Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1868-12-04
tcOMMuNICATED
HO1'Se-Rdcin0,
usual success

Mr.. EDIToR:-In noticing the horse-ra-
ces about town recently, you expressed
the hope that "a regular race-track would
be made near by, and borse-racing be en-
couraged. as it would greatly improve our
breed OF horses"
Will you allow us, Sir, to say that we
we're not little surprised that one of your
intelligence aud morality should hold such
an opiDion-much more, that, as the over
seer of the public morals, you should an
nounce it before the people, to be read By
them in print, as your calm and decided
'convictioe.
II such be the case, we beg leave to dis
sent from you, for which we shall very
briefly give our. reasons. You say that
"Raclng will improve our breed of horses. !"
Trne-it will do so as TO our race horses,
but them only, But is that the kind of
horses needed now among us Will the
slim, light, fiery racer do or the wagon
and the plow Experience says not. Then
you desire that the strong, sturdy, useful
plow-borse is 10 be sacrificed to the rearing
of the useles and expensive cOurser. The
one Is only Tor ornament-the other for
utility the one Is luxury-the other a
necessity the one needed once or twice a
year the other every hour. Which of the
two should be raised and improved by our
people, especially at this time So much
tor your argument, aud the only one pro,
as we think.
Let us now notice some reasons con. We
can conceive of nothing so much TO be dep
recaIed as the establishment of public
race-track in our vicinity, and the getting
up OF spirit OF racing among our people,
What part OF the community will mostly
fall under its deleterious influence I Ger
afplu II mill h. n 4
where could a deadlier thrust be made at
the vitals of society Ruin our young men,
and, az TO the redemption and restoration
OF our fallen prosperity, all is ruin. Some
Que may ask how is horse racuz going TO
effect 50 much evil II We answer that il
begets a morbid excitement that is conta-
giou4 from one to another, and that il ultits
meh's minds for honest business. VINO,
that has attended a horse-race, does not
know how this balefnl excitement runs f ON
man to man.to man, till all the worst pas
sious Of human nature are aroused 70 the
utmostY Hatred, malice, strife, are its
fruits. The horse-racer is proiane swear
er--he drinks Iwhiskey-ho carries with
him pistols and bowie knife, ready to take
the blood OF his adversary. What can a
man do worse than these Such are the
fruits Of oil fair racing. But how many
races are TAFT lOT sue people OUTSIDE w nat
does that vulgar term "jockeyism" mean Z
IL is no more thar base swindle OF the
peoples money, by 4 conspiracy of the par
ties against them. Now, Sir, are these
mere assertions or arc they facts confirmed
by observation. Let that decide the ques-
ton. II horse-racing is to be for good, let
us have race-track, II IL is TO do more
evil than good, let us not have IL. We are
no rigid Puritan. We believe in social
gatherings and ADJUSTMENTS, but let them
be literary, musical, or OF some such wor
thy object. Having the morality Of the
people VI Bristol near at heart, We for one,
are opposed to making horse-racing a Gus
tom ia. our community, We lameut that
any of our citzens should countenance IL
by being spectators, though they do cit
away of on the hills AS Il they were
ashamed Of themselves. We hope that
you, Messrs. Eiitors, as guardians OF the
public morals, will see III 10 express your
selves otherwise IL the future.
| AMIcUs.
The following is the article:
Aud trust the time is not far distant when
a good fair ground aud rsce-c -1r,e will be
laid out near the town. IL would do much
to improve the stock and advance the farm.
ing Interests Of the country.
In Offering a criticism upon a word