Lancaster, Pa., October 16, 1869.
Prof. O. S. Pratt:
Dear Sir: I take pleasure in testifying to the success of your system of controlling vicious horses as applied to my colt. Since you handled and drove him without backing-strap, I have driven him twice without his showing the least fear or disposition to return to his dangerous habit of kicking.
I believe you have perfectly taught him to work without kicking, and that he will not forget the impression your treatment made on him. Your system is so easily learned and can be so quickly applied, that it is the owner’s fault if his balky, runaway, or kicking horse, ever forgets what you, or any member of your class can teach him in half an hour.
Every one who owns or drives a horse ought to join your class.
Yours,
B. J. McGraun,
President First National Bank.
I next stopped at a nice country town called Westchester, the inhabitants of which seemed alive to the great cause I had espoused, as my class there numbered two hundred and fifty. I was happily surprised, just before leaving, by receiving a diploma which greatly cheered, at the same time that it stimulated, me to add more and more to my store of knowledge.
Having now had two years’ experience in the practice of my system, my confidence in it, and its superiority over any other known system, was so thoroughly established that I had no fear of submitting it to any test nor of subjecting it to any criticism. I, therefore, decided upon visiting the great city of Philadelphia. I fortified myself as best I could, and on the 28th of November, 1869, I made my debut there. Whatever solicitude I might have felt would have been speedily removed by the cordial and flattering reception I received from the people of the Quaker City. One academy being insufficient to accommodate those who flocked to listen to my instructions, I built a second, and as the time rolled on and my success constantly enlarged, I felt as if the summit of my ambition had been almost attained. The limit of time I had fixed for remaining was one month, but as the end of that period drew near I was strongly solicited by many friends to extend my visit, to which, as the interest was daily augmenting, I consented. Month after month passed, during which time my class was constantly increasing until, by the close of the fourth month, it had swelled to the number of four thousand eight hundred and eighty-six members! At the end of that time my preparations were made to depart, but I was not allowed to leave before receiving the most conclusive and gratifying evidence of the high estimation which my system had secured and of the friendship I had been so fortunate as to win.