The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-01-08

The following is an abstract of the report OF
Mr.. Alonzo H. Libby, agent for the Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals:
| There have been seventy cases of alleged
cruelty investigated during the past year. 1t
has been found necessary to kill three horses
| past their labor Five prosecutions have been
| made, four of which were in the Municipal
| Court and one, by indictment, in the Superior
Court Three of the charges were for cruelty
working horses unfit for labor, and three for
beating and kicking horses. The aim of the
agent has been to avoid prosecutions when his
| object could be accomplished in any other way
In many cases a warning has been sufficient
| and horses thereafter have been treated much
more kindly.
The agents attention has been called fire.
quentiy to the overlooking of horse cars; but a
thorough investigation did not bring forth evi
dence enough to make case There are times
In rainy weather and on occasions of great
gatherings in City Hall when the cars are prob
ably overloaded on the grade between Casco
and Oak streets. In such cases an extra horse
should be attached. Drivers have been eau
toned against stopping on this grade. The
Superintendent seems disposed to do all in his
power to remedy these evils. The horses at
the Deering Stables are in good condition. AT
the City Stables they show some marks of care
less and ignorant driving.
The agents experience teaches him that there
is more cruelty practced on horses in the coun-
try than in the city. City horses have better
food and shelter. In the country there is
class OF men whose business is trading in brok-
an Il al Lo1r r
these beasts have that infectious disease, the
CHAMBERS. The agent suggests that an effort be
made this winter to have a law enacted impos-
ing heavy penalty on all who buy, sell or
harbor horses with this disease.
More drinking troughs are needed in the city.
The iron fountains now in use easily become
filthy, and no doubt cause disease to horses
drinking therefrom A drinking trough is
greatly needed at Libby's Corner and can be
constructed at little expense, as Sebago passes
along the street. 1t is in the power of the So
ciety to have pure water in these troughs, and
it should move in the matter.
The agent calls the attention of the Society
to the fact that cases brought in the Municipal
Court are, unless the accused parties be acquit-
ted, sent up to the Superior Court. If the Mu-
nicipal Court has no jurisdiction, then juris
dicton should be conferred upon it.
The report closes by asking greater efforts by
the friends of the Society. There is an indis-
position to give information and put one S self
to trouble. The Society and its friends should
be up and doing. The number of prosecutions
and Investigations does not show the amount
of work done. One prosecution prevents many
offences, and word spoken in season warns
people against acts of cruelty.
FROM MoNAD TO MAN.-This evening our
people will have an opportunity to form an
opinion on the Darwinian theory, and to de-
light themselves with the mastery crayon
sketches of Prof. Morse. The Army & Navy
Union have done well to secure this popular
lecturer and will, without doubt, be rewarded
with crowded house. An exchange says of
the lecture:
We heard of but one adverse criticism of
Professor Morse's lecture-''it was too short"
He spoke for exactly an hour aud a quarter, and
yet there were those who insist that he did not
occupy more than half or three quarters of an
hour. This is a true test of the popular lectur
er; to make two minutes seem like one. His
lecture, although thoroughly scientific was en-
tirely devoid of the dryuess usually attributed
to such efforts. All through it flowed an I'M
dercurrent of genial, healthy and resreshng
art that occasionally bubbled up at unanticipat-
in the best of feeling from first TO last. 1t is
little less than wonderful how he manages to
mingle instruction and amusement so admir-
ably