TOUR IN CANADA—MONTREAL—CLASS OF 1,000—VICTORIA
BRIDGE—CATHEDRAL—QUEBEC—OTTAWA—KINGSTON—DETROIT—DIPLOMA—VALUABLE
TESTIMONIAL—SIMCOE.
Hitherto my labors had been confined to my own country. I had traveled
many hundreds of miles, visiting its great cities, its smaller towns and
thriving villages, and everywhere, even from the highest in the land, I
had met a cordial reception. But now I formed the purpose of crossing the
St. Lawrence River, which divides, on the north, the American from the
British possessions, and of making a tour through a large portion of the
Dominion of Canada. Believing that I had more stock and other property
than I would require, I sold by auction many articles, and, placing my
remaining stock and appendages on several cars, I forwarded them to their
destination. Reaching St. Albans, I was solicited to remain there a few
days, which I did, and had no cause to regret my decision, for the
people gave me a liberal patronage.
Continuing my journey from St. Albans, I arrived at the important
commercial city, Montreal, about the first of May, where I met a cordial
reception. At once I commenced the erection of an academy of capacity
sufficient to hold at least two thousand persons. Soon the tidings of
the great successes I had achieved in my profession spread far and wide
through that populous and wealthy city, and, as a result, during the few
days I remained, I had the pleasure of enrolling nearly one thousand
names.
In this ancient city there are many beautiful and interesting objects
which attract the attention of a visitor. A few of the most prominent
are all that I can mention. Of these the great Victoria Bridge is one.
A massive structure of iron, tightly closed at the sides and nicely
roofed, it spans the St. Lawrence River just at the outskirts of the
city. Windows, at certain intervals, admit the light and air. Carriages
and pedestrians are excluded, the railroad company having the sole right
to use the bridge. The French Catholic Cathedral is to many an object
of great attractiveness, and thousands ascend its circuitous flights of
stairs to the top of the tower, from which the eye may take in the entire
city, with its many public parks and pleasure grounds far exceeding in
number those usual to a commercial city. The mountain, about three miles
distant from the heart of the city, is a favorite resort. A beautiful and
almost level road runs round it, along which, at almost every hour of the
day, carriages may be seen coursing. Many other pleasing sights might be
named, but I close my reminiscences of the beautiful city by the remark
that nowhere, in all my travels, have I seen more elegant and costly
private dwellings than are those which grace Montreal.
Through the solicitation of friends, I was induced to visit Quebec, the
ancient capital and late seat of the Canadian government.
As it is approached, the forest of masts which meets the eye, peering up
in every direction, might suggest reminiscences of some cedar swamp,
with its multitude of tapering trees, but, upon closer inspection, the
eye is delighted with the magnitude and beauty of the shipping which
crowds the port. Some of the finest vessels that plow the ocean are
here to be found. On entering on my work, I met with no difficulty in
interesting the minds of the citizens in my subject. They turned out
nobly to my public exhibitions, and rewarded my exertions by giving me a
large and interesting class.
Leaving Quebec about the middle of May, I ascended the St. Lawrence as
far as the beautiful town of Brockville, exhibiting at many towns on my
way. Here I determined to forward my horses and stock by rail to the
city of Ottawa, the capital of the Dominion and the seat of government,
where annually the assembled wisdom of the country meet to legislate
for the great Canadian Dominion; nor need one cross the ocean to the
mother country, nor even visit the adjoining republic, to meet with
both orators and statesmen, many of whom grace the Canadian Parliament,
the halls of which often ring with eloquence, as, in the discharge of
their responsible duties, the statesmen of the Dominion discuss the
great topics of the day. Although my stay in Ottawa was brief, I had the
satisfaction of forming there a class of three hundred persons.
Passing westward, I held public exhibitions and formed classes in many
places, until I reached Kingston, rightly named the Old Limestone City.
Here I spent a few days very pleasantly, and had the pleasure of forming
a satisfactory class. The strong bulwarks and splendid fortifications of
this city give it a military air, and afford ample protection from an
invading force.
At this point I embarked on one of the Mail Line of steamers, with my
stock and equipments, and passed up Lake Ontario to Burlington Bay, and
thence to the city of Hamilton. As I had been frequently solicited to
visit Detroit, and having determined on spending the ensuing winter in
Hamilton and Toronto, I did not at this time attempt to form a class, but
took the most direct route to Detroit city, exhibiting at a number of
places on my way.
Detroit is situated on the river bearing its name, which divides the
American and Canadian possessions. Its commerce is quite large, and, to
one standing on the banks of the river, a pleasing and animated picture
is presented. The rapid stream, in places running with a current of from
five to eight miles an hour, is difficult of navigation for sailing
vessels, and one sees the sailing craft, loaded with grain and lumber,
towed by large and powerful steam-tugs, built expressly for that purpose,
while the smiling banks on the Canadian side, crowned by the buildings of
Windsor, mirror themselves in the farther waters.
