CHAPTER VII.
ANNAPOLIS—DELAWARE—NEW JERSEY—NEW YORK STATE—THE GREAT EMPORIUM—CHICAGO IN FLAMES.
After my period of relaxation, I re-entered the active duties of my profession feeling greatly invigorated. I visited the pleasant city of Annapolis, the capital of Maryland, where I met a cordial reception from many whose warm appreciation of my system of educating the horse was coupled with marks of personal friendship. Here, as in other places on former occasions, my endeavors were crowned with a gratifying success. It is at this place that the United States Naval Academy is situated, an institution which sustains the same relation to the navy that West Point bears to the army of our country. In the extent of its bounds, covering, as it does, an area of about twenty acres, and in the completeness of its appointments, this academy is unequaled in the United States. Here I was introduced to General Bovey, who is a lover of that noble animal, the horse, and is the owner of some of the finest that America can boast. He manifested much interest in my welfare, and kindly invited me to dine with him; after spending a long and pleasant hour in his society, I took my leave, and when, shortly after, I left Annapolis, I bore with me a grateful recollection of the many kindnesses I had received from the inhabitants of that beautiful city.
I will here claim the indulgence of the reader while I give a brief sketch of my journey from this point to New York. It was about the middle of May, 1871, when I started on my tour, intending to arrive at New York in the month of October. In passing through the State of Maryland, I found it a beautiful, level country, with a soil of great fertility. It is well known to have been one of the slave States, and, as a result, the population is made up largely of colored people, many of whom I found to be very, very poor; their houses, within and without, bespoke wretchedness and want, and many of them seemed on the verge of starvation. Often was my heart moved to compassion as I viewed their dilapidated clothing, many of them being almost naked, while in their countenances want and misery were depicted. As I passed the settlements and, prompted by pity, gave them some donations, I saw their faces brighten as I placed the money in their tawny and wrinkled hands, while their expressions of thankfulness more than rewarded me for the gifts bestowed. In passing through this State I formed many classes, meeting with even better success than I anticipated.
Leaving Maryland, I entered the little State of Delaware, renowned for the extent of its orchards and the excellence of its peaches, which fruit forms the most profitable crop of the State, and is unequaled by any grown elsewhere. The country here also is level, but in many parts so sandy as to weary the traveler, whose animals often labor through sand to the depth of six inches, while the scorching rays of the sun, reflected from the sand, add much to the discomfort of a journey through this State.
At Dover, the capital of the State, I formed an interesting class, of which the Governor and many distinguished citizens became members. The buildings in Dover are mostly of wood, there being none of stone and but few of brick.
After leaving Dover I crossed Delaware Bay, and entered the State of New Jersey. This, also, in its more southern portions, may be described as a level country, but the lands there are clothed with dense forests of pine, where human habitations are rarely met, and even the sound of the woodman’s axe is seldom heard. These “pine barrens” are in places destitute of traveled roads, and the one journeying through them sees his course marked out by “blazed” trees. I wended my way along until I reached the city of Trenton, the capital of the State, where I formed a class. Thence I passed to the city of Rahway, then to Elizabeth, and afterwards to the town of Long Branch, forming interesting classes at each place. The last-named place is well known as a favorite and much-admired watering-place, being the summer resort of thousands who annually seek its pure sea-breezes, and regale themselves in the pleasures it abundantly affords. I visited many other places in the State, forming classes and receiving the congratulations of numbers who appreciated the knowledge it was my aim to impart.
Passing some twenty miles across a pleasant though sandy country, I reached the village of Red Bank, at which place I took the steamboat, and, after sailing through the magnificent Bay of New York, passed up the Hudson River to Sing Sing, at which place I met with success, and formed a class composed mainly of the first citizens of the town. I devoted my first leisure to visiting the State Prison, which is situated in the suburbs, on the bank of the Hudson, and, after being conducted through the different departments, I was permitted to see a record of the names of the inmates and the crimes for which they were incarcerated, and I record it as my conviction that many there have laid a foundation for after crime by early cruelty to the noblest of all animals save man. One step of cruelty leads inevitably to others, and thus the disposition may have grown that has led, finally, to the crime which deprived them of liberty and condemned them to years of servitude in that dreary abode of felons.
Retracing my steps down the Hudson, I next pitched my tent at Peekskill, which is situated on the east bank of the river, and where I met a gratifying reception, and succeeded as at other places.