372 OCEAN TO OCEAN ON HORSEBACK. 



million, two hundred and fifty thousand pounds of 

 lard ; one million, nine hundred and sixty-five thou- 

 sand whole swine; four hundred and eighty-four 

 thousand head of cattle, and one hundred and sixty- 

 two thousand head of sheep. 



I found Chicago justly proud of her public schools. 

 It was roughly estimated that in the city about fifty 

 thousand children between six and twelve years of age 

 received daily instruction. 



The graded system employed in these schools is so 

 advanced, and has proved so successful, that it has be- 

 come a general model for all the schools of the great 

 Northwest. 



More than that, it has been adopted, in part, by the 

 Minister of Education in France, and at the late 

 Vienna Exposition a reward for progress, in the 

 shape of a beautiful medal, was awarded to the school 

 system of Chicago. Chicago claims for herself abso- 

 hite superiority in two particulars over all the public 

 schools in the United States, the ^' Hub " institutions 

 of Boston not excepted. First: Perfect discipline is 

 said to be attained without the use of corporal punish- 

 ment. Second: The musical culture of the school 

 children is said to fe.r excel anything attained before 

 on this Continent. 



I found that the city contained a number of colleges, 

 theological seminaries and universities. The Univer- 

 sity of Chicago occupies one of the most elegant and 

 commodious buildings in the West. 



The Dearborn Observatory, which is a part of this 

 University, contains the famous Clark Telescope, one 

 of the most magnificent instruments of its kind in 

 existence. 



