The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-07-22
HORSE KNOWLEDGE.
Pony's stratasem--The Highway
mans Horse.

POny's Stratagem--The Highway
mans Herse.
There was pony on farm that had
curious, artful trick of shamming
lameness when he was driven III di
rection he happened, for some cause or
other, not to like. He was good tenn
pered little animal, very pretty, and
would have been a favorite only for
this perverse habit His pretended |
lameness was 50 real, and was SO dis |
tressing, to witness, that every one felt |
ashamed OF driving him, lest by any
chance it was no longer make believe, |
but nail that pricked him, or else that
he had sprained himself. Yet no soon
er was he put In the field than he was
all right again, and would even frisk
about as il delighted with the success
of his artitice.
There were two roads that he never
liked, one to mill and the other to a
village III the opposite direction to
Downham. But as there was another
pony besides himself he was generally
excused from these Two Objectionable
roads. If, however, after IN interval Of
six or eight months, or even more, he
happened to be driven toward either of
them, he again pretended lameness,
| dropped into walk, and feigned so
completely state of suffering, there
was nothing for it hut to excuse him
and turn back. He had been beaten,
poor fellow, for his falsehood, but it
made no difference, and it was thought
probable that he had, on some former
occasion, before he came to the farm
been abused at the mill or in the vii
lage, and never being able to forget it,
had hit upon this device TO save himself
from ever gong there again. He might,
1T IS true, have been taught this trick
by former master or groom, for both
dogs and horses are capable of beinG
made the accompllce, and were active
co-operators In crime, as several IN
stances on record prove
1t is stated b. Mr. Harrison Weir
that between 1850 and 1850 a Scottish
lawyer made q journey to London. At
that period such journeys were usually
performed with horses, when the tray-
eler might buy a horse, and sell him at
the end of his journey.
The lawyer In question had sold the
horse on which he had ridden to Lon
don as soon as he had reached that
place. When the time for his return
arrived he went to Smithfield, then a
horse market, to purchase a hackney
for his journey. Not finding one at
first to his mind, he waited till toward
dusk, when a handsome animal was
offered, but at SO low price, consider
ing his appearance, that he immediate
ly suspected there was some secret
blemish OF defect that would not bear
the daylight. However, after much
examination, none such being found
and being himself a good Judge of a
horse, he consented to become it's pur-
chaser.
The next morning, still better pleased
with the appearance of his bargain, he
again commenced his Journey. The
horse had excellent PAGES, and the law
yer, riding the first few miles on a
well-frequented road, and observing
that his horse was admired by nearly
all he met, did not fail to congratulate
himself on his good luck in having
obtained so admirable steed at SO low
a price. BY that line he had reached
Finchley Common-then a noted resort
OF hlghwaymen-and coming to one spot
IN a hollow which lay between two
slight ascents, he met clerical looking
gentleman driving TO town in one
horse chaise. The road was solitary,
not creature in sight, when the horse
astonished his rider 10y making a sud
den maneuyer, by which he Brought
his hind quarters close to the chaise,
and SO stopped 1t, proving at once what
the profession of his former master
had been, as well as his own completely
In the highwayman's art
The clergyman, believing 10 a GER
tainty that "a highwayman, as well as
the horse, was at hand, and Unfortu-
nately, not having q pistol to defend
himself, or rather, as appeared, beng
OF peaceful turn, produced his purse
at once, assuring the astonished law
yer that 1T was quite unnecessary touse
violence, as he was not about TO offer
resistance. The lawyer spurred UP his
horse, and with many apologies to the
terrified clergyman, resumed his Jour
ney. In a while, however, they met "a
stage coach in a solitary part of the
road, and again the horse prepared by
the same extraordinary maneuvor. to
bring it to stand. But here a differ
ent reception met him; a blunderbuss
was leyeled from the coach window,
with the denunciation Of death and de-
structlon against the luckless rider,
who was now III his turn more terrified
than the unreslsting clergyman had
been
SO 1t went through the day Wher-
ever an opportunity of robbing oc-
CURED the horse offered it to his master,
and did the best in his power to aid
him. In fact, after his life had been
repeatedly endangered 10y the suspi-
clons which the conduct of his steed
naturally gave rise to, and his liberty
threatened by the peace officers, who
were about to take HIM up as noto-
rlous highwayman, to whom, of a
truth, the horse had formerly belonged,
the lawyer was obliged to part with
hum for trife. and to purchase one in
his stead, which, though far less beau
tlful, had not been trained to those
criminal habits i'll which the other had
become perfect adept.
The Crops.
| Tn ro,,o,.+ for lima thp