Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-10-13

From Hearth and Homo.
NokcS; their Insullleicncy and their
Cruelty.

II is astonishing with what pertinacity PEG
pie, even in this progressive age, will stick &,
old things, simply because they are used {,
them, and not at all because these old thing
arc the best things Nearly every farmer it
the United States, when he wishes to use his
oxen, thinks there is no other manner Of har
Messing them 10 the plough or ox-cart but By
the yoke, which is nothing more than an an
Client instrument Of torture in modern use
The yoke is absurd because the OK cannot ap.
ply his full power TO it, and IL Is cruel bccaus,
he cannot apply what power he can exhibit
without causing himself actual suffering
What more humiliating sight can be presented
TO the eye of q humane man than q pair OF
oxen, toiling along country road, with d
great heavy bar Of wood over their necks, on
which depends the greater part Of the load OF
two-whecled cart2 These poor beasts are
obliged to draw this load simply and solely by
means Of this awkward and harrassiug yoke
The whole forward weight Of the load comes
upon the back of their necks, and by the
back Of their necks they draw the cart No
one who sees them pushing along turning
and twisting their heads, continually shifting
their position as they cumsily walk and Civ
ing every evidence OF a desire TO rid them
selves OF an uncomfortable feeling can doubt
that they suffer from that hard, unyeding
bar Of wood, so unsatisfactory fastened to
the back Of their nccks Besides this, as we
nave sald before the tractlye power OF a par
Oh oxen pulling under yoke Is by no means
tne measure OF Their capacity. Both farmer
ana oxen suiler from tins old-iashined ana IN
human practice
IL is perfectly easy TO harness an OK so that
ne VIII pun as comfortably ana as lrcely as a
morse nave seen IN pennsylvania, pairs OF
oxen Stepping along as easily ana freely,
,hougn OF course not so rapidly, as a team OF
horses' ana drawing enormous loads with no
apparent discomfort to themselves. But these
oxen uiu not draw thelr loads by means OF a
YOKE Ihcy were harnessed, IN q sensible and
Ohflsuan-llke manner to iour-wheeIed
wagon lholr harness was very SIMPLE, and
W"- very muCh such as would suggest Itself
10 any sensible practlcal man "h0 Haa Hstcr
Ne4I4 q yofe' broad Dand oil leather
P'sseu over the cnes' OF the steer TINS was
.y .ii3 10 cnaIu-'races' ana inc animal
PuLIed' as al animals should against a SWIM
gle ,, 'or slngIeuee' II anybody likes that
oc,tvi)
VI course II II Is considered absolutely
necessary TO use a 'Wo'"neeieu cart whenever
y 'N-iIDoI Is ry'IulIGu yoke may De used
.l"P,y ~ eu"1'c 'nc oAc" 10 pear 'he great
11e'sl3, trough, upon 'he tongue ppt they
'nIO'' nv rS'or DC OK PoC'eu TO ara" ny inns
,oNv. 1oio Il no uouO', however 'hat tne
10y Wv "l'eioU "DO' ~ "ouiu
,oon D0 q 'iius VI lno P"st 1t Re" sensible
III -" 10y Vguu'y s''ou'I snow thelr
- o" VO,''lo n 'I'D'J "'u P'ou,ap'y
a'i u ocou 'ou'u pun III narncss heaViiy |
80 I'iiH-""5Vn' Sucn as Is generally |
iOuS1' proper ou'J 10 nc Ira"n Dy horses
~ 'ito oAo'i DC inJllueu TO worry each
'u'i' a. "en' YOKE uIsnt DC worn IN connec-
.,L ,! 'lclr harness. by TINS method OF
', .. oA'I 10 d II"u' lne "noie oil the re-
s''n iOIoo ~ met oy ihelr strong chests
ieV,y DaCAeu ny thoir powerful llmbs. by
~ GU c nelnou, tnV YOKE gives no opportu-
,,'1 IoI 'no GAn'oi,loh Il OIL inc ehtre strength
.ho "ulnla's' ana oneTS every obstruction
- 'neir c:'Sy anu natural gait me leather
.,ness si'os 'uls opportunity ana offers none
gnTSo o'''ruc'iCns'
II mas peen proposed oy some who have /