Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-09-29
MR. EVERETT ON THE HORSE.


TUE noWsr ~ EDMUND prRkE.
At the banquet which closed the Horse Fair in
Springfield on the l1ih. speeches were made by
George Ashmun. Governor Banks, Edward Ever
EFT aud other distinguished men. After romo
Introductory remarks by MIR. Ashmun, MIR. Ever
cit said.
Mr.. President, Ladies' aud Gentlemen: believe
one Of the exploits of the distinguished person to
whom my friend Ashmun hns alluded, is to mako
the animals that nrc submitted to him lie down
and 60 to sleep Applause and Taught r. ] hope,
sir, that my speaking Whatever other effect it may
have, will not produce that
Sir. it is rcrplcxing it is almost painful to con.
slider what high degrees or intellectual nnd moral
power ntr c,inccd by animal, whom we profanoly
call brute beasts. suppose it was II reflection ON
those nhlc qualities of the horse. intellectual and
moral, that led the w,ticst, th" bltcrest, and
nm sorry 10 say, hlhesi of thc satirsts of our Inn
gunrc-l mean Drnn Swi--in that remarkable
romance Of his, tho most fascinating rs the most
revolving of hooks. To represent the horse under
that uulr'nouncablc nnmo which lo gives him, ~
the wi"r. tn" more sngaci"us, tho noble animal.
aud tu describe the human race under the DISCUS
ting character Of the .hoo, II, an incrlur order
oi being, | dout know, slr but yuu will rather
think II hrncath the dignity of the occasion to ul-
ludr to such ~ book ,iul,sers Travels, and yet
IT does contain. nmi,E many most instructive re.
marks, one oi those pas -agos into which the WIS
dom Of ngc- is condensed in II single sentence,
and which i often quoted, Mt least part OF IT,
mt all agricultural and rural shows, than perhaps
nny other in the whole compass OF literature.-
The man." says Gulli,cr. "whu can make two
of corn or two blades ol grass To grow on the
spot where only uue = ew before would deserve
hcitcr II mankind and render n more essential
service to the c"uutrt than the whole Incc ot lo-
tic,nns pat together Laughter and applause.
When tin. il quoted a; agricultural meetings by
"a luat f,It tl,n
sentence IS generally omitted Renewed laugh
tor.
The noble quali,ios a the horse SEEM in iced, to
have made impression upan the most brutallz-
cl Of our own species. | suppose 1t Is this II 1t
were worth While to att'mpt to account for tho
freaks oi II ma Imam, winch led the Emperor Cali
ula to erect n marble, stable for his horse. lnci,a-
ni~ To- provide hm with ivory mnngcr, with
housing OF imperial purple, breast plate studded
with diamonds and pearls. and then To elevate him
to the dignity Of the Consul-hip. This seems. to
bc sure n mere freak Of madness, and vet, am
incline to think that ut thai time it WAS II better
cholcc than could have been made out OF the venal
cuurlcIs and iactIous priet'rlant Of the imperial
court: and | believe, sir had it been put to the
vote throug hout the Roman empire, then ocxten-
siye with the civilized world they would have de-
cided that they had better consul i'll the horse
than in tho Emperor. Laughter and applause
Sir they had been too familiar with the rapncity
Of the tyrants who chased each other over the
stage, daggers in hand. not to be pleased with the
elevation of n ruler who took nothing but oats
oats out Of tho public crib laughter "a ruler.
sir who, while the reins were with him, would
Mt least have given them stable administra-
ton Renewed laughter.
| trust, sir, that the beautiful performances of
Mr.. Rarcy to which my friend Ashmun has al
ud.1, may he tho means Of difTusng some useful
IDEAS in this respect throug hut ;he community.
Whether there is yet some explained means of in
nuence in the possession Of this gentleman not
shared by the rest Of the community, know not
but one thing, | think sir, is certain, that one
great portion consists in gaining and keeping the
affections of the animal by gentle and kind treat
ment. For this, it for other reason, he deserves
the greatest credit for what he has done in this
spcct, although | believe he is not the first who
has succeeded by this same treatment in subduing
the wdness. changing even the native instincts Of
what are commonly called the almost untameable
animals. | often in the streets Of London
and believe the same thing may bo seen ut Bar
NUNS Museum in New York-what called
The Happy Family "a collection of animals.
in large wire cage, most hostile in their nature
eats and rats, hawks and mice, owls and wrens,
living together in these close quarters, in the al
most nmity and friendship. | asked the Snowman
what was the secret of the operation by which he
brought about those astonishing results. lie told
me it perseyering kindness. lie did not say,
sir, in what particular way that kindness was to
be manifested. believe part of it consisted in al
ways keeping them supplied with plenty of the
food they were fond of-but it was perseycring
kindness. My experience led me to think that
the amicable relations thus established among the
animals did not extend to outsiders; for rather
inadvertently put my fingers through the bars of
the cage. when large rat sprang at it with such
rapacity that drew it back great deal quicker
than put it in. Laughter and applause. |
assure you that my bosom was over9owing with |
kindness towards every member of that happy |
family" not excepting the rat; but after that dem
onstration on the part of the rat, did MT think |
it expedient to persevere. Laughter. 2 .a.
However this may be, sir, if there il any one
who doubts that the horse-the animal that most |