BRIDGEPORT ACADEMY.
On entering New England, my first stop was at the beautiful town of Bridgeport, somewhat celebrated as the home of the renowned sensationalist, P. T. Barnum, who has, during quite an eventful career, acquired and lost many fortunes. As the winter had not yet passed, I here erected an academy, which became the scene of an incident which will forever remain fixed on my memory. The people of Bridgeport turned out nobly, filling my academy to its utmost capacity, when, hearing a noise, I looked in the direction whence it proceeded, and, to my horror, saw the seats falling, with their occupants, precipitating them to the ground! Of course all for a time was confusion and affright, but, strange to say, not one of the immense crowd was injured by the accident.
After the excitement had somewhat subsided, I proceeded to form a class, which numbered about three hundred, who seemed delighted with the knowledge they acquired under my instructions.
When my labors had ended I took an opportunity to view the town, and was greatly interested in visiting some of its principal manufactories. Amongst these one of special note is the immense establishment for the manufacture of the Howe Sewing Machines, said to be one of the largest in the world.
I subsequently visited Providence, the capital of Rhode Island, where I found it necessary to build another academy, which I erected very near the public thoroughfare of the city. At this place my most sanguine expectations were realized, as I met with signal success; nearly one thousand persons became members of my class, and the financial results were greatly beneficial to me, as at this time my expenses were great. My troupe consisted of some eight men and twelve horses, the expenses of which were large, besides the cost of extensively advertising, that I might give wider publicity to a system which had gained general favor wherever it was known.
The far-famed city of Boston was my next resting-place. Here, as at other places, I found it necessary to exhibit in an academy, and, having fitted it up, I entered on my work with renewed hope and energy, believing, from the usefulness and practicability of my system of educating the horse, that a failure was impossible. Nor was I disappointed; the shrewd minds of the Bay State saw the value of the knowledge I imparted, and, cheered on by growing favor, I put forth every effort, and was rewarded by the most gratifying success, as my class reached the large number of three thousand persons.
With the close of my labors in Boston the winter had passed away, and I decided on a trip reaching northward as far as Portland, in Maine, making short stops at the several towns between Boston and that place, first stopping at a beautiful town called Lynn, where I purchased a nice family residence, a good representation of which is given in the cut.
In this charming town and its vicinity there is much to attract and please the visitor. Among the favorite resorts is a delightful watering-place known as Nahant Beach, to which, during the summer, thousands come to enjoy the invigorating breezes of the ocean. Here the invalid seeks the coveted boon of health, while the healthy come to reinvigorate their systems. Mrs. Pratt and myself christened the place the “green spot of earth,” as often, attended by our servants, we drove in our carriage around the beach, for the time forgetting the toils of the past, and almost fancying ourselves in the land of Paradise.