Pratt Institute - Prattonia Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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“Ag I said last Founder’s Day, the developing and enlarging power of the Institute must be in itself. The giving which counts is the giving of one’s self. The faithful teacher who gives his strength and life without stint or hope of reward, other than the sense of fidelity to duty, gives most, and so the record will stand when our books are closed at the day of final accounting. “So to my sons and co-trustees, who will have this work to carry on when I am gone, I wish to say: The world will overestimate your ability, and will underestimate the value of your work; will be exacting of every promise made or implied; will be critical of your failings; will often misjudge your motives and hold you to strict account for all your doings. Many pupils will make demands and be forgetful of your service to them. Ingratitude will often be your reward. When the way is dark and full of discouragement and difficulty you will need to look on the other side of the picture, which you will find full of hope and gladness. So I would give you a word of encouragement and cheer, and possibly I cannot do better than to impress upon you the wise counsel of an ancient sage from another race, as follows: “You do not live for yourself. If you live for yourself you shall come to nothing. Be brave, be just, be pure, be true in word and deed. Care not for your enjoyment, care not for your life; care only for what is right. So, and not otherwise, it shall be well with you.” DEATH OF MR. PRATT Mr. Pratt had been prevailed upon in the early spring of 1890 to allow Mr. Herbert Adams, sculptor, instructor in the School of Fine and Applied Arts, to model his portrait in his Pratt Institute studio. Nearly every morning for several weeks Mr. Pratt would go to the studio, and while engaged in earnest conversation with some director regarding the work of his school, Mr. Adams would carry nearer to completion the portrait. On the morning of May 4, 1891, Mr. Pratt made his usual visit to the Institute and remarked to the writer— Mr. Adams thinks the clay portrait is finished and every one who has seen it seems satisfied, so I think I will go down to the studio and tell Mr. Adams that I, too, will call it finished.” Mr. Pratt then went to his office and strangely enough his death came suddenly that day. A reproduction of the portrait in bronze, through voluntary contributions of Pratt Insti- tute students, was soon placed in the General Office bearing the words so typical of the man, Charles Pratt, “The giving which counts is the giving of one’s self.” Another copy of the bronze portrait may be seen in the entrance hall of the Library. PRATT INSTITUTE ORGANIZATION Mr. Frederic B. Pratt, son of the founder, has been the executive officer of Pratt Institute since its beginning in 1887, calling himself, modestly, “Secretary”; but, in this position, he has done a very great work for Pratt Institute. He has given of his time most unselfishly to the vast number of details that engage the attention of a chief executive officer, and he is thoroughly acquainted with every course of study in the various schools of the Institute. To him the students owe much that has come to them in their life at the Institute. Then again the Institute is unique among educational institutions in having a Board of Trustees consisting of the six sons, and at the present time, of four grandsons of the founder, who have interested themselves each and all to an extraordinary degree in promoting all that Pratt Institute stands for, and in building and adding to the endowment as occasion has required. Nothing could be more fully lived up to than the statement made to the writer the morning after the funeral of the founder in May, 1891, by Mr. Charles M. Pratt, President of the Board of Trustees, when he said, “Please note down everything that you can think of that father intended to do, for we, as his sons, intend so far as possible to carry out every known wish that he expressed.” Now prophetic have been the words of the founder uttered on that last Founder’s Day, October 2, 1890, when he said: “We believe if we do right that in time—ten years, twenty vears, fifty years- ‘we shall have all we can do to take care of the people who wish to come to Pratt Institute.” 20

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Board of Trustees Reaping From Lerr ‘To Ricur—Tor Row Turonore Prarr Haroup I. Prarr Dr. Frank L. Bassorr, JR. Srconn Row Freperic B. Prarvr Hersert L. Prarr Cruarues M. Prarr Joun T. Prarr Grorce D. Pratr Borrom Row RicHarpson Prarr Cuarues Prarr