The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-06-14
CITE Californian.

From the Country Gentleman.

HORSE KACING BH WOMEN.
From the Country Gentleman
II we should be told that in some obscure
part Of the world, the women we're in the
practice Of riding racs.borses ct the top Of
,aeir speed, for the amusement Of the men,
We should very naturally conclude that they
we're either a class of savage amazons, or that
the public morals were at an extremely low
sbb, or likely to become so.
But If we should find that this practice vas
encouraged and adopted by nation claiming
10 be the most civilized in the world, and al
20 under the auspices Of County and State
organizations, having 80 worthy and excel
lent an object in view as the promotion and
improvement Of agriculture, it would strike
Us that civilization and refinement had got
singularly wrong end foremost.
II agricultural societies feel compelled to
pro?itiate depraved tas te, in order to draw
in crowds Of spectators, who will come in for
no other motive, it may be questioned wheth-
" on the whole they are doing most harm or
good. As sample of many Of the exhbi-
lions of the kind referred to, which we have
seen reported, we copy the following from
description Of the female Craftsmanship per.
formed on the grounds Of the Ohio Agric ul
tural Society, on one Of the days Gifts
Annual Fair:
Of tbs heEsf Hs5d 90 81 ct 6eS nG
best speed. A desire was express
ell for a match between Mrs. Stombau.h of
Columbus, and Mrs. White of Portsmouth,
who seemed to have :he two fastest horses
The two ladies took the track with their
escorts. and after curvetting a couple Of
rounds, struck full pace, Mrs. White being
then some ten rods in advance. which distance
she held during the first round at the second
round Mrs. 5. cyan to close the gap. the ami
mats literally .t'tm. and 1t mdS hard to tell
which ~as horse ami which wds penicoat' the
escort in the mean time being left behind lik"
DRIFT wood At the end OF the second round
Mrs. 5. shot past Mrs. W. like an arrow"
&c. &c, &c. The whole exhibition ellie tied
unbounied applause, and was concluded with
out the slightest accident to mar the pleasure
ofMe scene"
An exhibition and race Of very similar
character, as We are infor med. took place at
Elmira, the day after the New York State
Fair. (the y. Y. AZ. Society not wishing to
patronize such jockey performances and
like that in Ohio, We did not learn that any
"accident occurred to mar tie pleasure of tie
scene. except it be that one or two Of the
prominent ladies in question, from the ex-
Posure and intehse excitement of the occa-
SION, were attacked immediately with sick
ness, which in short time brought them to
their graves.
Girls should learn to ride on horseback for
lite utility and heathfuness. We can remcm
Der when 1t was common. and when women
we're able to perform journeys on horseback.
over bad roads, at the rate of more than forty
miles dAy.-with no public exhibition to
stimulate them. They made plain. simple
every day work ofit But to be seen bv thou
sands OF men and boys is a poor motive. No
young lady can thus make a pubic exhibition
Vt herself. even while riding at a moderate
and dignified pace. without such thoughts
running through her mind as these ;-"What
beautiful figure cut How elegantly |
ride lam pretty and graceful lady. |
hope the men all admire me :" These are the
feelings that are fostered, when the exhibition
takes its least Objectionable form, and where
horse-racing is not introduced The reports
Ut Committees have shown that personal
beauty has had in some cases large share
in securing prizes.
BAby-s shows have had their day,-beins to
much like making cattle of human be;no,:
bat We question whether on the whole it has
~ bad all [ flee, for woman to feel proud
Of her darling baby, as for Young lady to
feel proud of the appearance and performan-
cts of her own darling self.
y great distinction between the manners
OF saVages and Of truly civilized people, is in
tue intellectual position of women. We want
to improve them by eleva,ing their minds a.
bove the love Of gcwgsws. The man who on.
~ wishes to make dolls of his wife and
daughters. is low in the scale of intelligence.
Personal beauty for women is no part of that
GREAT CIvILIZINU AGENT, CHRISTIANITY.
and Is not once even alluded to throughout
the New Testament. We desire to see acri.
cultural Societies carrying out the improve
nent Of the intellect, by Offering prizes for
the RESULTS Of useful skill, and for ESSAYS
ON domestic and moral economy, from wo
men, and in suck other ways as may appear
proper.
We make these remarks at the present
time. as respectful suggestions to managers
Ut Agricultural Societies, now that they are
preparing their plans for the autumn fairs.