WASHINGTON—A LARGE CLASS—THE PRESIDENT A PUPIL—THE WHITE HOUSE—HALLS OF
CONGRESS—DIPLOMA—DR. NEWMAN’S ADDRESS—GOLD MEDAL.
In the latter part of the year 1871 I determined to visit the capital
of the nation—that renowned emporium of knowledge and wisdom—the city
of Washington. Fortified by previous success, I determined on such an
effort here as should signalize my profession, and effectually silence
those who sought to stigmatize my system and lessen confidence in myself
by speaking lightly of both. Themselves pretenders to knowledge, and
ignorant of what I taught, I have found them ever ready to insinuate
that all is “humbug” which does not emanate from their would-be fruitful
brains. And now I ask a careful attention to the narrative of my
unexampled success while sojourning in this city, in connection with the
character and intelligence of the gentlemen who united in endorsing me,
and in commending my system.
I entered Washington about the middle of February and speedily secured a
site on which to erect an academy. The place selected was on Pennsylvania
avenue, and the building I erected was of capacity sufficient to contain
three thousand persons. I announced a public exhibition, and on this, the
first day of opening, the place was filled to the utmost. At the close
of the exhibition I invited those of the audience so disposed, to unite
in forming a class. A large number responded to this call, and, as I
entered on my work, I was encouraged by finding the numbers increasing by
hundreds. This nerved me to the utmost, and at length, in sixty days, my
class had reached the gratifying number of two thousand five hundred and
five persons!
President Grant intimated his desire to take private lessons, and
requested me to organize a class to meet in the forenoon of each day.
This I did, and I soon had the honor of imparting instruction to such a
class of distinguished men as have rarely, if ever beside, been gathered
together for a similar purpose. The President invited some special
friends to join him in acquiring the knowledge he desired, and soon I
numbered in my class men distinguished in the pursuits of arms, politics,
literature, and theology, many of whom would rank with the foremost men
of the world. Amongst them were President Grant, General Sherman, Surgeon
General Barnes, General Fremont, General Porter, General Babcock, General
Mechler, Judge Advocate General Holt (the highest position in the army),
General Eli Parker, Count Catacazy, the Russian Minister; Count Turenne,
of the French Legation; P. H. Le Poor, French Legation; H. S. Le Strange,
of the British Legation: Commodore Ammen, Commodore Pickering, Senator
McDonald, Senator Stockton, Hon. W. H. Hooper, Rev. Dr. Newman, Chaplain
to the Senate; Senator Sprague, Governor Cooke, and many others of high
rank and standing.
As is well known, in the national capital may be found learned and
talented men from almost every nation, and as there are gathered objects
of interest to all, a brief sketch of what met my eyes may not prove out
of place.
First of all is the renowned “White House,” the home of the honored head
of our nation, and now occupied by President Grant and his family. It has
been said that
“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,”
and a similar declaration might be made of the occupant of the
Presidential chair; few have found it to be an easy seat. The servants
of a public jealous of their rights and privileges, and exposed to the
adverse criticism of selfish and disappointed opponents, even the most
generous and well-meant movements of those filling that high position are
liable to misconception and ridicule. There may be no personal dislike,
yet the public, ever on the _qui vive_ for news of those in high life,
are seldom disposed to scrutinize a spicy story, whoever it may strike.
In this land every man who deserves them has his friends, and none,
however deserving, are without some enemies.
The external appearance of the “White House” somewhat disappointed me;
yet it is a magnificent structure, with massive pillars in front, while
the interior does credit to the good taste of those in charge.
The Red Room, being generally selected for the receptions held by the
President and his wife, is very handsomely furnished in velvet and
drapery, the color of which corresponds with the name of the room.
I must, however, express my preference for the Blue Room; its light
shade of satin damask, with gold, is so chaste and elegant that one
could scarcely dream of a fairy-land more beautiful; and at “morning
receptions,” from two till five P. M., the guests being received in this
room, it is rendered doubly beautiful by the elegant toilettes of our
American and foreign ladies, who crowd it with the beauty and fashion of
the metropolis.
