, 1872-10-26
OUR DEAR FRIEND, TIE HORSE.


not thoroughly appreciate what it possesses
until there is danger Of loRing it, and does not
find out all its good qualities until it is forever
gone. Grave-yards attest the truth Of this in
memorial panegyric and monumental audacity.
Our virtues seem to be made Of such fugitive
and intangible stuff that they entirely escape
notice until the possesaor dies, at which time
they are first published to the world upon the
marble pages Of the cemetery,-nVolnmes seldom
read, and more seldom believed when it is read.
abuse and contempt. Some people live together
in marriage for many years, holding cat
and-dog relations to each other. Sud-
denly, one Of them dies, whereupon
the survivor discovers that he or abe has met
with great loss, and no mourning ia black
enough to symbolic the overpowering grief for
the beloved defunct, who, when alive, had no
appreciable value, either financial, connubial, OF
otherwise.
Perhaps the most striking instance Of this
perversion, or, it may be- eccentricity, of human
nature, has been developed by the sudden ap-
pearance and rapid spread Of the horse-cata1h,
influenza, epizootic, or whatever other name it
may be known by among veterinary surgeons,
horse-connoisseurs, and horse-jockeyB. # any
domesticated animal in the whole range. Of
brute creation has reason to complain, it is the
horse. The cat has no greater troubles in its
life than the danger Of occasional bootjacks,
which rarely it ever hit the mark. The dogs
greatest sorrow grows out Of the perverted use
Of tin-kettles by young children. The mule is
Of that heroic mould which scorns pain, and
puts BORROW to flight With one kick Of its agile
hinder hoof. The COW and the OK
are, almost without exception, kindly
cared for and housed, and lead good easy lives.
The horse, however, who is the superior Of them
all in nobility and usefulness, and is absolutely
indispensable in daily life, is the victim of fire.
quent maltreatment. ANY sort Of stabling is
good enough for him. No amount Of work il
too heavy. Shoe-pcgs and oat-husks will do for
his eating, and it, under such circumstances, be
elackens in his work from fatigue or bad temper,
the next thing in order is to beat him unmerci-
fully. He must neither expect favor, mercy,
or rest, but drudge along uncomp1ainingly,
until he is incapacitated for further work, and
then he is turned ont to die, perhaps Of starvai
ton.
The horse-disease, however, has made it's ap-
pearance, and suddenly every horse-owner who
has been accustomed to abuse his animal, now
that there is prospect Of losing him, discovers
that he is q dear friend, q noble creature, de-
serving OF the kindest consideration and
| most touching care. It is painfully
| 1udicrous, the amount of pity and
the tenderness Of treatment which
| is now bestowed upon him. Street-car companies,
which have used their horses az if they were
made out Of cast-iron, which have put them I'M
der the rein and whip Of stupid and cruel
drivers, which have overworked them to twice
the amount Of labor Of which they are capable,
are now absolutely overwhelming in the delicacy
of their attentions. 4 horse OF ordinary appre-
citation must be filled with astonishment to find
q tirst-cass breakfast set before him instead Of
his customary indigeHtible mess days work
proportionate to his strength, With an opportu-
nifty to rest; blankets provided for him that he
may not take cold; and, at night, palatable
supper, clean stall, and plenty Of fresh water
and pure air. As nothing is the matter with the
horse at present, and rs he cannot be aware thai
| the atmosphere is threatening him with catarrh
one can easily imagine the anxiety he mus
feel at this alarming change in his treat
ment. The danger to 8 horse Of eensi
tive nature, one who has not had al
his finer feelings blunted by drudgey and
cruelty, is 3 peculiar one. He may die OF th'
catarrh it he takes it, and he may die Of astoni5h
| rnant nj the lalicatA aftantinna and diAtlU