The national Republican., 1861-11-02
soldier, Spare that Hors. ,

If we are to believe travellers, thereare com. |
mun,ies Of horses, as there are of human bo.
ings--that they associate in drOves, and though |
wild, have sagacity enough to find comfort in |
association.
Civilization, however, abridges their freedom;
but we do not know that we can complain of
this for to man WAS given dominion over the
beasts of the field" 1t ~ another question, |
however, how far we may enjoy the subjuga
uon OF the horse, for we are commanded, by
the same high authority, to show mercy t"the
among these tho horse occupies noble, and
certainly n useful, position.
The "war times" have gathered hlther nu.
merous families of tho horse kind. The strong
and the beautiful, the weak and the ugly, the
large and the small with their various gaits and
colors, are all promiscuOusly huddled together
at the c0rrdls. They are not even introduced
to one another, but made to scrape acquaint.
ance as best they may, and become agreeable
neigh bors. They are plentifully fed. but
whether the food is prepared exactly to their
liking, Is question which we have no means
of Enthusiastically ascerlaining. 1t is safe to say
we have heard no complaint frem those for
which the provender is provided.
When some of these horses came 10 Wash.
ington they could have had no idea of the treat
ment to which they would be subjected. A
number of them, instead of being honored with
the stradde of an epauletted officer, have been
backed into the shafts, and almost suffocated
with halters and collars, and made to feel, too
often, tho sting of the whip, laid on In measures
bounded applause" Drawing huge wagons,
and cannon, ton, is no holiday sport. But thus
itis-the uncomplaining are often imposed on,
without remedy. Wear out rather than rust
out" is a motto to them of especial applica-
tion.
Good looks and lively, spry disposition are
"points" in n horse as well as in human
being. Possessed by the former, he Is selected
at a" tall !" price and employed for an import.
ant part. Pennsylvania avenue is ornamented
by his presence, and humble pedestrians are
Cor were, frequently treated to gratutous
feats Of horsemanship: % When the novelty OF
was directed to the fact that If Pennsylvania
avenue were continued as hippodrome, some
body might be run over, and acquire an unen-
viable distinction as avictim TO fast driving
Accordingly, soldiers were stationed in the thor
oughfares as warnings against an unnecessary
and cruel expediture of horse flesh. plumed
warriors do not so saucily and recklessy
"show off" rs formerly. The horses owe a
"card Of thanks to the merciful military au.
thorities.
We pity some of the ignorant, green Govern.
ment horses. They have been brought here
without the rudments of education, further
than an experience in wood wagon or a brick.
yard 1t cannot be expected they should know
anything of military affairs, or even be familiar
with the drum and fife music, much less with
those tremendous beating, deafening institu.
tions, called "druR corps" dozen men or more
In each thumpingon sheepskin heads stretched
over 1t nicely finished cylinders. And because
the horses are skittish and shy when this mar.
tial noise p 'sses by, they are regarded rs COW
ards, and punished accordingly. If I" use is
second nature, ;" why do not the horse guar
dams allow the horses the benefit of a second
birth? Ii the horses do not behave according
to the army tactics, why not resort to the
course of training laid down in the manual, and
by slow degrees, educate the equine auxiliary
Some new men recruits are hard to be drilled
and it is with difficulty they can he made tt
understand the evoluiions: then why expect
more from the horse or the jackass? We pre-
sumo there are things which the horsetenders
have yet to learn in the way of mercy. How
would they like to have good morals beater
into them with clubs and kicks-the former
over the head, and the latter elsewhere?
We are desrous of knowing whether horse
understand the nature of oaths and impreca
tons; and right here, we will say that If all thu
curses hoaped upon these animals were con
summated, some OF them would have dam aget
eyes, and so otherwise injured that their auc
ton price would not pay their dray hire to th'
horse pottersfeld.
Spare the horse Speak to him gently. lie
him know Il friends hands is near to protect
not an enemy's rude hand to bruise him. LIE
the voice of the biforked animal comfort th
tractabe indispensable quadruped Instea
of cursing and swearing, let the horse know
you are n gentleman; and that he will acquir
such knowledge, when there is an opportunity
his sagacity, or sense, inclines us to believe.