The large East Room, which occupies that entire end of the building, is
elegantly furnished, while the walls are hung with life-size portraits,
in oil, of Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and others who have formerly
filled the highest national office, but who now have passed away.
It was my pleasure to pass an evening, with my wife, in the private
parlor of President Grant and family, who gave me a cordial reception.
Among those who shared in this social interview were Rev. Dr. ——, L.L.
D., from England, his wife and daughter, and our much-esteemed friends,
Rev. Dr. N—— and wife, of the Metropolitan Church, D. C.
We were shown through some of the pleasant apartments of the Presidential
mansion, and, among others, the private dining-room. In this the
arrangements for meals are perfect and tasteful. A small bouquet of
choice flowers, selected from the conservatory, which abounds with rare
exotics, is placed at the side of every plate at dinner, and, that no
interruption may interfere with the arrangement of the table, a plate is
always provided for a casual visitor.
On entering Washington, the first building to attract the eye of a
stranger is the Capitol, which is built on a prominent height, and forms
the most conspicuous object as one enters the city; especially is this
so when the magnificent dome is lighted; one then gazes with delight on
the beauty of its perfect architecture.
On entering the Capitol by its massive marble portico, the visitor first
views the reception rooms, then passes to the rotunda, the walls of which
are adorned with paintings, many of which are commemorative of important
events in the early history of America, and some of a later date.
Statuary also meets the eye, and prominent amongst it is the life-size
statue of the martyred President, Abraham Lincoln, from the chisel of
Vinnie Ream. As one looks on this work, which has been so severely
criticised, he will feel the injustice done her, and be likely, with the
writer, to believe that the attacks were prompted by the fact that it was
_a lady_ who secured the contract. I enjoyed the pleasure of a visit to
the studio of the gentle sculptor, where we found the lady, surrounded by
specimens of her wonderful skill in this noble art.
To return to the Capitol—that general resort of strangers—one must visit
the dome, and thither we go, laboring up—up—till it seems almost as
though the top would never be reached, though pleasant company served to
beguile the time as we mounted the hundred and eighty feet of ascending
steps. When, at length, we reached the top, and stood in the presence
of the paintings which completely decorate the upper portion of the
dome, all else was forgotten, and it seemed as though we had passed
into another sphere, away from all the cares of ordinary life! Books
can be obtained, explaining the historical paintings, and in the study
of these, days might be profitably employed. The brief time a visitor
can give is far too short, to satisfy the eye, which desires to still
gaze on, reluctant to depart. From the outer side of the dome a view
of unparalleled beauty is presented: Georgetown, General Lee’s old
homestead, in the distance, and the Potomac River, together with the
elegant public buildings, are among the many objects included in the
panoramic view.
As we descend again, and come amongst the sights and sounds of daily
life, a sudden awakening to reality occurs. We now pass to the wings
on either side of the main building devoted to the use of the two
Houses composing our American Congress. On visiting the House of
Representatives, when in session, the visitor is directed to the gallery
which surrounds and looks down upon the hall; and, should he be a favored
one, he is shown to a seat in that portion of the gallery reserved for
the diplomatic corps, friends of members and distinguished visitors.
There one can sit at ease, apart from the crowds which fill the other
portions, and may listen to the speeches of representatives from every
State in the Union, as they deliberate on the laws by which the country
is to be governed; may note the voting, and sometimes hear the exciting
contest as the dignity of debate is lost in some partisan wrangle.
The Treasury Building is a beautiful edifice, and is always the scene of
busy life, the activity extending from the topmost floor to the furnace
in the cellar, where the mutilated currency is burned. It is in this
building that the paper money of the country is prepared, after which it
is sent to the banks for circulation. It is customary for visitors to
exchange a note for one that has never been in circulation, to be kept as
a souvenir.
The elegant Smithsonian Institute, with its numerous objects of interest,
and the Agricultural Buildings, with their beautiful grounds, offer their
attractions to the visitor, while the Patent Office, with its multitude
of models, showing the inventive genius of our countrymen, is of equal
interest. Here, while admiring the ingenuity displayed by the inventors,
we learn by the number of rejected models how many have spent perhaps the
best years of their lives only to reap disappointment at the last.
