Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-07-17
Tran the countrr Co..
HORSE RACING BY WONIE

HORSE RACING BY WOMEN
FIVE should be told that IN some obscure part
of the world, the women were IN the practice of
riding EAce-horses Ut the top of their speed, for
the amusement Of men, VIC should very natural
IL conclude that they were class ofsaTase anna
IONS, or that the public morals we're at an ex-
tremely low ebb, or likely to become 50.
But if NE should find that this practice was
encouraged and adopted by ! nation claiming to
be the most civilized in the world, and also un-
der the auspices of county and State orgalIlza-
lions, having so WORTHY and excellent an objectin
view as the promotion and improvement of az
riculture it would perhaps strike us that civil
cation and refinement had got singuiariy wrong
end foremost
Ifagricaltural societies feel compelled to pro-
pitiate depraved taste. in orders to draw Ia the
crowds of spectators. who will come for no oth-
er motive, it may be questioned whether on the
whole they are doing most harm OF good. As 4
sample of many of the exhibitions of the kind
referred To, which we have seen reported, we
copy the following from description of the te-
male Workmanship performed on the grounds
Of the Ohio Agricultural Society, on one OF the
days Gifts Annual Fair:-
fsSo,ne of the horses were old raeers, and the
ladies' were determined to get at their best seed.
a desire was expressed for match between
Mrs Stombaugh of Columbus, and Mrs White
of Portsmouth, who seemed to have the two
fastest horses. The tive ladies' took the track
with their escorts, and after curvetirg couple
of rounds, strucka full pace, Mrs. W. being then
some ten rods in advance, which distance she
held during the first round; at the secondround
Mrs. S. began to close the gap, the animals lit
eralEy Jte,C, and 1t ieds harzt to tel Whieh 'eas
Horss and toIick tc4s psticodt the escort IN the
meantime being left behind ike dritt wood
At the end of the second round, Mrs. S. shot
past Mrs. w. like an arrow" DC. &c. ''Ihe
whole exhibition elected ua5ouRieL applique,
!. \ 81, slisr ,Faef aPrT-
dent to naaT the pleasure Of The scene.
| An exhibition aud race of a very similar char
acter, as we are informed, took place at ElmiIa,
the day after the New York State Fair, (the \.
/ Y Agricultural Society not wishing to patronize
such jocky performances and, like that IN Ohio,
we did not learn that any accident occurred
to mar the pleasure of tie scene" except it be
that one or two of the prominent ladies' IN ques-
/ ton, from the exposure and intense excitement
of the occasion were attacked Immediately with
sickness, which in short time brought them
4 to their graves.
Girls Should learn to ride on horseback for its
utility and healthfulness We can remember
when it was common, and when women were
I able to perform Journeys on horseback over bad
roads, at the rate of than forty miles day,
with no public exhibitions to stimulate them
They made plaiu, simple everyday work OF 1t.
But to be seen by thousands of men and boys,
! is poor motive. No young lady can thus make
public exhibition OF herself, even WINE TloliS
at moderate and digniied pace, without such
thoughts running through her mind as these:-
"What a beautiful figure cut! How elegantly
! ride! | am very pretty and graceful lady!
! | hope the men all admire mel" These are the
feelings that are fostered, when the exhibition
takes its least Objectionable form, and where
horse-racing is not introduced. The reports Of
Committees have shown that personal beauty"
has in some cases large share in securing pri-
zcs
Baby-sbows hare had their day,-being too
much like making cattle Of human beings: but
we question whether on the whole it has so bad
an effect for a woman to feel proud OF her darling
baby, as for young lady to feel proud of the aP-
4 pearance and performance OF her own darling
self
a great distinction between the manners of
sayages and of truly civilized people, is in the
/ iatcilcctuaE position of woman. We want to
improve them by elevating their minds above
the love Of gewgaws. The man who only wishes
to make dolls of his wife and daughters is low
in the scale of intelligence Personal beauty for
woman is no part of that great civilization agent,
I Christianity, and is not once even alluded to
throughout the New Testament. We desire to
see Agricultural Societies carrying out the i'm
proyenent of the intellect, by offering prizes for
the results of useful skill, and for essays on do
Imestic and moral economy, from women, and IN
such other ways as may appear proper.
/ We make these remarks at the present time,
as respectful suggestions to the managers of Ag-
ricuIturai Societies, now that they are preparing
their plans for the autumn fair.