The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-07-23


II h mlb to conclude from "Cornelius
O'Dowd's" reflections under this title In
&dekseoofs, for June, that he has lately
had little trying experience Of the heavy
reduction In pfics to which horsefesh d
Invariably subject when the owner wishes
to part with it There are some touches
nom the life In the following picture:
"You bear up toleFably well at being
told that it ID pity he ID not gray, or
black, or bay, or roam that the purchaser
hates chestnut; that chestnuts are hasty,
fretfnl, hottempered, and 30 ON; and that
he would not tskeA present Of chestnut !;
then from another that he is too tall or too
short without exactly saying for what;
that he has something treAcherous about
his eye, or that his tail ID MOI set in some
peculiar fashion which the buyer admires:
but ct length you come to more touching
censures than these.
"Shows deal Of work. Those fore
legs won't stand it much longef-back
tendon knotted good deall' cries one.
A leetle bit too straight in the pastern for
my taste, says another, 'and feet trife
too small bad shoeing would soon con-
tract that heel for you
What's this here ?-cspped hock-ah!
and threat of blood-spsvin, too. That's
enough for me-
care you sure his wind is all right?'
asks third. Il thought he fianked q
good deal after that canter. Would you
mind letting your servant give him sharp
gallopi has he carried lady? will he run
leader how does he jump timberf' are
all poured in upon you by people who
have no thought of deal and once more
come in the doubts upon that eye, or that
tendon, or that frog Now, with full
conviction of your beasts soundness, and
. thorough belief in your critics igno-
rance, these suspicious are SO many insults
to your understanding, and wounds to
your pride. Had there been no questions
of sale, you would have resented those i'm
pertinences as personal injuries. The con-
verse of Love me, love my dog ia, Abuse
my horse, abuse me-
"Last of all comes the fellow who walks
around your beast with his eyes ranging
from the pastern joint to the knee, never
higher, and, with q jerk of the head to
the groom, says, Take him in That
wretch could fire every barrel Of my re-
volver at.
although you are well aware that the
animus of these disparagements is TO
knock something off the price; that in
every censure Of your beasts ears or
name, or tail, there is the question of q
ten-pound note, the insolence is not dimish.
ed by that consciousness You arrive at
last at the fact, that where money comes in
courtesy goes out, and that he who has
to dispose of anything, enters the field
as . dealer, and must look for no other
civilities than such as, are common with
his craft
"Where mans love for his horse has be.
come sort of family afft stion; where the
honesty of the animal has made itself a
place, like trusted quality, in his regard
where you feel that sort of attachment
that it is no abuse of terms to call friend
ship for your beast it is sore trial to
hear his points discussed by ignorance,
and his powers descanted OF by fippant
insuficiency.
"For my part, I have to own that 1
have never figured in the position without
feeling like q slave dealer. 1t was as
though I was setting up for sale, not
only the strong ,thews and sinews that
had served me, but the sterling qualities
OF temper, courage and endurance; the
brave intrepidity that had carried me
nobly through danger; the dash and spirit
that had rallied my own heart to daring,
and the loyal obedience that had yielded
to my will, even when that will had been
little better than caprice, if not half q
cruelty.
perhaps the worst of all, however, is
the sense that throughout the whole trans-
action you are treated like one little bet
ter than q swindler; every assertion you
make doubted, and every assurance you
give of your beasts soundness, temper.
Or performance set down to the score of
an unprotected rascal who would perjure
his soul for the chance of stray i've
pound note. The men who would listen
to you with respect, and Difference, posi-
bly,, on any other subject, who would hear
your opinions on matters of weightier
moment, and accord you at least the cour-
tesy of appearing to think you person
of truth and character, have here no scru-
pie whatever in showing that they dis
trust and disbelieVe you; thst they look
on you as q man pleading to q certain
brief, and only eager for his fee. The
people who would mot impugn your We
racity, nor think of treating you with
discredit, have not the slightest hesita-
ton now in listening to you with open
incredulity and actually permit them
selves the liberty of cutting jokes on
your assertions-and all this because you
are shout ta eell vour horse"