[Illustration]
While in Washington I was favored with several gratifying testimonials.
The first one was at the great National Carnival, where I received the
prize for the best four-in-hand turn-out, a gold-mounted whip. The second
testimonial was a life-size portrait of President Grant, which was
presented to me at one of the gatherings of the society attending the
Metropolitan Memorial Church, and was accompanied in its presentation
by the following address by Rev. J. P. Newman, D. D., the eloquent and
distinguished pastor of the church:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: Mine is a pleasing task. The ladies of
this church desire me to present this elegant portrait of our
honored President to Prof. Pratt, whose public spirit and great
liberality prompted him to give the proceeds of his academy
for one week towards the purchase of a chime of bells for this
church. We much regret that sickness has detained the Professor
from being present on this occasion, but we are happy to know
that Mrs. Pratt is here.[1] The donation on his part is the
more commendable because he came here a stranger, yet such is
his appreciation of the beautiful and useful that he cheerfully
gives his large sum for an object which will be, when achieved,
the pride of the Capital.
His mission is eminently humane, for he not only educates the
horse to obey the intelligence of his master, but also educates
the master to treat the noblest of beasts with humanity.
[1] Her many friends will doubtless be gratified by finding, on the
opposite page, a portrait of this lady—the life-long companion of the
author.
The address, which was received with loud applause, was, in my absence,
responded to by the Member of Congress from Batavia.
The third testimonial I received was presented on the day of closing
my lectures, which had been so regularly attended by the citizens,
officials, and members of the foreign legations, who deemed it proper
to encourage my enterprise by presenting me with a diploma, engrossed
on parchment, over their own signatures, and which was accompanied with
a gold medal. The following is a copy of the diploma presented by the
Washington class, the original of which is now in my possession, on
parchment:
TO PROF. O. S. PRATT:
We, the members of your Washington class, appreciate the value
of the very necessary knowledge which you have imparted to
us during your sojourn in the national metropolis; and we
are convinced that your method of educating the horse, and
reforming his vicious habits, is the only true system. As a
mark of our estimation of the service rendered us, we beg your
acceptance of the accompanying testimonial, and our sincere
wishes for your continued success, health and happiness.
General W. T. SHERMAN,
Gen. O. E. BABCOCK,
General BANKS,
Count DE CATACAZY,
Mayor MATTHEW G. EMORY,
W. S. SHEPHERD,
Surgeon Gen. BARNES,
Commodore AMMEN,
Gen. HORACE PORTER,
Gen. J. C. FREMONT,
Senator WM. SPRAGUE,
Commodore PICKERING,
Brevet Maj. Gen. ALLEN,
Gen. ELY S. PARKER,
Mayor EMORY,
H. A. L’ASTRANGE, of the British Legation,
Rev. Dr. NEWMAN, Chaplain to the Senate,
WM. W. BELKNAP, Secretary of War,
Gen. MEICHLER,
Governor COOKE,
P. H. LA POOR, of the French Legation.
On the next page the reader will find a correct cut of the gold medal
which accompanied the diploma.
On the following day the Metropolitan Church arranged an excursion to
Mount Vernon. The day was beautiful, and the company all that could be
desired. The sail down the lovely stream, with its wooded banks, was
delightful. On our arrival at the spot the laugh was hushed, for we felt
ourselves on sacred soil as we neared the tomb of Washington. After
lingering for a time by the dust of the illustrious dead, we ascended the
hill on which stands the house which was once the home of the Father of
his Country. The furniture having been removed, we saw little more than
the halls, a few relics enclosed in a case, and the marble mantel, which
has been so much coveted by strangers on account of its rare carving,
representing a farm-yard scene. This choice relic has been defaced in
several places by unscrupulous visitors, who have broken off pieces to
carry away as relics. We also visited the spot where Washington and
Lafayette met, under a tree, to reconcile their difficulties.
[Illustration]
During our return to the city, which we reached the evening of the same
day, speeches were made on the boat by the Mayor, ministers and bankers.
We arrived in time to take the cars on our way to Long Branch, at which
popular resort I passed most of the summer in visiting and recreation,
before again resuming the duties of my profession.