Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-05-24
Beeoher ON Horses.


Henry Ward Beecher in writing to Mr..
Bonner, ofthe Ledger" reminding him of
ride, has something to say on the subject OF
fast horses:
Take n 6ne fed horse, who in harness,
looks as il he were pa, teru OF moderation
very deacon Of sobriety, aud turn him
loose iu pasture. When, what change. |
lie tGk,s one or two steps slowly, jus', TO-
he sure that you have let go Of him, and
then with Equeal be lets bis heels high IN
the cir, till the sun flashes from his polish
ed shoes, aud then, off he goes, fas,er aud
fercer, clear across the lot, till the fense
brings him up And then, his eye flash
ing. his name lifted and sw ling, bis tail
up like kings sceptre, be snorts deb
ance TO you, from aiar and With series
of ofIearibg,, running Sideways paving and
nlungings, hiskinIs and Nhrls, be starts
eoain, with immense enjoyment, into anoth
er round of runnirg. Do you not see that
il is more than fuu 1t is ecstacy. 1t is
horse rapture.
never see such spectacle that / am
not painfully impressed with the inhumanity
of not letting horses run. Fasl ness is a
virtue Our mistaken moderation is de-
uriying him Of it, / drive fast on princi-
ue. ] do it for the sake of being at one
with nature. To drive stOao, only and
always, is to treat horse as if he were an
OK. You may be slow if you think proper.
But your horse should be kept up to nature.
He would have had but two legs il it was
meant that be should 60 only Ou a "go to-
meeting" pace. He has four legs. o.
coure he ought to do o great deal with
them.
Now, why do I say these things 10 yOU!
Not to convince you Of yOUr duty. But, +
feared lest, taking me out TO ride, you
would be disposed to think that had
scruples, and would jog along modeEately'
as if doing me favor. Not AZ all. Tue
wind does not go fast enough to suit me-
If were engineer Of . sixty y'mlle-an- hour
express train, | should eovet twenty miles
on hour more.
Let the horse be well groomed-wel
harnessed. Let the wagon he thoroughly
looked to-no screws loose, no flaw jns
ready to betray as. Mount l am b.
your side The whip is not needed. Ye
let il stand in its place, the grateful hint O
authority 10 reserve, which is always whole
some TO men and horses.
Now, get ont of town cautiously. n
speed here. This is a place for sobriety
moderation, and poverty in driving. Bu
once having shaken of the crowd. CIV
you look, and disappear Instantly 10
wild excitement, as If all the trees wer
crazy, aud bad started off 10 a race, as
the fences were chalk lines, as if the earl
and skies were eCmmingled, and everythin
were wildly mixed in supernatural excite
ment, neither Of earth nor Of the skies
The wind has risen since we started. ]
did not blow at this rute, surely ! Thes
tears are not Of sorrow. But really thi
going like rocket is new 10 every sense
Do not laugh il ] clutch the seat NOR
firmly. ] am not afraid. It's only excit,
ment. You may be used to this bird
business Of flying But don't draw th
Iein. l am getting calm. See that plu
Of muscle ! Splendid machinery was pu
into these horses. Twenty hofse-powe e
ut least. in each And how they enjoy i
No forcing here. They do it to plea
themselves, and thank you for q chance
Look at that bead Those ears sper
IKE tongue The eyes fash with eas,
Bess and will Is it. three mies Imp
sible II is not more than half mil
Well, drawn mp. Let me get of no
and see these brave creatures Wba
Not enough yet No painful putting,
throbbiug Of the TANKS They step u
Tously, aud cham the bit, and lean to "
caresses, as if they said. AN this we hs
done TO please yoA, now just let US go
20 please ourselves J"