Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-07-03
Kindness is Economy.

WE trust that we may not speak in vain
when we appeal to the boys of the farm, to
the farmers themselves, and to the "hired
men, to exercise the utmost care and
kindness in the treatment of domestic an
imals. 1t is a standing disgrace to hu-
manitv that laws and associations for the
prevention of cruelty to animals are at all
necessary in this country. To the credit
of the farmers, be it said, that among
them the cases of malicious fragrant cru
city are far less numerous than among
those who have occasion to use and care
for the useful domestic animals in our cit
es and towns. On the farm, ownership
goes a great ways in conducting to a IA
tional course toward the brute creation In
the large cities, where SO maly horses and
mules are entrusted to the hands of hired
drivers, half brutes naturally, and made
still more brutal by the use of liquor, it is
not matter of SO much wonder that VIC
lent abuse often occurs that renders neces-
sary the enforcement of laws for protec
ton, or that societies exist for this specific
purpose But it is not with the latter that
the Prairie Farmer, very fortunately, has
to do. With this class reason is out Of
the question, even at times Of personal in
terview; printed appeals are still more
useless But on the farm, luckily, such is
not often the case.
With the farmer and his boys, at least,
the ill-treatment of stock, whether used for
work or otherwise, the matter becomes
one of dollars and cents as we'll as one Of
humanity The horse that is spoiled
temper or habits by vicious management
is deprecated in value. The COW that is
maltreated becomes habitually vicious,
loses her milk product and her keeping
results in loss instead of profit The
manning, or murder if we may so call it.
Of either becomes a dead loss to the peck
ct. This is so whether injury results from
wilfulness or hcedlessncss in a moment Of
passion, neglect, or injudicious though
well meant treatment. But it must in
truth be said that these principles are far
less acted upon by farmers than in all rea-
son one would expect The actual loss to
farmers by culpable ill-treatment of do
mestic animals in any of our States would
more than pay the farm taxes thereof;
while those resulting from ignorance and
carelessness would double the amount
There can be no question concerning the
truth of these statements. For their veri-
fication let any thoughtful reader take a
careful survey Of the condition Of the
matter in his own neighborhOOd and town
ship. We are all roundly prating about
our unjust taxation caused by the dis
honesty of officials, the rings and mono
poles, which in Heavens name we would
not palliatc in the least, but while seek
ing 10 stop the waste at the bunghole, let
us not forget the waste by the spiggots
that are under our Own control. We enter
our earnest appeal for kindness and mercy
towards the brute creation that comes I'M
der the care of the husbandman, not only
for mercy's and decency's sake, but for the
sake of economy and thrift The busy
season for the teams Of the farm is the
time for reflection and action in this mat