The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-10-24
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES,
Made at the Cattle Sho,c, Octo. 10, 1882.
WORKING OXEN

WORKING OXEN.
COMMITTEE George Folsom Of Worcester
Chairman. Job Ranger of New Braintree, Johr
~ wye OF Barre, Stephen Davis Of Oxford Hen
ry Snow of Shrewsbury
Among the numerour objects claiming the a,ten
lion Oh a9r;cuturiss occasion like the present
that noble animal, The Ok, stands preempent In
expressing this opinion, your Committee do no,
mean to depreciate the merits of any other com.
Pertors Tor popular favor; on the other hand. we
oS'e'e tnat very high importance may be attach
ca 70 each and yet the palm of superior usefulness
De awarded to the Ok. The horse, the sheep. and
the hog, may be allowed to possess merits and at
fractions OF quite elevated character. but after
tneir claims to distinction are far below those
u their brother animal, whose limbs are the very
Pefsohhcatlan of strength, whose flesh is the most
SUBSTANTIAL, well as sayory of al;mepts and
whose nice is the best of all applications to the
sores OF honest men, and the backsof roques
by very wise and happy arrangement in the
economy OF nature, no other animal is more extern
sNely unused throughout every part Of the habta-
Die earth He exist amidst polar SHOWS, and under
tropical sun, in the 6reary wastes of the north.
and IN the burning heats of the SOUTH the same
patient, laborous and noble animal. though various
" adapted to the nature Of the regions he occupies
II has been remarked of man. that he is not only
working being, but he is being formed TO work
IN society" The same observation may be ap-
Piled with equal justice and truth TO the OK. Side
Dy side with his fellow, he will toll from earliest
dawn to latest eve, without uttering single note
OF compliant; but place him alone in the harness
detached from the society of HE kind, and his
means and bellowlngs resound on every side at
least this is quite probable from what we know of
his disposition and habits. 1t is true that in an
Client times, and even now among semi -barbarous
nations, the unyoked OK is employed in service
assigned by modern improvement to man and the
nan. Thou shalt not muzzle The or that headeh
nm ic fho hmm -.
sacred writer in reference to this de ,rading en-
pioyment of the noble misunderstanding because
SO 1nsuted to the majesty of his strength
Cattle, like their human brethren may be con-
s'uefeo as composing two classes, the Woodworking
and industrious, who pursue a steady course of
useful labor through life, and the staIl.fed crib.
loving, whose only delight is in chewing the cud
OF azness and inaction. The parallel does not IN
deed, hold good throughout for the human drone
is not only useless during life but also afterwards;
since 1t is only the good or i'll that men do that
lives after them Whereas the brute whose life
has been passed in swnsh Incidence and stupid
sensuality, leaves behind him something that sends
morsel OF comfort to many grateful heart lg-
nomnious in life, he makes ample amends for
past deficiencies at his Inter end and every token
OF respect is paid to his memory.
But it is of the working class that il belongs
to US more particularly to speak And here the
parallel is well sustained. In whatever department
OF life man is called to labor the active and indus
trous exercise of his faculties works out for him
more substantial reward than the wealth of the In
dies can bestow. Whether it be the labor of the
hands, or OF the brain, is always more valuable
animal when his energies. mental and physical. are
actively and properly employed II is also true Of
the brute companions of his labor they are most
servceaole when kept steadily bent upnr me prose-
cu'lon OF some or other useful r11fpose. Ouer-
tc0f6tng is likewise inJurnrs IN Dom cases. espec
tally when produced ~ the application of unnatu-
raj stimulus, whether il be of the whip, the glass
a 1t may be thought by some that the parallel we
have drawn is degrading to the lord of creation,
who, in their opinion, is not to be named at the
same time with his brethren of the great family of
animals but it cannot be denied that, viewed under
certain circumstances. man is the less resuectabe
Of the two-that not unfrequently he sinks far be-
low the brute. Nor will any one who has witness
ed the admirable exhibition of cattle, this day,
withhold his respect from that class of quadrupeds
There were to be seen strength and beauty COM
bined in superior degree such perfect symmetry
offOrm, and neatness of limbs, the fairest of the
biped race might be proud 20 display The uncon-
scious with which these beautiful animals
drew loads of forty hundred weight up a rough and
steep ascent, was also we'll calculated to inspire
the beholder with feelings of profound admiration
and respect.
Such was the generous emulation that prevailed
during the trial. and the superior excellence with
which the several tasks were performed, that your
Committee have experienced no little difficulty in
seleCtlng lne small NUMBER TO whom alone Dre-
miums could be assigned. But after mature delhi.
Grafton, and carefully comparing the claims of the
several competitors with one another tof whom
there were fifteen in all we have agreed to make
the following award:
To Franklin M. Farnum of Charlton, Sl2OO
Waldo Putnam of Sutton, 1000
George w. Spur of Charlton, 500
Royal +. Marble of Sutton, SEQ
Your committee cannot conclude their report
without adding, that the teams of John M'Lelan Of
Sutton, Elbridge G. Wheelock of Millbury, and
Asa Rice of West Boylston, were entitled TO al.
most unqualified appreciation. The team of John
Marble Jr., of Grafton, which was not entered for
a premium deserves to be noticed as an ornament
to the exhibition. Of the others, belonging to
Elbridge Hewett of Worcester, COL Eager of
Northboro', Marshall Pratt of Oxford, BENJAMIN
Woodbury. of Sutton, Col ARENAS Ward of Wor-
cester, Reuben Wheelock of Sutton, and Pliny
Putnam Of Sutton, your committee can truly say.
that the oxen, although of unequal merit were all
remarkable for their good qualities, exhibiting un-
doubted marks of vigorous capacity and well-train-
ed habits. The lash was, however, in some in
stances too freely, and quite unnecessarily, applied
the disuse of which SO far as is practicable we
strongly recommend.
Your committee noticed with peculiar satisfac-
ton, the unrivaled team of ll8 pairs Of WORKING
oxen, all belonging to the town of Worcester
which excited the admiration of numerous behold.
ers,as they moved in heightened procession through
the principal street of the town. premium Of
S25 is awarded for this part of the exhibition.
All which is respectfully submitted. For the
Committee, GEORGE FOLSOM, Chairman