Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-01-10

speaker said Fellow citizens, was prompt.
ed to take up this subject by reading notice
going the rounds in the papers, that Rev. w.
II. II. Murray, pastor Of Park Street Con-
gregational Church, Boston, had recently
delivered a lecture on the Morgan Horse"
The Boston Herald says " Mr.. Murray re-
CARDS the Morgan horse as nearest to perfec-
ton of any that has ever yet been produced,
aud is devoting his leisure time and his spare
money to the raising Of colts, with the view
Of reaching the point of perfection and con.
6dently predicts that within ten years an an-
imal will be raised by somebody that will
trot in 30"
Now if this popular Orthodox clergyman,
as well as Rev. Henry Ward Beecher can
take an interest in raising fine horses and not
injure their usefulness as Christs ambassa.
doris, and even are spending considerable time
and money in this direction, think | have
good grounds for taxing up this subject, and,
like one Of old, endeavor also to "show mine
opinion" But | do not suppose that these
gentlemen, although they like good horse,
are in favor Of the licentlous jockeying and
abominable pool selling that generally at
taches to horse racing, and which, ~ our dis
gust has sometimes crept into our State and
County Fairs but they like to see horse
show good speed, not, however, to his injury,
or to crafty the depraved appetite Of loafers
and gamblers that too frequently monopolize
our exhibitions Trotting under wise and
wholesome regulations, is well enough but /
do think that every appearance that borders
On gambling, by which races are lost or won,
should be frowned upon by all our agricultu.
rel societies. Let the managers OF our So
cieties take firm stand in favor Of honesty
in trying the speed of horses, and soon a Wis
ible change would come over the much adj
mired, but much abused, system of horse
trotting.
Think it not beneath the dignity of clergy
men to love good horse OF all the beasts
Of the field which God has created for the
use Of man, none has been so often noticed
and admired by the historian none occupied
so much the thoughts of the philosopher, or
figured so largely in the annals OF poetry and
romance, as the horse.
Horses of Noble Descent.
If | might be INDUCED few moments
longer in making ga plea" for respect for the
horse, | would say, in the early periods of
the world, he was looked upon as possessing
(if may use the expresson,) too much dig
nifty Of character to be used as common
beast Of burden. The horse was then seldom
used except by kings and warriors, either
mounted or harnessed to chariots.
We find in the days of Josiah, King Of
Judah, when he assembled the throne, the
horse was almost deifed 1t is related by
the sacred historian that at that day horses
were kept for religious use in room stu
ated in the porch of the Lords house. These
horses were consecrated to the sun, and were
led forth in pomp every morning to meet the
rising king of day. This lumiDary was wor-
shipped over all the east, and was represented
as riding in a magnificent chariot drawn by
the most beautiful and Aeetest horses,
and performing every day the same
journey from the east to the west, to enlight-
en- the earth. In Persia horses were sacri-
feed TO the sun.
In the early periods Of the world the horse
was an ar'Stocratic animal, and | do not
doubt but few drops Of this kind of blood
especially in the Morgan,) may be found
coursing in his veins in our day; for we oc-
casionally meet one Of the species who feels
that he is monarch of all he surveys, and
seems to have a mind of his own; you Jog
his memory and intimate to him that he is
your humble servant and must do your bid.
ding, and perchance he will throw around his
head and look you square in the face, and
deny the fact with all the GOODNESS of phi
losopher, and seem to say, IL will 60 when
am ready, so help yourself Now you would
probably call him baiky horse, but think
his actions may be accounted for on phllo-
,ophical principles. He had the misfortune
to be born into the world, OF the good for
tune, with few drops too many of the ariS-
tocrdtic blood of his ancestors, that's all.
Horses were not brought into extensive use
until the days of Solomon, on the consumma-
ton Of his marriage with Pharaoh's daugh-
ter, when they imported them from Egypt.
30 rapidly did he multiply them by purchase,
and by breeding that those kept for his use
required " tour HOuSam stables and forty
M0uSand stalls" Had this gallant monarch
lived and flourished in our day, we fear he
would have been called an outrageous horSe
jOckey, and would have eclipsed Murray,
Beecher and Bonner. in his great love for
that noble animal,
You see, then the horse is 30 ordinary
subject for consideration
Vermont Horse stock Company.
4 word on different breed of horses I'M
ported into our State by the A" Vermont Horse
Stock Company" In what shall say of the
merits Of the Morgan horse, do not wish to
be understood as casting any reflection upon
the efforts Of those gentlemen who are en-
deayoring to raise horses Of iarger sac and
greaier speed. Having leisure and money,
they are enabled to give the experiment a
fair trial, and if they succeed and actually
raise race Of horses superior to the Morgans,
we will give them due credit for 80 doing
We will not be envlous, but will rejoice with
them in comforting lasting benefits upon the
good people OF this State. But, fellow citi-
zens while they arc trying this experiment,
and it will take many long years to give it a
fair trial, as it did with the Morgans, let us
turn our attention to that distinguished race of
horses that has made Vermont so famous and
noted, and inquire, is it exI edient to let them
become extinct? In this discussion 1 shall
take the negative of the question, and pro-
ceed to give my reasons for this position.
MOrgans should he Preserved.
This question commends itself to the con-
sideration of every one who loves that noble
race Of animals as in my opinion the Morgan
stands al the head Of his species, not only in
Vermont, but in America-not only in Amer
lea but throughout the world. know this
is q broad statement but feel able to sub
stantiate it by ocular demonstration.
have been surprised that the friends Of
the Morgan horse should by common consent
almost seem willing to let them die out, be-
come extinct the reason why, no man can
tell or give a reason; for when you ques-