Middletown transcript., 1874-10-17

I
two chivalries-of the Horse and u
Wave. Both are signi6cative of q
right command of man orer has o.
passions; but they teach, farther. q
strange mystery of relation that exis
between bis soul and the wild natur
elements GU the one hand, and the wi
lowee animals on the other The se
riding gave their chief strength
temper to the Athenian. Norman. Pisal
and Venetian. masters Of the arts
the world-but the gentleness Of Chi,
airy, properly SO called. depends 9
the recognition of the order and awe
lower and loftier animal-life, fr
clearly Taught in the myth Of Chiror
and in his bringing up Of Jasor
Esculapius. and Achilles-but mo'
perfectly by Homer in the fable Of th
horses Of Achilles, and the part assigne
to them, in relation to the death Of hi
friend. and in prophecy Of bis owr
There is. perhaps. in all the Hia
nothing more deep in significance
there is nothing in all literature NOR
perfect 10 human tenderness, and homo
for the mystery Of inferior life. + tha
the verses that describe the sorrow Q
the divine horses at the death Of Patro
clus, and the comfort given them b,
the greatest of the gods"
How much have we advanced be
yond the morals of the ancient Per
SLAMS who taught their youth. to draw
the bow. to ride aad speak the truth
If riding on horseback will teach ii
..the right command over our passions
as Ruskin finely says. let us for tha
reason alone encourage it.
BY far the best horseman l ever saw
was our fellow countryman. Mr.. Rarey,
whose gentle courage and intelligent
mode Of handling horse has never
to my knowledge been surpassed OF
even equslled.
/ Why is it that societies for the pre-.
vention Of cruelty to animals have moi
erected a statue to the memory Of this
man, who fevolutionixed 80 much Of the
treatment Of horses, and sub
stituted rational management for stupid
brutality?
Rarey's 6rst axiom was. '.no man
,an be good horseman who cannot
control himself" Let the horse be
never SO vicious and provoking. the
emper of the rider must first be bridled
ind bitted. Remember that, my young
riends. when next you take your colts
n hand! Remember you must estab-
ish the confidence of your dumb COM
,anion in your kindness as we'll as your
,ower. He must love as we'll as fear
you. &
The docility noticeable in certain
,reeds Of horses is in fact the result Of
habit Of being treated gently.
. Mr.. Walters, Of Baltimore, once
bowed me q number Of immense Per-
heron horses, for heavy draught.
Rhich be had brought from France,
nd commended them for their tracti-
iiffiity aud good temper, which he said
1as only the result of the caressing
nd gentle manner in which they had
cen treated for generations in the fam
les Of their owners.
There is no vice so hateful as cruel
y. Itis never solitary. but is always
,und in nest full of hateful compan-
ms. imbedded in the worst character.
tics of crime. When a man is cruel
q call him in-human, not human, e
OF a man.
| have often observed that cruelty is
enerally inflicted upon the poorest.
ullest. weakest class Of horses. What
GEMS laziness is often simple inability
} move faster. and this begets impa-
ence in the driver; heavy blow fol-
'ws the weary waiting. and the horse
nd driver both becomes brutalized.
The prevention of cruelty is largely
ded BY the high spirit of horse, |
,ndering chastisement unnecessary and |
so dangerous, and for reasons, and |
'me quite apparent, men take more
ire, and are more considerate Of good
orses than poor ones. A rigid econo-
y in the purchase Of ,chips is much to
, commended
The increase in value Of horses will
duce attention to their diet, their
abling and their medical and surgical
eatment.
Surely no thinking. reading man
ould subject his horse to the so-called
horse doctors"s of the day, whose
oss ignorance would be laughable
ere it not so terrible-the class of
en- who scar with hot irons the in
'med gums and roof of the horses
outh to "burn out the lampas )" who
vagely knock out . wolf teeth" to re-
i've troubles in the eye. and commit
sorts Of uselessly brutal operations,
hich would render them indictable If
mmitted upon human being.
The dignity and high usefulness Of
ne veterinarians is becoming recog-
zed, and a class as yet much too
,alD Of educated and intelligent men
forming in this country, and a COM
unity like ours should, contain such
actitioners. Our farriers. too, as a
1888 are lameutably deficient in that
ecial knowledge Of the anatomy of
rse's foot, and the laws requisite to
ep it in proper condition for the
we're work imposed upon it. A high
ade of mechanical skill is requisite.
led by education. Farriers are a
~ important class in the community,
d am often amazed at the indiffer-
ce they exhibit to obtain, BY reading,
,re light upon the delicate and diff
1t work they are frequently called
on to perform. A really skillful
IN san almost eonmand bis own
ices for work. =
As one branch Of productions ueces-
lily helps all others around it, and
, 6bres Of trade and commerce in
twins themselves with each other, 90
III th> sr~~n~n.r~-k q. -