At this point I embarked on one of the Mail Line of steamers, with my stock and equipments, and passed up Lake Ontario to Burlington Bay, and thence to the city of Hamilton. As I had been frequently solicited to visit Detroit, and having determined on spending the ensuing winter in Hamilton and Toronto, I did not at this time attempt to form a class, but took the most direct route to Detroit city, exhibiting at a number of places on my way.

Detroit is situated on the river bearing its name, which divides the American and Canadian possessions. Its commerce is quite large, and, to one standing on the banks of the river, a pleasing and animated picture is presented. The rapid stream, in places running with a current of from five to eight miles an hour, is difficult of navigation for sailing vessels, and one sees the sailing craft, loaded with grain and lumber, towed by large and powerful steam-tugs, built expressly for that purpose, while the smiling banks on the Canadian side, crowned by the buildings of Windsor, mirror themselves in the farther waters.

It was in December, 1873, that I reached Detroit, remaining there a few weeks, and during that time forming a class of over twelve hundred members. Before taking my leave of that pleasant and enterprising city, I received from my class a diploma, which I prize more highly than gold, while, to increase my delight, I was, most unexpectedly to myself, made the recipient of an elegant cabinet music-box, the value of which could not be less than five hundred dollars. The following is the diploma, as signed and presented to me, followed by a cut of the elegant testimonial:

MUSIC BOX FROM DETROIT CLASS.

Having attended Prof. O. S. Pratt’s lectures to his class, and also having seen the practical application of his system as given by him every afternoon and evening at his academy, and believing it to be far the best ever seen in this State, so clear and practical that the merest novice can understand and use it, and yet so comprehensive that the most skillful horseman can be instructed by it, we deem it of the utmost importance that all persons owning, using, or at all interested in horses, should avail themselves of Prof. Pratt’s knowledge on that subject. He educates the man to educate the horse, the only practical method to be of permanent benefit.