Before leaving the place, I strolled about a mile back from the river, and saw there the farm and summer residence of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, the great biblical expounder and platform orator, who has since passed through an ordeal far from pleasing or profitable, though there are indications that from all he will yet come out as “gold tried in the fire,” and perhaps to shine as a star of still brighter lustre.
My next visit was to the city of Poughkeepsie, where, at my first public exhibition, I was greeted by the presence of a large number of influential citizens, whose appearance there augured well for my success. I was pleased with my brief visit to this place, as my class soon swelled to the number of three hundred and fifty. I here formed the acquaintance of Prof. Eastman, of Eastman College, who solicited me to give an exhibition, on the grounds in front of his splendid mansion, to the Sabbath-school children of the city. I consented, and gave an exhibition which was received with delight by a multitude of youth of both sexes.
I now determined to direct my course down the beautiful Hudson to the great commercial emporium of the country, the city of New York. There I built an academy, at a cost of nearly three thousand dollars, capable of accommodating about four thousand persons. I opened, with brilliant prospects, about the middle of October, 1871, and as the days rolled by I had ample evidence of the appreciation of my efforts in the daily increase of my class, until, on the 15th of January, 1872, I had the pleasure of numbering on my register the handsome amount of three thousand names, representing amongst them many of the first men of the city.
I had intended to remain in New York until the opening of spring, but about this time an event which spread consternation through the land blighted my fair prospects. Along the wires of the telegraph, flashed eastward with lightning speed, came the doleful tidings that Chicago, the Queen City of the West, was in flames! As message after message came, telling of the progress of the devouring element, all hearts were filled with sympathy, till the final tidings came that for many square miles the once beautiful city was a vast plain of smouldering ruins, and that thousands of human beings, thus rendered homeless and penniless, were in almost a starving condition. At once the hearts of the people of New York were moved to compassion. Business was well-nigh suspended. The single topic which engaged all minds was the great disaster which had befallen a sister city, and how to devise means for relief to the destitute and suffering. In this absorbing feeling the interest in my lectures naturally abated; so much so, that I closed my academy and joined with my countrymen in the active measures which were at once inaugurated for extending relief to the needy. I attended the meetings held for that purpose, and heartily co-operated in sending the greatly needed aid to suffering humanity. I remained in New York till the excitement had somewhat abated, and then decided on visiting some of the New England States; but, before leaving the Great Emporium, I received a diploma attesting the high value placed on my instructions by those who had received them.
CHAPTER VIII.
BRIDGEPORT—FALL OF ACADEMY—PROVIDENCE—BOSTON—CLASS OF 3,000—LYNN—PURCHASE OF A RESIDENCE—PORTLAND—BANGOR.
