Читать книгу The Horse's Friend - O. S. Pratt - Страница 9

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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.

I entered Washington about the middle of February and speedily secured a site on which to erect an academy. The place selected was on Pennsylvania avenue, and the building I erected was of capacity sufficient to contain three thousand persons. I announced a public exhibition, and on this, the first day of opening, the place was filled to the utmost. At the close of the exhibition I invited those of the audience so disposed, to unite in forming a class. A large number responded to this call, and, as I entered on my work, I was encouraged by finding the numbers increasing by hundreds. This nerved me to the utmost, and at length, in sixty days, my class had reached the gratifying number of two thousand five hundred and five persons!

President Grant intimated his desire to take private lessons, and requested me to organize a class to meet in the forenoon of each day. This I did, and I soon had the honor of imparting instruction to such a class of distinguished men as have rarely, if ever beside, been gathered together for a similar purpose. The President invited some special friends to join him in acquiring the knowledge he desired, and soon I numbered in my class men distinguished in the pursuits of arms, politics, literature, and theology, many of whom would rank with the foremost men of the world. Amongst them were President Grant, General Sherman, Surgeon General Barnes, General Fremont, General Porter, General Babcock, General Mechler, Judge Advocate General Holt (the highest position in the army), General Eli Parker, Count Catacazy, the Russian Minister; Count Turenne, of the French Legation; P. H. Le Poor, French Legation; H. S. Le Strange, of the British Legation: Commodore Ammen, Commodore Pickering, Senator McDonald, Senator Stockton, Hon. W. H. Hooper, Rev. Dr. Newman, Chaplain to the Senate; Senator Sprague, Governor Cooke, and many others of high rank and standing.

As is well known, in the national capital may be found learned and talented men from almost every nation, and as there are gathered objects of interest to all, a brief sketch of what met my eyes may not prove out of place.

First of all is the renowned “White House,” the home of the honored head of our nation, and now occupied by President Grant and his family. It has been said that

“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,”

and a similar declaration might be made of the occupant of the Presidential chair; few have found it to be an easy seat. The servants of a public jealous of their rights and privileges, and exposed to the adverse criticism of selfish and disappointed opponents, even the most generous and well-meant movements of those filling that high position are liable to misconception and ridicule. There may be no personal dislike, yet the public, ever on the qui vive for news of those in high life, are seldom disposed to scrutinize a spicy story, whoever it may strike. In this land every man who deserves them has his friends, and none, however deserving, are without some enemies.

The external appearance of the “White House” somewhat disappointed me; yet it is a magnificent structure, with massive pillars in front, while the interior does credit to the good taste of those in charge.

The Red Room, being generally selected for the receptions held by the President and his wife, is very handsomely furnished in velvet and drapery, the color of which corresponds with the name of the room. I must, however, express my preference for the Blue Room; its light shade of satin damask, with gold, is so chaste and elegant that one could scarcely dream of a fairy-land more beautiful; and at “morning receptions,” from two till five P. M., the guests being received in this room, it is rendered doubly beautiful by the elegant toilettes of our American and foreign ladies, who crowd it with the beauty and fashion of the metropolis.

The large East Room, which occupies that entire end of the building, is elegantly furnished, while the walls are hung with life-size portraits, in oil, of Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and others who have formerly filled the highest national office, but who now have passed away.

It was my pleasure to pass an evening, with my wife, in the private parlor of President Grant and family, who gave me a cordial reception. Among those who shared in this social interview were Rev. Dr. ——, L.L. D., from England, his wife and daughter, and our much-esteemed friends, Rev. Dr. N—— and wife, of the Metropolitan Church, D. C.

We were shown through some of the pleasant apartments of the Presidential mansion, and, among others, the private dining-room. In this the arrangements for meals are perfect and tasteful. A small bouquet of choice flowers, selected from the conservatory, which abounds with rare exotics, is placed at the side of every plate at dinner, and, that no interruption may interfere with the arrangement of the table, a plate is always provided for a casual visitor.

On entering Washington, the first building to attract the eye of a stranger is the Capitol, which is built on a prominent height, and forms the most conspicuous object as one enters the city; especially is this so when the magnificent dome is lighted; one then gazes with delight on the beauty of its perfect architecture.

On entering the Capitol by its massive marble portico, the visitor first views the reception rooms, then passes to the rotunda, the walls of which are adorned with paintings, many of which are commemorative of important events in the early history of America, and some of a later date. Statuary also meets the eye, and prominent amongst it is the life-size statue of the martyred President, Abraham Lincoln, from the chisel of Vinnie Ream. As one looks on this work, which has been so severely criticised, he will feel the injustice done her, and be likely, with the writer, to believe that the attacks were prompted by the fact that it was a lady who secured the contract. I enjoyed the pleasure of a visit to the studio of the gentle sculptor, where we found the lady, surrounded by specimens of her wonderful skill in this noble art.

To return to the Capitol—that general resort of strangers—one must visit the dome, and thither we go, laboring up—up—till it seems almost as though the top would never be reached, though pleasant company served to beguile the time as we mounted the hundred and eighty feet of ascending steps. When, at length, we reached the top, and stood in the presence of the paintings which completely decorate the upper portion of the dome, all else was forgotten, and it seemed as though we had passed into another sphere, away from all the cares of ordinary life! Books can be obtained, explaining the historical paintings, and in the study of these, days might be profitably employed. The brief time a visitor can give is far too short, to satisfy the eye, which desires to still gaze on, reluctant to depart. From the outer side of the dome a view of unparalleled beauty is presented: Georgetown, General Lee’s old homestead, in the distance, and the Potomac River, together with the elegant public buildings, are among the many objects included in the panoramic view.

