CHAPTER XI.

CHAPTER XI.TORONTO—“BRITISH ENSIGN”—DIPLOMA—SILVER TEA SET—HAMILTON—BELLEVILLE—DIPLOMA—PICTON.

TORONTO—“BRITISH ENSIGN”—DIPLOMA—SILVER TEA SET—HAMILTON—BELLEVILLE—DIPLOMA—PICTON.

Winter was now drawing nigh, and, as I was desirous to reach Toronto, the Queen City of the Province of Ontario, as soon as possible, I made but a short stay at Brantford and other towns on my way. Arriving at Toronto about the last of November, 1874, I secured possession of the Riding Academy, and fitted it up at considerable cost, after which I gave public exhibitions, which awakened an increasing interest. I remained there sixty days, my class becoming larger daily, until, at the close of my labors, my register showed the names of nearly thirteen hundred members, many of whom were amongst the most influential citizens of the place. During my stay I handled some two hundred horses, each of whom had been addicted to some bad habit.

Toronto Academy—PRESENTATION OF TEA SERVICE AND ILLUMINATED ADDRESS.

Many members of my class were desirous that I should exhibit the power of my system to educate horses not to fear the steam engine, and, that I might meet their wishes, I procured a steam fire engine, which I caused to be placed in my academy. During my stay there I educated some hundred horses to the perfect satisfaction of their owners, and the evident gratification of my class. Amongst others, I may name as a signal triumph of my system the case of the stallion “British Ensign,” owned at Richmond Hill, who, from his vicious habits of long standing, was thought to be incurable, and, as a last resort, I was solicited to handle him. This was at the close of my labors there, and, the day being announced, the members of my class gathered in force to witness my last effort in their city. The horse was led into the ring by two men by means of iron rods securely fastened on each side of his mouth. From the account given of this animal, one would almost expect that a man could tame a lion of the desert as easily as him; but, strange as it may seem, withinten minutes he followed me around the ring as meekly as a lamb, and within forty-five minutes I was able to drive him before a vehicle, without reins or side-straps, greatly to the surprise of the throngs who had assembled to witness the spectacle.

The power and efficacy of my system was so completely demonstrated that the leading journals of the city made favorable mention of my unparalleled success, while my class signalized their sense of the value of my system for properly educating the horse by presenting me with an illuminated address, the elegant execution of which reflects credit on the artist, while the courtly language and graceful sentiments are worthy of the distinguished gentlemen whose names it bears. Not satisfied with this, they accompanied the address with a costly tea-service of silver, the intrinsic value of which was at least three hundred dollars. Long will the recollections of my Toronto class cluster about my memory, and fill my mind with pleasing emotions. The following is the diploma presentedby the Toronto class, the original of which can be seen in my possession, on parchment:

Toronto,January, 1875.Dear Sir: The undersigned, on behalf of the members of your numerous class in this city, desire to testify their appreciation of the valuable instructions you have imparted to them. The unwearying assiduity with which you have endeavored to make those instructions comprehensive and entertaining, and their high estimation of your admirable system of educating and managing the horse. The knowledge imparted to us during the many lectures and exhibitions of your unexampled method of treating that noble animal may be of incalculable benefit to many of us. We do not hesitate to say that numbers of accidents occur daily (many fatally) through an insufficient knowledge of managing the animal you have made so perfectly subject to your will, and we advise every one whose business or profession require frequent, if not constant, use of the horse to embrace an early opportunity of acquiring a knowledge of your system. Farmers, whom business occasionally calls into our cities, and the immediate neighborhood of our railways, we especially urge the necessity of learning your simple and effective method of control, a method easily understood by the instructive faculties of the horse as by the reasoning faculties of men.We trust that your sojourn in the Queen City of the West has been both pleasant and remunerative, so far at least that will at no distant day induce your return.In conclusion, we beg your acceptance of the accompanying Tea-Service. Hoping that it may recall favorably to your recollection those who constituted your class in Toronto and who unanimously wish you every success in your laudable and humane profession.Signed, on behalf of the class, numbering 1,254 members.A. Macnabb,Jos. Grand, Sr.,R. Bond,B. Cooper,C. W. Johnson,R. Paul, V. S.,A. Gouram,Geo. Gouram,R. Hay, Sr.,R. Hay, Jr.,W. H. Smith,J. Hay,Hon. Geo. Brown,T. C. Patterson, Mail,A. McCaller, M. P. P.,W. Brown, Shoe Manf.,Hon. Frank Smith,Andrew Smith, V. S.,G. W. Torrano, Merchant,Geo. Smith, M. P. P.,W. A. Murray, Merchant,F. T. Worts,James G. Worts,Austin Smith,And 1,230 others.

