Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-05-14


unless we are assured that such quality
also belonged TO tho ancestors OF the an
imal we select unless. indeed, he he
longs to race in which such character.
istic is confirmed. Upon this sound
foundation rests the argument in favor OF
pedigree. An animal may be ever SO
perfect in himself, and YET be utterly val
ueless as breeder, because he does not
belong TO breed in which such excel
lence is known To have existed for many
generations. Most writer's have theory
Of their own upon breeding, and have
ventilated mine pretty thoroughly in the
FARMER of July LIST and Sth, 1871. Some
will tell YOU the colt takes after the mare.
and the FLIES alter the sire who gives the
shape and the dam disposition; others
the blood comes from the sire and the
beauty from the dam, while some say it
is all luck and chance But believe we
have only TO invite healthy and intel
hgsnt discussion OF this matter TO slit the
chat from the wheat. For this purpose
alone have been drawn into the discus.
sion, and when facts and theories can only
be answered by abuse, and arguments
by ridicule and misrepresc NATION, then |
am done.
Mr.. Dickerman tells US that no man
who is man ought 10 encourage The
chrouicling of tho horse 20 unnatura
speed. and the unwilling strsning OF
every nerve and muscle, and that If am
willing my horse should lie thus used,
he is not willing that his should, and
therefore he claims TO be n better friend
of the horse than myself OF that leave
those who know us both to Judge for
themselves, but | think Mr.. Dickerman
in making that remark has betrayed his
real position, and TINT ] have touched
him ON the raw in my previou. article.
! He don't believe in training aud troiting
horses. Well, some don't but among
I he many who do t. our at my picked
men. Hon. i. ). Lang, and wish there
were many more IN Maine like him. For
I he not only purchased and brought Gen.
/ Knox into Maine, but he had brains
enough TO know thai il he could develop
his speed, and bring him into notice BY
trotting him at County, State and Nation
al Fairs. rs he did DO, that he could in
duce our breeders to pa,fonizs his horse
| and was satisfied TO wait the result. we
all know what that result has been and
that many man has ACQUIRED 10 himself
house and home Though the sai0 oi
some Knox colt. not because lac WAS 4
tine horse of easy carriage, quick step,
and graceful proportions, ca TT DECKER
MANI but because they could trot fast
enough TO command the price.
How would the running horsemcn OF
this country ever have been led to pat
ronize Lexington, who is alike the fast
est and most successful sire this country
has ever produced, if he had not been
trained to unnatural speed, and the strain
ing of every nerve and muscle. He has
immortalizsd himself and his postciiIy
by running. when fsur year old. four
miles in 7.l9 81, which is to-day the
fast est time on record Tor that distance.
The old blind Hero of WOodburn, rs
KeutueEians love TO call him, is now
twenty-five years old. out still sound and
in perfect health. his reputation rs sire.
being only rivalled by his unprecedented
performances upon the turf.
will mention but one other OF my
picked men before | close, for he having
become prominently identified with our
manufacturing interests. it is well his
views upon The Turf should be known To
your readers. refer to Col. Amasa
Spraguc, who besides being q man OF
great wealth and influence, has done rs
much rs any other man To place the trot-
ting turf above reproach. Col. Spragne
is also President oil the National Assgocia.
ton for the promotion of the interests of
the American Trotting Turf Al The re.
cent annual convention in Cincinnati,
Nh. Sprasue addressed the gentleman
assembled, and closed his remarks rs fol.
lows:
LET us, gentlemen OF the Convention.
conduct the business before Us with the
view TO the moral effects and ennobling
influences, SO that the real objects of the
development OF good horses may be OBJ
tanned, and rebuke always implied, if
not directly given, to all those who run
noble animals for base purposes. With
such desire, let each gentleman here
present approach the business before The
Convention, and a fraud upon the II citing
turf will soon become the exception,
when before the National Association
was established, it had almost become
the rule. But, whatever may be the ac-
ton here, there should be no lavoritism
in the application Of penalties at home.
The offender should be brought to pun
ishment, whatever his name or social POI
sition.
Are these sentiments OF low, vulgar,
coarse grained men? II not, then
protest against the uncalled for, and un.
warrantable insinuations, that are being
hurled by outsiders, against men of dis
tinction. on the turf, alike honorable. and
upright in all their private dealings with