Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-01-03
How to Choose a Horse.


horse, which we copy below
horse is not often pleasant for riding,
though conversely it may be improved by
it. Practically, therefore, horse is not
likely to do more than one thing we'll
This extends even to its PAGES. The high
action of a good trotter is often accompa-
MED by a slow, rather mincing walk; but a
horse that gallops well is pretty certain to
cover ground rapidly in walking. Wea agree
with "a knowing hand" that "a man who
is tolerable horseman had better choose
a high couraged horse" A badly-bred
horse may often be strong hardy animal,
but it will knock up if pushed, while the
thorough bred will go on till it drops. A
thorough bred ought not to be chosen for
bounding along turnpike roads, as its
legs will not stand constant hammering.-
A cob had better be avoided, unless its his
tory is known, as no horse is likely to be
| tricky.
For several reasons it is better to buy a
horse under seven years old. With such
one reliable guarantee of age can be
procured whereas the horses that are just
| aged, that is to say, eight when they come
| into market, occur III numbers that might
battle Quetelet Again, horses are so badly
used and so overworked in England, that it
is quite uncertain how much strength an
eight or nine-year horse may retain. AS a
rule, no animal that has been hacked at
such places as Brighton or Oxford ought to
| be bought After a year or two of such work
the mouth is generally spoiled and the SIN
ews of the leg go. Some persons consider
| color an indication Of temper and dlstrust
| bright chestnut We believe the rule is
sound, but the exceptions are numerous
! The ears and eyes of a horse, when it is
| first led out, when its mouth is han died,
| when a whip IS shaken near it, and when it
| is backed are much better criteria Of an
! ger no less than of fear, and are easily re-
| cognized. Irish horses, excellent as fem
GERS, are apt to be of difficult temper. A
horse sometimes overhangs it's fore legs, SO
to speak. This is dangerous fault, as the
centre of gravity being too far forward, the
beast is likely to stumble.
A horse with it's belly "tucked in, as it
| is called, that is to say, going up back
wards, as in griffin-a fault more common
in carriage horses than in hacks-feeds and
fattens badly, and will wear out rather
sooner than another. Ladies' and cOckneys
are little apt to admire thin-chested spin
dle-shanked horses. OF course this is
mistake A deep, broad-chest is indispen-
sable for wind and thin-boned leg will be
easily knocked to pieces. We have men
| toned only the points that an inexperl"
enced purchaser can remark for himself,
| and that 90 not enter into q warranty. AS
| to positive vices or diseases he can only
guard against them by buying through a
respectable veterinary or from an honest
householder. We believe the common
opinion about the especial rascality Of the
trade to be a mistaken one, and we would
sooner buy ourselves from dealer than
from a private owner, who is apt to form Il
fancy estimate Of his property, and is often
| ignorant of unsoundness or tricks.
The War in Candia.-TerribIe Scene and
Loss of Life.
\ letter from Athens to the New York
Herald, in relation to the war in Gambia,
thus describes the fighting at the Convent
of Arcadion, heretofore briefly mentioned
Arcadion is a convent, situated in a strong
position in the Department of Rethymnos
1t was occupied altogether by five hundred
and forty persons, three hundred and for
ty-three Of whom were women and children
leaving one hundred and ninety seven men
capable of bearing arms. Upon the Goth
Mustapha Pacha left his headquarters at
Episcopi with twelve thousand men, and
advanced upon the convent, demanding the
surrender of the garrison. The CretanS
refused and the Turkish artillery immedi-
ately opened a tremendous fire upon the
place, keeping up the commandment two
days and nights. A breach being at last
effected in the walls, the Turks, who had
suffered heavy losses, poured into the con-
vent court. This was surrounded with
small cells, in which the Christians had
! barricaded themselves and kept up their
fire for six hours. Finding all resistance
Intellectual, the defenders of the convent
formed the desperate resolution of setting
fire to the powder magazine. A monk ap-
| piled the match. The explosion was ire
mendous, hurting Turks and Christians in
to the air, strewlng the neighborhood with
corpses. Two thousand Turkish soldiers
were killed on the spot and large numbers
wounded. Yhirty-nine men and sixty wo-
men and children of the garrison were
all that escaped. These were taken prison
ers and carried off to Rethymnos. The
wounded Turks are daily being brought
into hospital. Canea and SCUBA have re-
ceived upwards of thousand, many being
otficers-among them Mustapha Pacha s
brother in-law. The Turkish army is re-
ported to be much dispirited by this disas-
| ter
| a