It was in December, 1873, that I reached Detroit, remaining there a
few weeks, and during that time forming a class of over twelve hundred
members. Before taking my leave of that pleasant and enterprising city,
I received from my class a diploma, which I prize more highly than gold,
while, to increase my delight, I was, most unexpectedly to myself, made
the recipient of an elegant cabinet music-box, the value of which could
not be less than five hundred dollars. The following is the diploma, as
signed and presented to me, followed by a cut of the elegant testimonial:
[Illustration: MUSIC BOX FROM DETROIT CLASS.]
Having attended Prof. O. S. Pratt’s lectures to his class,
and also having seen the practical application of his system
as given by him every afternoon and evening at his academy,
and believing it to be far the best ever seen in this State,
so clear and practical that the merest novice can understand
and use it, and yet so comprehensive that the most skillful
horseman can be instructed by it, we deem it of the utmost
importance that all persons owning, using, or at all interested
in horses, should avail themselves of Prof. Pratt’s knowledge
on that subject. He educates the man to educate the horse, the
only practical method to be of permanent benefit.
JARED PATCHIN,
G. W. BISSELL,
Dr. J. B. DE GUISE,
D. BETHUNE DUFFIELD,
NEWELL AVERY,
R. HOSIE,
A. M. STEELE,
GEORGE JEROME,
E. FURGUSON,
GEO. W. VANDYKE,
W. A. MITCHELL,
H. A. NEWLAND,
ALLEN SHELDEN,
A. SINCLAIR,
GEO. E. AVERY,
SYLVESTER LARNED,
Dr. DAVENPORT,
Dr. J. F. NOYES,
Mayor MOFFAT,
R. C. HODGES,
JOHN C. WILLIAMS,
R. SINCLAIR,
JEROME E. CROUL,
Dr. COBB,
R. C. REMICK,
JAMES A. REMICK,
HENRY KIBBEE,
JOHN V. MEHLING,
B. H. THOMPSON,
Dr. G. W. FOSTER,
M. F. MERRICK,
M. S. SMITH,
Dr. H. SMITH,
GEO. DOOLITTLE,
A. W. MITCHELL,
ELIJAH SMITH.
Passing from Detroit, I again set foot on Canadian soil, exhibiting at a
town named Sarnia, situated on the Detroit River, and after that at many
other places until I reached the pleasant little town of Simcoe. There I
received a cordial welcome from many lovers of the horse, and found no
difficulty in forming a class of one hundred and ninety, who not only
appreciated my system, but embraced an early opportunity of presenting me
with a diploma testifying that appreciation. It was read in my hearing on
its being presented, and the reader may well believe that I was greatly
gratified and cheered by the sentiments therein expressed.
SIMCOE, _February 24, 1874_.
Having attended Prof. O. S. Pratt’s lectures to his class and
also having seen the practical application of his system, as
given by him every afternoon and evening at his academy, and
believing it to be far the best ever seen in Canada, so clear
and practical that the merest novice can understand and use
it, and yet so comprehensive that the most skillful horseman
can be instructed by it, we deem it of utmost importance that
all persons owning, using, or at all interested in horses,
avail themselves of Prof. Pratt’s knowledge on that subject.
He educates the man to educate the horse, the only practical
method to be of permanent benefit.
GEORGE BATTERSBY,
ASA A. PURSELL,
B. W. SHAW,
B. F. CHADWICK,
OMER CULVER,
G. F. COUNTER,
M. C. BROWN,
P. P. NEWELL,
JOHN MATTHEWS,
ASA J. COOK,
E. E. COLLINS,
SAMUEL BARNES,
W. H. ADAMS,
J. J. HARRIS,
JOHN W. LEE,
D. B. PALMERTON,
WILLIAM MILLS,
THOMAS MARSHALL,
JAMES LANGTRY,
JOHN MILLS,
JOHN A. CULVER,
FRANK L. CULVER,
JEREMIAH POTTS,
JAMES BARBER,
G. R. ROBINSON,
JOSEPH BROOK,
JOHN BEAUPRE, JR.,
S. G. EMES,
HIRAM BOWLBY,
J. B. CARPENTER,
A. R. NELLES,
JAMES SCHUYLER,
HENRY BENNETT,
C. ALLEN,
A. W. SMITH,
ALBERT MARLATT,
GEORGE LOWRIE,
ALEX. BEAUPRE,
ROBERT LITTLE,
CHRIS. COLEMAN,
W. T. KENDALL,
THOMAS HAMBLY,
B. RICHARDSON, V. S.,
JAMES NICHOLSON.
Part of Simcoe class numbering 227 in ten days.