Committee.
Class numbers 3,504.
During the continuance of my classes in Baltimore, I received many favorable notices from the press of that city. As showing the popular feeling I may be allowed to give an article from the Baltimore Sun, one of the most able and widely circulated journals of the entire South. It appeared, as will be seen, before my class had reached its full dimensions.
Horse Training at Prof. Pratt’s Amphitheatre.—The exhibitions of Professor Pratt’s skill in training refractory horses continues to interest a large number of the people of Baltimore. Every night his Amphitheatre on Linden avenue is filled with an appreciative audience, including a large number who are members of his school. During one of our recent visits the Professor, after some remarks in reference to his systems, introduced the little educated pony called “Dollie Dutton,” well up in a few tricks. On her exit “Fire Fly,” mate of the Professor’s “Tom Thumb,” made his appearance, at the crack of a whip. “Fire Fly,” made excellent time with his heels in the air, and by the word, walked on his hind legs. The attempt by three persons to ride the horse the longest afforded much amusement to the audience, as not one of the three could remain on a minute. “Gray Eagle, Jr.,” Marshall Goldsborough’s thorough-bred stallion, which had not received over ten minutes’ instruction, acted in a manner which gave credit to the Professor and his system. Prof. Pratt then exhibited a massive gold-headed cane, richly mounted and appropriately engraved, which was presented him on the night of February 22d, 1869, in Philadelphia, by his class which numbered 4,886, among whom were Mayor Fox, General George Cadwalder, J. W. Drexel, banker, who were on the committee of presentation, and who gave the testimonial as a token of the appreciation of his efforts with the horse and a proof of the value of the system to them. After a lecture explanatory of his plan of education which lasted nearly an hour, the Professor ordered a horse to be brought in which was afraid of a robe. In less than fifteen minutes after he came in, he was walking over the robe, had it thrown over his head and in his face, but the scare was gone. His education in robes being pronounced completed, he was taken away and a horse that would not back brought in. He however, soon proved very tractable, backing while in and out of harness at the words. The next Animal to claim the Professor’s attention was a large stiff-neck mule furnished by Mr. S. S. Blair, of the Northern Central Railway. As was expected the mule was far more difficult to handle, yet in less than three minutes after he was subjected to proper treatment and followed the Professor, and after the system was entirely applied he was mounted and ridden off by an attendant, going quietly as any one could desire. Thus closed an evening at Professor Pratt’s. On conversing with this worthy gentleman, we learn he is from Buffalo, N. Y. Has been giving the system to the public five years. He probably handled more horses than any other man living. Was in Philadelphia five months, having there a class of 4,886. In less than three weeks’ sojourn among us he has secured over 1,000 members to his class, and we saw such men as M. B. Clarke, Henry Tyson, Drs. McNamus and Whitridge, George Robinson, George Small, Gen. W. E. Ross, J. Riddlemoser, Jr., Gen. J. S. Berry, J. Howard McHenry, R. Stockhart Mathews, all of whom highly endorse Prof. Pratt’s system of educating the horse. Mr. Mathews, who has seen Rarey, Rockwell, and others, says this is far superior to all of them.
After closing my labors in Baltimore, I took a few days of rest. My mind was in search of new knowledge to add to and improve my system, and to that object I devoted my time while relieved of more active duties. I thoroughly revised my system of educating and mode of treating the horse; after which I invited the criticisms of a number of men of intellect and experience, to whom I submitted my views and asked them for their candid verdict, when, to my great satisfaction, they expressed their unqualified approbation. If anything had been needed to confirm my opinion of the perfection of my now completed system, such an endorsement might justly have done so; and, as the succeeding chapters will show, my triumphant successes in the largest cities and before the most exalted personages of the land, demonstrated the justice of that favorable verdict.
CHAPTER VI.
WASHINGTON—A LARGE CLASS—THE PRESIDENT A PUPIL—THE WHITE HOUSE—HALLS OF CONGRESS—DIPLOMA—DR. NEWMAN’S ADDRESS—GOLD MEDAL.
In the latter part of the year 1871 I determined to visit the capital of the nation—that renowned emporium of knowledge and wisdom—the city of Washington. Fortified by previous success, I determined on such an effort here as should signalize my profession, and effectually silence those who sought to stigmatize my system and lessen confidence in myself by speaking lightly of both. Themselves pretenders to knowledge, and ignorant of what I taught, I have found them ever ready to insinuate that all is “humbug” which does not emanate from their would-be fruitful brains. And now I ask a careful attention to the narrative of my unexampled success while sojourning in this city, in connection with the character and intelligence of the gentlemen who united in endorsing me, and in commending my system.