culture to the boy. Then in the morning and evening study periods, peculiar to private schools, pupils are taught the best methods of study and hence become the more interested in their work. Military training imparts a good physique, fosters the bodily health, leads to habits of neatness, promptness and obedience, and aids materially in the good order of a school. Dr. Hill has always been popular with the boys under his charge and has succeeded in gaining their utmost confidence. He is liberal but firm in government. He endeavors to stimulate the sense of honor, justice and duty, and in the case of senior boys to give such wider freedom as will prepare them for the time when they will be largely thrown upon their own responsibilities at college or in active life. He is, however, very strict towards boys who betray the confidences reposed in them or who show themselves unworthy of liberal handling. The academy has a very competent staff of teachers. They are all experienced in boarding school work and conversant with the latest and most approved methods of instruction. Professor J. W. Gavin, late head master of Hoitt's school, California, has the superintendence of classes and instruction. The military organization is in charge of G. C. von Egloffstein, lieutenant in the German army and major of the Third regiment of the Oregon National Guard. The academy opens under the most favorable auspices and promises to be one of the best and most flourishing private schools on the Pacific Coast. of Prehistoric Times on the Western Continent, by Charles Grissen. T Chapter IV. WENTY years had elapsed since the wedding feast at Uxmal. Prince Atol succeeded to the throne of Xibalba. Metates had become the allpowerful high priest. The ambition of each was being realized-but the golden. god had supplanted the God of Love. Princess Alta was an exile at the court of Uxmal, and Queen Maya had suffered a worse fate. A great day was at hand; a day on which the king and high priest must impress the people with the power vested in their exalted stations. It was the hour before sunrise on the great festal day of Raymi, occurring annually when the sun enters the sign of Cancer during the summer solstice. A solitary individual suddenly stopped and looked up, not, however, like one looking about him, but more like a mastiff sniffing the air. Holding a staff in one hand, he drew the other several times across his forehead while his body began a swaying motion forward and backward. At the same time he seemed to listen intently. A voice within the building evidently arrested his attention, yet he did not turn his head. A few minutes later a young priest, robed in a simple gray garment, appeared at the entrance below, and, barefoot, approached his visitor, who evinced no sign. of recognition, but continued his swaying motion and kept his eyes riveted to the ground. The priest drew something from his robes which looked like a small scroll, and placed it in the hand of his visitor, who, without looking at him, straightway departed across the square. The priest stood still and watched him until he disappeared through the opposite gate, when he turned back, muttering to himself, "poor blind Komo-'tis a pity but his wits quite compensate for his blindness." A little while after the priest had re-en tered the Coricancha, or Houses of the Sun. The vast enclosure was all astir with life. The Coricancha contained some four or five hundred priests, and this was the morning of the greatest festival of the year. Barbaric instruments jarred and pierced the stillness of dawn. The hum of many voices increased. They must be in the great city square to greet the first ray of the rising sun. The priests now emerged from the many square openings, small, compared with the portals of modern buildings. Discarding their sandals, they glide two by two across the great flag-paved court, and arriving at the opposite extremity form a semi-circle. expanding wider and wider until several hundred white-robed priests stand expectantly facing the Coricancha. Now all eyes are directed toward the main entrance. Suddenly the sound of barbaric music breaks the silence. As the musicians, playing the favorite marimba-a reed instrument—a rude trumpet made of beaten silver, and the tapanabaz, a primitive drum made of a hollow trunk covered with wild goat skins, step into the open court, the priests reverently incline. their heads. Following the musicians come a troop of youths bearing fans; after these the augurs; and at last Metates, the High Priest, borne on a litter richly ornamented in silver. He is gor geously attired in robes of feather work, and bears in his hand the sacred golden bowl for the sacrifice. Arriving at the opposite end, he is assisted to the ground and takes his place in front of the priests. Another peal of music, and again all eyes are directed to the main entrance. This time the number of musicians and fan-bearers is still greater. Following these, come high functionaries, each again attended by fan-bearers and warriors, the latter clad in full paraphernalia of war, a short sword of copper, spear and darts tipped with copper, and in many instances. among the nobles, with silver and gold; their heads protected with casques made of the skins of wild animals and richly decorated with metals and precious stones, surmounted by the brilliant plumage of