Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-02-08
From the Healihian
CATTLE AND MEN.

CATTLE AND MEN,
How obvious is il that the treatment 10
which cattle are subjected by man, sep
arales him from his fellows and from
goodness in many modes. By using cat.
tie for food and in cultivation, there is
necessilated the appropriation Of SO much
more land than would otherwise be re-
qured, that true civilization and harmony
are pushed aside by brutality and discord,
One acre would amply supply an individ-
ual with food if he worked it by his own
hands, whereas, If ne employs cattle, four
acres will at least be required 10 provide
their food, and TO make up for the smaller
crops from the same extent of surface un-
der the rougher agriculture. Instead of
enjoying the consolation Of his intellect
ual and IovefuI nelghbors, the cultivatur
OF the soil is constantly surrounded by de-,
grading animal companions, to which be
is the servant and very slave, while be
cruelty enslaves them. He waits upon
his horses and oxen, tends his cows and
comf1rts his hogs; much of his time, the
greater part Of his regards, his skill and
his attention are devoted to waiting upon
them, while his children and himself ia
both mind and body are comparatively
neglected. Even The American farmer
who set up for himself as soon as he could
save money enough to buy eehold, be.
cause he did not choose TO be another
mans servant, is contented to be waiter
and cook and housemaid to collection
of animals rendered dirty and diseased by
his rule over them. He provides their
food and their houses, waits upon them,
cleans their skin and carries away their
ordure, and fancies he is not injured but
benefited by the process. The accumu.
lated filthy manure he spreads over The
| fields and thinks he is enriched bv it
Even the man who can keep but single
pig and feeds il upon corrupt refuse, con-
graduates himself on slice OF cheap pork,
unmindful OF the Doctors bill and the dry
garlen which assuredIy follow. The ne
gro slave is not so deeply wronged as the
man who is subdued by his own appetites
to processes like these. A country life
should on all accounts be the, most desir-
a5le. Not only for poetic beauty, but also
for intellectual clarity the garden and the
orchard should be renowned as superior
10 the city and the market place. But SO
far is this reversed, that even the purest
minds will sometimes be found in places
unnaturally populous, because OF the
grossness now infused into the only truly
productive operation on matter, that is 10
saw, the cultivation of the soil. An asso-
citation with cattle for the purpose Of earn
ing wealth for man, is, next 10 killing aud
ealing them. the worst piece oil education
to which youth or an ignorant man can
be subjected. The love Of domination,
and driving other creatures about at ones
Town will which il developes, is generally
fatal to that regard for others liberty
which characlerizes the really free man.
Even in the present state of society. con-
venient as il is 10 travel SO, the good man
avoids the use OF caule as much as pos
sibe; as well as their products Tor food
or clothing. He cannot avoid feeling
that there can be no true neighborhood
whilst the lower animals are so ensllved.
Peace on earth and love-wiIl amongst
men cannot prevail until these creatures
, are again allowed their liberty. Man sold
to lust pays the price-degradalion. The
free spirit alone can free him and there is
+ no space for The free spirit in the house Of
that man whose garden is suppressed lha,
COWS and hogs may be faltened.