The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-07-12
The Great American Traveller
Boston Corr. Salem Gazette.

Boston Corr. Salem Gazette.
had call yesterday from one of the best
known men of Boston. You may have heard
of Daniel Pratt, G. A. T.? His title of "Great
American Traveller" was bestowed, know
not when, where or by whom, and its applica-
ton is probably due to the fact that he is al
WAYS on the tramp and turns up periodically
at all the schools Offices and gatherings of the
CITY. els almost an omnipresent haunter of
all business places. In presence he is an old,
slight, wizsned little man, with thin but
ROSY and wrinkled face whose mild blue eyes
beam kindly on the world. His clothes are
exceedingly the worse for wear, and his hat is
a battered silk one OF ancient dimensions. He
ia lecturer and speaker, and may be engaged
at very moderate rates by anybody to speak
anywhere, Oh any given topic. He is not fus-
sy as to the subject given him, but he has his
preferences, and one Of his favorlte topics, as
he told me Yesterday, is medical Jurispru-
Jence'' YES" said he, conidentially, "I've
snoken on Medical Jurisprudence before the
etndents of the Boston University Law School,
and also at Harvard. It's great subject, you
knowovast-its Importance is greatly underes-
tirnated-in fact, IL goes to the roof OF the
whole matter. / don't go into it very fully be-
fore these students-they aren't capable OF
prasninp il. YOU see. / can only allude to 1T
Terv generally I've written new lecture
hare II isl" and he took one from roll OF
naners and handed it to me; The Saving
Prenerties of the Solar System fes-it's a
nretty good e ing-it takes weli-Im gong to
give it at CHI rlestown tor ignt.
II hope they pay you well!
"Well-uo-not always. When the conHi-
bntion is taken up good many people don't
have any silver change, SO they put III CENT
or two cents or five cents" M
HWho printed your lecture for your
"Mr. - of Boston; and he's going to write
a poer for it. You know him "a great man.
Mr. = what is his name?-Carte-the man
who run that Wilde fellow through the coun-
trv. ia going to manage my lectures next year
he saws I'll take as well as Oscar did II I'm
properly advertised and managed"
About dozen times during this Informal
ton Mr. Pratt took his departure, but re.opened
the door to add another sentence. Finally
direoted him to the office OF some lawyers
whom thought he would like to talk with,
and hn left. laughed to think of the siege
tbev would have to stand, but had had my
tnrS poor old fellow! He really believes
himself an important parsonage, and good-na-
tured editors give him high-soundlng ,puhs,
and students get him to lecture to them, iaugn
and applaud to their hearts content at ais
meaningless and scattered, but otten qualhtly
witty remarks, and then pass around the nat.
lie ia often invited to attend toney suppers
given by young bachelors, and is well Ied ana
well feed for his response to some ridiculous
toast. He thusEsmakes living, thinks ne Is
famous, is happy and doesn't know that ne Is
laughed at-thinks it all applause-and isn't
he as well off as many who have their minds
intact? Rather living sarcasm on ambitious
humanity, don't you Think