ANNAPOLIS—DELAWARE—NEW JERSEY—NEW YORK STATE—THE GREAT EMPORIUM—CHICAGO
IN FLAMES.
After my period of relaxation, I re-entered the active duties of my
profession feeling greatly invigorated. I visited the pleasant city of
Annapolis, the capital of Maryland, where I met a cordial reception from
many whose warm appreciation of my system of educating the horse was
coupled with marks of personal friendship. Here, as in other places on
former occasions, my endeavors were crowned with a gratifying success.
It is at this place that the United States Naval Academy is situated, an
institution which sustains the same relation to the navy that West Point
bears to the army of our country. In the extent of its bounds, covering,
as it does, an area of about twenty acres, and in the completeness of its
appointments, this academy is unequaled in the United States. Here I was
introduced to General Bovey, who is a lover of that noble animal, the
horse, and is the owner of some of the finest that America can boast. He
manifested much interest in my welfare, and kindly invited me to dine
with him; after spending a long and pleasant hour in his society, I took
my leave, and when, shortly after, I left Annapolis, I bore with me a
grateful recollection of the many kindnesses I had received from the
inhabitants of that beautiful city.
I will here claim the indulgence of the reader while I give a brief
sketch of my journey from this point to New York. It was about the
middle of May, 1871, when I started on my tour, intending to arrive
at New York in the month of October. In passing through the State of
Maryland, I found it a beautiful, level country, with a soil of great
fertility. It is well known to have been one of the slave States, and,
as a result, the population is made up largely of colored people, many
of whom I found to be very, very poor; their houses, within and without,
bespoke wretchedness and want, and many of them seemed on the verge of
starvation. Often was my heart moved to compassion as I viewed their
dilapidated clothing, many of them being almost naked, while in their
countenances want and misery were depicted. As I passed the settlements
and, prompted by pity, gave them some donations, I saw their faces
brighten as I placed the money in their tawny and wrinkled hands, while
their expressions of thankfulness more than rewarded me for the gifts
bestowed. In passing through this State I formed many classes, meeting
with even better success than I anticipated.
Leaving Maryland, I entered the little State of Delaware, renowned for
the extent of its orchards and the excellence of its peaches, which fruit
forms the most profitable crop of the State, and is unequaled by any
grown elsewhere. The country here also is level, but in many parts so
sandy as to weary the traveler, whose animals often labor through sand to
the depth of six inches, while the scorching rays of the sun, reflected
from the sand, add much to the discomfort of a journey through this
State.
At Dover, the capital of the State, I formed an interesting class, of
which the Governor and many distinguished citizens became members. The
buildings in Dover are mostly of wood, there being none of stone and but
few of brick.
After leaving Dover I crossed Delaware Bay, and entered the State of
New Jersey. This, also, in its more southern portions, may be described
as a level country, but the lands there are clothed with dense forests
of pine, where human habitations are rarely met, and even the sound of
the woodman’s axe is seldom heard. These “pine barrens” are in places
destitute of traveled roads, and the one journeying through them sees
his course marked out by “blazed” trees. I wended my way along until I
reached the city of Trenton, the capital of the State, where I formed
a class. Thence I passed to the city of Rahway, then to Elizabeth, and
afterwards to the town of Long Branch, forming interesting classes
at each place. The last-named place is well known as a favorite and
much-admired watering-place, being the summer resort of thousands
who annually seek its pure sea-breezes, and regale themselves in the
pleasures it abundantly affords. I visited many other places in the
State, forming classes and receiving the congratulations of numbers who
appreciated the knowledge it was my aim to impart.
Passing some twenty miles across a pleasant though sandy country, I
reached the village of Red Bank, at which place I took the steamboat,
and, after sailing through the magnificent Bay of New York, passed up the
Hudson River to Sing Sing, at which place I met with success, and formed
a class composed mainly of the first citizens of the town. I devoted my
first leisure to visiting the State Prison, which is situated in the
suburbs, on the bank of the Hudson, and, after being conducted through
the different departments, I was permitted to see a record of the names
of the inmates and the crimes for which they were incarcerated, and I
record it as my conviction that many there have laid a foundation for
after crime by early cruelty to the noblest of all animals save man. One
step of cruelty leads inevitably to others, and thus the disposition may
have grown that has led, finally, to the crime which deprived them of
liberty and condemned them to years of servitude in that dreary abode of
felons.
Retracing my steps down the Hudson, I next pitched my tent at Peekskill,
which is situated on the east bank of the river, and where I met a
gratifying reception, and succeeded as at other places.
Before leaving the place, I strolled about a mile back from the river,
and saw there the farm and summer residence of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher,
the great biblical expounder and platform orator, who has since passed
through an ordeal far from pleasing or profitable, though there are
indications that from all he will yet come out as “gold tried in the
fire,” and perhaps to shine as a star of still brighter lustre.
My next visit was to the city of Poughkeepsie, where, at my first
public exhibition, I was greeted by the presence of a large number
of influential citizens, whose appearance there augured well for my
success. I was pleased with my brief visit to this place, as my class
soon swelled to the number of three hundred and fifty. I here formed
the acquaintance of Prof. Eastman, of Eastman College, who solicited me
to give an exhibition, on the grounds in front of his splendid mansion,
to the Sabbath-school children of the city. I consented, and gave an
exhibition which was received with delight by a multitude of youth of
both sexes.
I now determined to direct my course down the beautiful Hudson to the
great commercial emporium of the country, the city of New York. There I
built an academy, at a cost of nearly three thousand dollars, capable
of accommodating about four thousand persons. I opened, with brilliant
prospects, about the middle of October, 1871, and as the days rolled
by I had ample evidence of the appreciation of my efforts in the daily
increase of my class, until, on the 15th of January, 1872, I had the
pleasure of numbering on my register the handsome amount of three
thousand names, representing amongst them many of the first men of the
city.
I had intended to remain in New York until the opening of spring, but
about this time an event which spread consternation through the land
blighted my fair prospects. Along the wires of the telegraph, flashed
eastward with lightning speed, came the doleful tidings that Chicago, the
Queen City of the West, was in flames! As message after message came,
telling of the progress of the devouring element, all hearts were filled
with sympathy, till the final tidings came that for many square miles
the once beautiful city was a vast plain of smouldering ruins, and that
thousands of human beings, thus rendered homeless and penniless, were in
almost a starving condition. At once the hearts of the people of New York
were moved to compassion. Business was well-nigh suspended. The single
topic which engaged all minds was the great disaster which had befallen
a sister city, and how to devise means for relief to the destitute
and suffering. In this absorbing feeling the interest in my lectures
naturally abated; so much so, that I closed my academy and joined with
my countrymen in the active measures which were at once inaugurated for
extending relief to the needy. I attended the meetings held for that
purpose, and heartily co-operated in sending the greatly needed aid
to suffering humanity. I remained in New York till the excitement had
somewhat abated, and then decided on visiting some of the New England
States; but, before leaving the Great Emporium, I received a diploma
attesting the high value placed on my instructions by those who had
received them.