tropical birds; their bodies covered with a close-fitting tunic of quilted. cotton. At sight of the imperial standard displaying the glittering device of the rainbow, all, save the high priest and the royal attendants, prostrated themselves before the presence of the king, who was borne aloft on a gold emblazoned sedan. His dress was made of the finest wool of the vicuna, richly dyed and ornamented with precious stones. Around his head was wreathed a turban of many colored folds, with a tasseled fringe of scarlet. Two feathers of a rare bird placed upright in this turban completed the distinguishing insignia of royalty. At a motion from the jewel-bedecked hand, the entire concourse arose and immediately began its march toward the great square where was to be held the festival and sacrifice of Raymi. Outside the sacred inclosure the line of march was thronged with an immense multitude of chiefs and people who had come from remote provinces to take part in the festival, as well as to pay the annual tribute to their ruler. At sight of the royal standard tumultuous shouts of acclamation rent the still air, and, upon the approach of the royal litter, the multitude, as if by instinct, fell prostrate before their ruler, all-no, not all, for here and there a rugged chief, apparently from the provinces as his dress and following indicated remained standing and indifferent; curiously, too, these men seemed to belong to a different race. They were taller, their skins of a lighter hue, and their hair, a dark auburn, fell in wavy profusion over their shoulders. Their whole aspect was heroic. As the long procession advanced, it was noticed that the eyes of two young priests were fixed upon a stalwart chief who stood erect and defiant, leaning upon his spear. With him were two women, evidently his wife and daughter. They, too, belonged to the same race, for they were fair compared to the swarthy complexion of those around them. Behind these seemed to be a number of the chief's followers, all of whom, however, prostrated themselves with the rest at the approach of royalty. Many were the scowls and looks of hatred and malice cast at the offenders. At seeing them, the eyes of the high priest expressed surprise, and, as if comprehending the situation, an expression of quick resolve came over his dark features. Whispering something to an attendant, the latter immediately stepped up to the chief conveying the high priest's command, evidently a request to pay the customary homage to the approaching king. The chief, however, only shook his head and remained standing. The two young priests, whose eyes from the first had been fixed upon the chief and his companions, were near the high priest, and had been close observers of the occurrence. younger of the two felt the blood rush to his face, caused by feelings far different from those of his companions. The "Knowest thou yonder chief?" whispered the man at his side. "He seems familiar to me." "Did'st thou observe what passed just now?" In the speaker we recognize the priest who gave the mysterious blind man the message in the courtyard before the start. "I have observed the grievous offense of the chief," replied the young man, his eyes fixed upon the ground. The keen eyes of the high priest,. though observant of all that was going on,. paid no further heed to them, save an occasional knitting of his brows that indicated his inward displeasure. It was he, clothed in authority, superior even to the king himself in religious matters, he whose slightest wish was law, observed among the people a rebellious element as demonstrated by the chief in an act of direct disobedience. The two friends, for such they were, knew only too well what it portended; but as this was not an occasion for the exchange of thoughts and feelings, they, with the rest, marched silently on. The embarrassment of the younger, however, had not escaped his companion's observation, and he resolved at the first opportunity to learn the cause of it. Although the feast of Raymi was the greatest of all the festivals, there was beyond the pomp and splendor a dark background in the poverty and wretchedness 4 of the multitude, forming a somber contrast to the state and glitter. Silently the procession passed along, now approaching the great square of the city. Here, thousands upon thousands stood waiting its arrival, but there was no demonstration save one of silent expectancy made the morę imposing by the humility and reverential awe that seemed to pervade the entire multitude. Upon the approach of the royal standard the same general and instantaneous prostrations, with the exceptions as before observed, took place. The great square presented the appearance of one magnificent awning formed by the canopies of the nobles, made of gorgeous feather work and richly tinted stuffs carried by attendants. In the center of the great square stood the Pillar of the Sun, approached by stone steps leading up to a platform encircling the base of the pillar. At sight of this magnificent spectacle our young priest raised his head like one who awakens from a reverie. A flush came over his handsome face, his heart beat wildly within him, and his eyes betrayed great emotion as he surveyed the scene around him. "Courage, my brother," whispered his companion, "this is the day of all the days of thy life." of the pillar. Here, as the two men were