Toronto,January, 1875.

Dear Sir: The undersigned, on behalf of the members of your numerous class in this city, desire to testify their appreciation of the valuable instructions you have imparted to them. The unwearying assiduity with which you have endeavored to make those instructions comprehensive and entertaining, and their high estimation of your admirable system of educating and managing the horse. The knowledge imparted to us during the many lectures and exhibitions of your unexampled method of treating that noble animal may be of incalculable benefit to many of us. We do not hesitate to say that numbers of accidents occur daily (many fatally) through an insufficient knowledge of managing the animal you have made so perfectly subject to your will, and we advise every one whose business or profession require frequent, if not constant, use of the horse to embrace an early opportunity of acquiring a knowledge of your system. Farmers, whom business occasionally calls into our cities, and the immediate neighborhood of our railways, we especially urge the necessity of learning your simple and effective method of control, a method easily understood by the instructive faculties of the horse as by the reasoning faculties of men.

We trust that your sojourn in the Queen City of the West has been both pleasant and remunerative, so far at least that will at no distant day induce your return.

In conclusion, we beg your acceptance of the accompanying Tea-Service. Hoping that it may recall favorably to your recollection those who constituted your class in Toronto and who unanimously wish you every success in your laudable and humane profession.

Signed, on behalf of the class, numbering 1,254 members.

A. Macnabb,Jos. Grand, Sr.,R. Bond,B. Cooper,C. W. Johnson,R. Paul, V. S.,A. Gouram,Geo. Gouram,R. Hay, Sr.,R. Hay, Jr.,W. H. Smith,J. Hay,Hon. Geo. Brown,T. C. Patterson, Mail,A. McCaller, M. P. P.,W. Brown, Shoe Manf.,Hon. Frank Smith,Andrew Smith, V. S.,G. W. Torrano, Merchant,Geo. Smith, M. P. P.,W. A. Murray, Merchant,F. T. Worts,James G. Worts,Austin Smith,And 1,230 others.

Before closing my notice of Toronto, I would refer with grateful words to the kind, and even laudatory, notices which my system and myself received from the ably conducted press of that city, and, I might add, of the whole Province, as the following extracts will evince.

TEA SERVICE FROM TORONTO CLASS.

The TorontoMailthus speaks:

Horse Education.—To-day we place before our readers illustrations of several of the numerous articles, with the text of the numerous addresses, presented to Prof. Pratt, the horse educator. By close observation, an accurate knowledge of the construction of the horse and its habits, and above all by a recognition of those sound common-sense principles advanced by the best teachers of the human kind. Mr. Pratt has been enabled to build up a system which for its thoroughness and adaptability is unexcelled in the present day. That this is not an unwarranted assertion is proved incontestably by the testimony of the leading horsemen of the United States and Canada, though Mr. Pratt has been but a short time in the Dominion. Wherever he has established classes, a just tribute has been paid to his great services both to man and beast. In Baltimore 3,590 pupils surrounded him, and he left with the thanks of the citizens, and was presented with a magnificently mounted whip. Detroit rallied 1,200 members, who gave the Professor a musical box to sweetly play the song of their appreciation. The Washington class of 2,500 members, presented a gold medal, and that of Philadelphia, of 4,886 members, a gold-headed cane. Toronto has not been behindhand, for, as already announced, the class here made a presentation of a beautiful tea-service and illuminated address. The Toronto class now numbers 1,254 members.

The TorontoGlobe, in brief but well considered words, declares:

Prof. Pratt’s lectures on the treatment of animals are invaluable to farmers and all owners of horses and cattle. We only wish every farmer and farmer’s boy in Canada could attend one lecture.

TheCanada Farmer, the leading agricultural paper of the Province, in describing a visit to my exhibitions and lectures, remarks:

We have seldom passed an evening so pleasantly, or with so much real profit, and our advice to every farmer and farmer’s son in the country is, to take a course of lessons if possible, but at all events to attend one of Professor Pratt’s public exhibitions. We feel perfectly satisfied that a couple of hours spent in witnessing one of these performances will impart a better idea of the nature and management of the horse than is possible to obtain by any course of reading on the subject, and in this respect alone one such entertainment is worth fifty times the amount charged for a life-membership.

I next visited the city of Hamilton, where I was welcomed by many warm friends, who took an active interest in my welfare and seemed delighted with my system, which, at this time, had gained great favor with the Canadian people.Here I formed a large and profitable class, and secured the friendship of many, from whom I have since met a cordial reception.