As we descend again, and come amongst the sights and sounds of daily life, a sudden awakening to reality occurs. We now pass to the wings on either side of the main building devoted to the use of the two Houses composing our American Congress. On visiting the House of Representatives, when in session, the visitor is directed to the gallery which surrounds and looks down upon the hall; and, should he be a favored one, he is shown to a seat in that portion of the gallery reserved for the diplomatic corps, friends of members and distinguished visitors. There one can sit at ease, apart from the crowds which fill the other portions, and may listen to the speeches of representatives from every State in the Union, as they deliberate on the laws by which the country is to be governed; may note the voting, and sometimes hear the exciting contest as the dignity of debate is lost in some partisan wrangle.

The Treasury Building is a beautiful edifice, and is always the scene of busy life, the activity extending from the topmost floor to the furnace in the cellar, where the mutilated currency is burned. It is in this building that the paper money of the country is prepared, after which it is sent to the banks for circulation. It is customary for visitors to exchange a note for one that has never been in circulation, to be kept as a souvenir.

The elegant Smithsonian Institute, with its numerous objects of interest, and the Agricultural Buildings, with their beautiful grounds, offer their attractions to the visitor, while the Patent Office, with its multitude of models, showing the inventive genius of our countrymen, is of equal interest. Here, while admiring the ingenuity displayed by the inventors, we learn by the number of rejected models how many have spent perhaps the best years of their lives only to reap disappointment at the last.

While in Washington I was favored with several gratifying testimonials. The first one was at the great National Carnival, where I received the prize for the best four-in-hand turn-out, a gold-mounted whip. The second testimonial was a life-size portrait of President Grant, which was presented to me at one of the gatherings of the society attending the Metropolitan Memorial Church, and was accompanied in its presentation by the following address by Rev. J. P. Newman, D. D., the eloquent and distinguished pastor of the church:

Ladies and Gentlemen: Mine is a pleasing task. The ladies of this church desire me to present this elegant portrait of our honored President to Prof. Pratt, whose public spirit and great liberality prompted him to give the proceeds of his academy for one week towards the purchase of a chime of bells for this church. We much regret that sickness has detained the Professor from being present on this occasion, but we are happy to know that Mrs. Pratt is here.[1] The donation on his part is the more commendable because he came here a stranger, yet such is his appreciation of the beautiful and useful that he cheerfully gives his large sum for an object which will be, when achieved, the pride of the Capital.

His mission is eminently humane, for he not only educates the horse to obey the intelligence of his master, but also educates the master to treat the noblest of beasts with humanity.

[1] Her many friends will doubtless be gratified by finding, on the opposite page, a portrait of this lady—the life-long companion of the author.

The address, which was received with loud applause, was, in my absence, responded to by the Member of Congress from Batavia.

The third testimonial I received was presented on the day of closing my lectures, which had been so regularly attended by the citizens, officials, and members of the foreign legations, who deemed it proper to encourage my enterprise by presenting me with a diploma, engrossed on parchment, over their own signatures, and which was accompanied with a gold medal. The following is a copy of the diploma presented by the Washington class, the original of which is now in my possession, on parchment:

To Prof. O. S. Pratt:

We, the members of your Washington class, appreciate the value of the very necessary knowledge which you have imparted to us during your sojourn in the national metropolis; and we are convinced that your method of educating the horse, and reforming his vicious habits, is the only true system. As a mark of our estimation of the service rendered us, we beg your acceptance of the accompanying testimonial, and our sincere wishes for your continued success, health and happiness.

 General W. T. Sherman,

 Gen. O. E. Babcock,

 General Banks,

 Count De Catacazy,

 Mayor Matthew G. Emory,

 W. S. Shepherd,

 Surgeon Gen. Barnes,

 Commodore Ammen,

 Gen. Horace Porter,

 Gen. J. C. Fremont,

 Senator Wm. Sprague,

 Commodore Pickering,

 Brevet Maj. Gen. Allen,

 Gen. Ely S. Parker,

 Mayor Emory,

 H. A. L’Astrange, of the British Legation,

 Rev. Dr. Newman, Chaplain to the Senate,

 Wm. W. Belknap, Secretary of War,

 Gen. Meichler,

 Governor Cooke,

 P. H. la Poor, of the French Legation.

On the next page the reader will find a correct cut of the gold medal which accompanied the diploma.

On the following day the Metropolitan Church arranged an excursion to Mount Vernon. The day was beautiful, and the company all that could be desired. The sail down the lovely stream, with its wooded banks, was delightful. On our arrival at the spot the laugh was hushed, for we felt ourselves on sacred soil as we neared the tomb of Washington. After lingering for a time by the dust of the illustrious dead, we ascended the hill on which stands the house which was once the home of the Father of his Country. The furniture having been removed, we saw little more than the halls, a few relics enclosed in a case, and the marble mantel, which has been so much coveted by strangers on account of its rare carving, representing a farm-yard scene. This choice relic has been defaced in several places by unscrupulous visitors, who have broken off pieces to carry away as relics. We also visited the spot where Washington and Lafayette met, under a tree, to reconcile their difficulties.

During our return to the city, which we reached the evening of the same day, speeches were made on the boat by the Mayor, ministers and bankers. We arrived in time to take the cars on our way to Long Branch, at which popular resort I passed most of the summer in visiting and recreation, before again resuming the duties of my profession.