Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-07-26
Horse Talk.

ing the avenue by driving three horses sbreas
a Ia the Greek and Roman chariot races, ant
those of the Hippodrome. The notion come
from Paris. of course. Where else could it com
from? The effect upon the mind of the startet
spectator is not so disagreeable as one woult
suppose. To moderate the tone of the thing
however, the middle horse alone usually gsllops
and the two outside ones trot, thus combining
the show OF gallop with the solid merit of th'
less prerentious pace. Still, the arrangement
narrowly escapes ridicule, and will assuredly NO
take among people who really understand ant
sympathise with the great Quadruped. For
Frenchman, desirous of stunning the town with
a novelty, at once classical and laundering, il
NAV answer but it won't do for New Yorker
who keeps bis eye on second hand, and feels al
the vastness of the gulf between two thirty eigh
and two-forty-a chasm imperceptible to Gallo
eyes. A tight little team, all go and no fuss
is the New York notion OF q turnout.
Another thing about horses. You have OBJ
served, courteous reader, that, of late years the
struggle among horse-fanciers has been to match
their nsgs less in such trivial matters as color
and general appearance, as in the Infinitely more
duraDce. Formerly, the man was accounted
fortunate who possessed two horses that looked
exactly alike, although in all the great essentials
OF horse, the TWO animals had nothing what
ever in common. At present, team to CON-
mand the attention of men tit to own a tine
horse must be natched-whethe they chance to
be of the same color or not. Observe, now, the
blind stupidity of fashion. Many men of long
purse and shallow pate, noticing that people OF
horse celebrity drive horses OF different colors
leaped headloDg to the conclusion that the last
fashion was to harness together white horse
and black one. Accordingly, we see men
who use the Gentleman of Beasts only as a
means of ostentation, selecting horses solely
with the view of getting team as violently un-
like in color as possible, which shows that even
good notion when fashion adopts it, becomes
folly.
II any doubts the truth of the last remak, let
him observe the proceedings of those young
fools who occasionally exhibit themselves on the
Bloomngdale road riding on horseback, follow
ed at the distance Of hundred yards by mount
ed grooms. This custom, arelic of the feudal a.
ges when the knight was followed by his faith
full squire, has in Europe certain propriety and
utility. 1t is even there chiefly an ostentatioD,
eschewed by men of sense. unless those men OF
sense are old and infrm, aud need the assistance
of q groom. In this country the custom is not
merely useless and silly; it is an otfense ! 1t is
the vulgarest conceivable display of wealth sur
passing even the infamy of clothing servants in
livery. An American yonng man that cannot
manage his own horse, and is willing to lose the
freedom and abandon of his ride by tagging a
menial at his heels, had better emigrate to SOME
country where money without manhood is toler.
ated-if any such country there be.
How astonishingly the horses of this island
have improved during the last fifteen years!-
What numbers of superb animals may be met on
fine afternoon on any of the favorite roads g.
bout the city aud not only have the horses con.
secrated to pleasure improved, but all horses,
omnibus horses, carmen's horses, coal-car hor.
ses. butchers horses-all are of higher quality
than they were formerly. Fifteen years ago il
was not known apparently, that it pays better, for
any purpose, TO keep q good horse than bad
one, and to keep horses in high condition than
in low. But now q days, it is rare to see horse
that does not, upon the whole have good time
Indeed, we are sometimes half indignant to
observe how much better some Of ms care
for our horses than we do for our children
Look at this carriage-and its burden. 1t is the
carriage of man who really loves his children
q thousand times better than he loves his horses
But seel The horses are plump, sleek, live
ly, vigorous; showing that their nature is under
stood, and that they are treated according te
their nature. But, all the children how pale
how puny how anguid which shows that theil
nature is not understood; aud they are dwind
ling and perishing in consequence.
Hail, coming day, when children shall agaiI
he as healthy as colts, and men as well groomed
as horses.-Ledger.