Leaving Hamilton, I directed my course to the town of Whitby, where I formed a class of one hundred and twenty-five; next visiting Oshawa, where my class reached the number of one hundred and forty; then to Bowmanville, where a class of a hundred rewarded my efforts; from there to Port Hope, where one hundred and fifty joined the class I opened; thence to Belleville, where I enrolled about one hundred names. After having left the latter place for about a week, I was followed by a messenger, dispatched to me by my class, who bore a diploma highly eulogizing my system. It was as follows:

Belleville,May 11, 1875.Prof. O. S. Pratt.Dear Sir: We, the undersigned, express our satisfaction of the tuition we have received from you in the education of the horse and most cheerfully recommend your art to all who own, have or use horses, as being the best known and exhibited.The manner in which you handled all the vicious horses brought to you here, completely subduing them in a very short time, gave us the greatest satisfaction.Your liberality and gentlemanly deportment have secured numerous friends.Trusting you will meet with the same success in other places that attended you here, and hoping you may be long spared to propagate your noble system of horse training, we are, etc.(Signed),H. B. Hunt, Brewer.G. H. Ramoy, C. E.C. Ramoy, Coal Merchant.Dr. Tracey, M. D.S. M. Hicks, Miller.E. F. Pots, Wholesale Liquor Merchant.J. C. L. Ware, P. O. Clerk.John Lake, Livery.T. C. Walbridge, Ex-M. P.Wellington Boulter, Insp. Life Ins. Co.Geo. A. Simpson, Coal Merchant.Stephen Garrett, Bailiff.Hawley & Morden, Hawley House.G. W. Allen, P.O. Clerk.Henry McNinch, Blacksmith.And ninety others.

Belleville,May 11, 1875.

Prof. O. S. Pratt.

Dear Sir: We, the undersigned, express our satisfaction of the tuition we have received from you in the education of the horse and most cheerfully recommend your art to all who own, have or use horses, as being the best known and exhibited.

The manner in which you handled all the vicious horses brought to you here, completely subduing them in a very short time, gave us the greatest satisfaction.

Your liberality and gentlemanly deportment have secured numerous friends.

Trusting you will meet with the same success in other places that attended you here, and hoping you may be long spared to propagate your noble system of horse training, we are, etc.

(Signed),

H. B. Hunt, Brewer.G. H. Ramoy, C. E.C. Ramoy, Coal Merchant.Dr. Tracey, M. D.S. M. Hicks, Miller.E. F. Pots, Wholesale Liquor Merchant.J. C. L. Ware, P. O. Clerk.John Lake, Livery.T. C. Walbridge, Ex-M. P.Wellington Boulter, Insp. Life Ins. Co.Geo. A. Simpson, Coal Merchant.Stephen Garrett, Bailiff.Hawley & Morden, Hawley House.G. W. Allen, P.O. Clerk.Henry McNinch, Blacksmith.And ninety others.

From Belleville I went to the town of Picton, where I found many admirers of that noble animal, the horse. Though the place is not large, the people flocked to my exhibitions, and gave me a class of one hundred and forty members, while, after I had left their town, and was engaged at the village of Wellington, twelve miles distant, a deputation from Picton waited on me, and presented me with the following diploma, which will speak for itself:

Picton,May 17, 1875.Prof. O. S. Pratt:We, the members of your class, formed in the town of Picton, are unwilling to allow you to take your leave without warmly expressing the great satisfaction that has been ours since your arrival among us. Your plain, lucid and highly interesting lectures, combined with your gentlemanly deportment, has been such as to leave a lasting and beneficial impression on our memories. Your manner of handling vicious and untutored horses has been highly gratifying to us, and the rapid progress made by you clearly proves the superiority of your system. Your book, so replete with instructions, illustrating what we have seen practically demonstrated, will, we believe, greatly benefit us in the practice of your system in future years.Believe us, dear sir, to bespeak for you unequaled success in your future efforts.Yours, etc., etc.,G. Striker, M. P. P.,E. Louks, Rector of Picton.A. M. Kerr, Bank Agent.Fred. White, Teller.Bidwell Way, Ed. “New Nation.”J. H. Allen, Mayor,J. F. Ingsoll, M. D.,Colin Gearing, Merchant.R. A. Norman,G. E. Vandusen,Richard Lake, Hotel Keeper.M. Clark, Merchant,And one hundred and twenty others.

Picton,May 17, 1875.