brought face to face, a striking resemblance of features was discernable. Following the royal litter, the high priest took his station upon the last step facing the multitude, while the king remained. seated, his attendants taking their places below him. "On, daughter; on, Ahtalpa," spoke the chief, addressing his daughter and wife. "Let us press nearer lest I fail to hear the infidel's speech and the usurper's false vows, for 'tis such food my hatred feeds upon. Here, make way for these, ye dogs, make way! Have I not come down from my mountain eyrie-I, Chalco, descended from the lord of this realm? Ho, there, make way!" "Father, I entreat thee," spoke his daughter with affright. "The press of so great we shall be crushed." "Nay, nay, child, fear not"; and the look of determination gave him the appearance of an enraged god. Fully conscious of his enormous strength, he pressed forward, using his strong arms in a forcible manner upon the surprised and angry worshippers, pushing them right and left like so many children, closely followed by his timid wife and daughter and several attendants. Approaching nearer the center of the square, he came upon the armed guards of a high official. These resisted his progress, but the chief, undaunted, smote a soldier upon the cheek, who, falling backward, upset the richly draped canopy under which a dignified official reposed upon his cushioned litter. Instantly arose the murmur and clash of hundreds of angry voices, and a dozen strong hands seized the bold intruder. Weapons were drawn and the life of the chief seemed in imminent danger. The incident had not escaped the keen-eyed high priest, who, turning quickly in the direction of the disturbance, at that moment beheld the head of the offending chief towering above all others. (To be Continued.) A look of proud self-confidence was the answer, for at that moment the high priest was borne past them to the steps of the pillar. Taking his stand upon the first step, he awaited the approach of the king. As he did so, his figure, tall and erect, assumed an attitude of command. His whole aspect was that of a born leader of men; his darkly-set features, piercing eyes, prominent curved nose and compressed lips indicated fearless resolution and unbending determination. At a motion of his hand the priests formed in three circles around the pillar, leaving an open space for the passage of the royal train. With a deep salaam, the high priest received the king at the base Fear of Infection. "Where are you rushing so fast?" "Eh! Been exposed?" "Yep. Telephone girl this morning gave the pest house number by mistake." -Cleveland Plain Dealer. HIS academy was founded in 1870 by Bishop Morris in grateful memory of the first bishop of Oregon, who himself had established a pioneer school in 1856. It is, therefore, in its inception one of the earliest of educational institutions in our beautiful state, where it has won for itself a high position which every loyal son of the church will be anxious to maintain. LOCATION AND ENVIRONMENT. It is situated on one of the best sites in the city of Portland, within easy reach of the main streets and yet in a residential suburb, many lovely homes being in its immediate neighborhood. It is enclosed by a fine campus of several acres and commands splendid views of the surrounding country with the snowy peaks of St. Helens, Hood and Jefferson in the distance. These grounds afford excellent accommodations for baseball, football, lawn tennis and military drill, and thus recreation, including a "breather" between sessions, can be readily obtained without leaving the precincts. It is hoped also that day pupils, as well as boarders, will regularly participate in these pastimes, both for their own health and the credit of the school. It is of the utmost importance that the former should be associated with the latter, not only in work but in play, and the faculty trusts that both parents and pupils will co-operate with them in this matter. BUILDINGS. These present an imposing appearance and are admirably adapted to their purpose. All the rooms are spacious, lofty and well lighted. The dormitories are being rearranged on the most approved method and everything has been done under the personal supervision of the new principal to render the premises all that they should be in every particular. The building has been wired for electricity, has been painted throughout, and indeed no expense has been spared to make Bishop Scott Academy the worthy home of a first rate school. OBJECT. The intention of the trustees and of the faculty is to carry out to the full the aim of the founder by giving a thoroughly Christian education upon the principles of the Episcopal Church, whose broad and Apostolic teachings will always form the basis of the school life. On this sure foundation will be reared superstructure commensurate with it. "The equal development of body, soul and spirit," as Mr. Gladstone once defined the mission of the teacher, will, in fact, be the motto of the staff, for not only will a liberal education be offered which will fit the alumni for all the avocations of the world, but every effort will be made to build up character and thus to create Christian citizens, exhibiting sturdy patriotism combined with true manliness and reverence. For further information concerning this institution see forth page of cover. |