Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-11-17
Mistellang.
A Capital Speech.

we ma In the Sprlngneld hepuOllcan
the following report of the humorous and ap-
propriate speech of Rev. F. D. Huntington,
at the recent exhibition Of Horses in Spring
field 1t will be read with interest -
Mr.. Preadent-It occurs to me as just pos
sible that some persons present here may be
asking what precise relation my profession
sustains TO fast horses. (Laughter.) Now
beg such persons to remember, that with the
present ecclesiastical tendencies of the commu-
nifty, some of US will need the very fastest of
your Morgans and Black Hawks to take us
out Of one parish into another. (Laughter.)
| think have seen it somewhere suggested,
that, in these days Of rapid ministerial chan
should inhabt some of those locomo-
tive daguerreotype establishments which we
occasionally see in our country towns, that
they might move conveniently all their house
hold chattels, parlor, kitchen and all, from one
village to another. Loud laughter.) AS
things go, however, these would soon come to
be slow coaches, and ! confess that when
my turn comes, should rather, as matter
of dignity find myself on the back Of one of
your Bob Logics or Lady Digbys; and
.-GDr the ladies and children, we could bring out
some of the old pillions that no doubt hang up
in most of the old stables of New England,
and so migrate to another field of labor
daughter and cheers.)
Sir, a great many fine things have been said
about the horse and although cannot hope
to say as good things, yet believe like him
as well as any of those who have praised him.
1t has been said that America owes great
deal to the horse but there is one thing that
may not have occurred to any of you, and that
is, that we are all of US, as members of the
Anglo-Saxon family, descendants of horses
Laughter.) The two brothers who conducted
the first expedition from the forests of Germany
to Great Britain, as allies ofthe Britons against
the Romans, and afterwards became, as is
their wont, the owners and occupants Of the
soil, these two brothers were both of them
named The Horse-Henghist and Horsai.-
Now, if the old idea is correct, that kings
are the fathers Of the people, and we are the
people descended from those kings, then |
suppose the case is made out. (Cheers.)
Mr. President, it is evident, from this dis
play which you have spread before us, and
which has delighted us all, that you cannot
crowd the horse out Of the path of progressive
civilization. You may invent railroads and
telegraphs, if you will, but you cannot push
him into corner. He stands, soldier, a
philosopher, reformer, and-if that will not
disgrace him in the eyes of our friend from
New Hampshire politician too, Daughter. J
Aye, sir, right here, here in the good city of
Springfield, this exhibition-held at the four
right angles Of two great idon ducats Of travel
and transportation-what commentary it is
upon the lugubrious croacking Of the prophets
who foretold that the horse would go out OF
fashion on the establishment of railroads, and
perhaps have to be shot as superfuity =
daughter and cheers.) Now, sir, this is one
of the illustrations Of that great providential
law which binds together in one harmonious
whole the interests and occupations Of the
world, making each one, when well pursued
and nobly practised, to aid every other. Loud
cheers.)
Personally, sir, confess to very tender
liking for any respectable horse. He is pro-
verbally, you know, good listener. (Laugh-
ter.) 1t has been said by phrenologists that
the horse has very small brain. lido not
know how this is, for claim no skill in that
science, but if he has small brain, he has
something that is remarkably good substitute
for it. You have seen his tender and high
sensibility. Look at that noble Arabian stall
lion, taken in the desert and transported to
England. When he fell sick in that harsher
northern climate, they wanted to revive his
dropping energies, and they called for instru-
ments OF music to play at his side, and the
moment the musicians struck their notes, his
whole frame was tremulous with the fine
frenzy and, fearful that his delicate and high
ly wrought organism would snap by some yio-
lent convulsion, the instruments were involun-
tariiy dropped to the earth Loud cheers.)
Sir, whatever may be said Of the inside OF
| the horse head, what do you think of the out
side! Have we not all admired that masterly