Prof. O. S. Pratt:

We, the members of your class, formed in the town of Picton, are unwilling to allow you to take your leave without warmly expressing the great satisfaction that has been ours since your arrival among us. Your plain, lucid and highly interesting lectures, combined with your gentlemanly deportment, has been such as to leave a lasting and beneficial impression on our memories. Your manner of handling vicious and untutored horses has been highly gratifying to us, and the rapid progress made by you clearly proves the superiority of your system. Your book, so replete with instructions, illustrating what we have seen practically demonstrated, will, we believe, greatly benefit us in the practice of your system in future years.

Believe us, dear sir, to bespeak for you unequaled success in your future efforts.

Yours, etc., etc.,

G. Striker, M. P. P.,E. Louks, Rector of Picton.A. M. Kerr, Bank Agent.Fred. White, Teller.Bidwell Way, Ed. “New Nation.”J. H. Allen, Mayor,J. F. Ingsoll, M. D.,Colin Gearing, Merchant.R. A. Norman,G. E. Vandusen,Richard Lake, Hotel Keeper.M. Clark, Merchant,And one hundred and twenty others.

After forming classes in several places in the old loyal county of Prince Edward, and meeting with good success, I crossed the beautiful waters of the Bay of Quintie, arriving at the town of Napanee about the first of June, 1875. There I formed a class of one hundred. Pursuing my journey, I traveled north and west, exhibiting at many places, until I reached the town of Peterborough, where I remained a short time, and formed a class of one hundred members. Departing thence, I visited many towns and villages, forming classes in each, on my wayto Lindsay, at which place I enrolled the names of seventy-eight members.

From Lindsay I went to Fenelon Falls, quite a newly-erected town, yet I found many there to whom my visit was a pleasure, as I soon obtained a class of some sixty members.

Passing on westward, I continued to meet with success, forming classes in some few small villages until, on the 9th of September, I entered the beautiful town of Barrie. There I found warm friends, and many lovers of the horse, who met me cordially, and gave me a class of one hundred and thirty-five members.

I next shaped my course northward, to the old town of Penetanguishine, on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay. The larger portion of the inhabitants are French Canadians, many of whom are unable to speak our language. I was informed by some of the old inhabitants that the town was first settled a century ago; but, notwithstanding this, their progress has been slow, as at present the population is but about one thousand. My class in this place numbered aboutseventy persons, who seemed highly pleased with my system of educating the horse.

At Penetanguishine I took passage on the steamer Waubuno for Collingwood. The boat is commanded by Captain Peter Campbell, a courteous gentleman, who possesses the power of so adapting himself to his passengers as to make a trip with him pleasant in both the enjoyment and the retrospect, while the romantic scenery which meets the eye of the voyager who ascends the bay is so beautiful that, were it not for the severity of the winters there, one might easily be tempted to select his home amongst the beauties of nature which adorn the shores of Georgian Bay.

On arriving at Collingwood, I gave an exhibition that created a strong interest among the citizens, and resulted in my forming a good class, who manifested both satisfaction and delight with the instructions I imparted.

After exhibiting at small towns on the way, I arrived at the truly beautiful and lately-incorporated town of Meaford, on the fifth day of October.A drenching rain was falling, which seemed to indicate that my prospects of success would be blighted by the inauspicious storm; but, as the day swept on towards noon, the parting clouds allowed the golden sunbeams to flow through, and, by two o’clock, the whole aspect of the scene was changed. I gave a public exhibition, and formed a class of nearly one hundred members.

From Meaford I traveled over bad roads until I reached Owen Sound. Here I did not find as many lovers of the horse as I anticipated, yet I was pleased before the close of my labors by meeting a good degree of success.

Georgian Bay, near the southern bend of which is Owen Sound, is a beautiful sheet of water, broadening out as it leaves Lake Huron, with which it is connected, and forming what seems like a land-locked lake in itself. Large steamers leave this port for Lake Superior, and many tourists deem this route one of the most pleasing of all on the upper lakes. Ere long, it is asserted, a communication will be opened fromthis point to Winnipeg and the far-off Province of Manitoba.

Having thus brought my narrative down to the present time, I would add a few words to the reader who may have kindly followed me through the scenes I have recorded. In what I have written one object has been to show the strong and unqualified endorsement my system of equine education has everywhere received from the men best qualified to judge of its merits, while, at the same time, the narrative is a fitting, and I hope not an uninteresting, introduction to the system itself, which, with other matter relating to the general subject, will be fully and clearly taught in the following portions of the book.

And now, with a hearty appreciation of the unvarying kindness he has received from his patrons in all portions of the land, the author begs leave to respectfully dedicate this work to those whose aid, appreciation and friendship have so often cheered him in his efforts.

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