CHAPTER X.TOUR IN CANADA—MONTREAL—CLASS OF 1,000—VICTORIA BRIDGE—CATHEDRAL—QUEBEC—OTTAWA—KINGSTON—DETROIT—DIPLOMA—VALUABLE TESTIMONIAL—SIMCOE.
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 hadno 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 companyhaving 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 cedarswamp, 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 responsibleduties, 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:
MUSIC BOX FROM DETROIT CLASS.
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,MayorMoffat,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.
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,MayorMoffat,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 thatsubject. 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.
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 thatsubject. 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.