Pratt Institute - Prattonia Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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not those who inherit and transmit a great name through a patent of nobility, but those who, of a truer nobility, are privileged to make a great name for themselves. Inheriting the sterling virtues of his origin, upbringing and environ- ment, Charles Pratt enriched his heritage with qualities of his own which were destined to find complete expression and fulfilment. His early life makes a romantic story. Denied that schooling which today is lavishly bestowed upon every boy, he started at the age of thirteen as grocery clerk in Boston; then, for an interval, served as machinist’s apprentice in Newton. His scrupulous savings made possible a year at Wilbraham Academy, living on one dollar a week, sometimes lacking sufficient food and shelter, but gaining his only experience at for- mal education. He resumed work as clerk in a paint and oil shop in Boston, removing thence to New York City to accept an opening in the same line of production. It was an opportune moment in the industry. The discovery of petroleum which could be refined into the best of illuminating oils had given the trade great

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TT TRL, dive BEFORE THE BEGINNING Ir was THE OLD ENGLISH YEOMAN ANCESTRY imbued with traits of character that produced the Pilgrim Fathers whose integrity, industry and perseverance bred an unconquerable pur- pose that won a new world, the stock which built up Puritan New England in self-denial, frugality, self-reliance, inseparable from God- fearing and righteousness:—of such were the antecedents formative of the person and charac- ter of the Founder of Pratt Institute. The forebears of Charles Pratt were, indeed,

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impetus, and, in the course of events, Charles Pratt Co. made known “Pratt’s Astral Oil” with the reassuring slogan and guaranty “It will not explode.” In the quickly succeeding era of assured wealth and prosperity, Charles Pratt was never unmindful of the hardships and sacrifices which had been his early portion, and in planning his benefactions it was natural that he should apply his fortune to “helping the other fellow.” He visualized a school which should teach me- chanic trades and the useful arts to those who were earnest of purpose, but of limited means, a school which should meet the needs of his fellow-men as he, himself, had met and over- come them. Mr. Pratt had learned that educa- tion in its deepest sense meant experience. He had abounding faith in young people, and de- sired to give them experience in doing things leading to a life-work through a school for occupational training. And thus Pratt Institute shaped itself in the imagination of Charles Pratt. It was the child of his brain, following no precedent, imitating