Smyrna times., 1877-01-17
.MiSce eIIUW e Gus.
Horse Sense: A Fable.

horse and a dog were travelling in
co npanv. The horse was not thorough
bred, nor Il high stopper, nor anything OF
tn It sort, but simply AN old-taShioned animal
that had done his duty as we'll as he knew
how and had no advantages in the way OF
education except the knowledge he had
gained of the ways Of the world in knock
ing around on the docks and in the city
streets. The dog was Pomeranian--a
'Sritz" He had been brought up in "the
best society," of which he had been the
ornament and pet; had lived i'll the draw
ingroom and been fondled by the finest
ladies; had never been di,graced by the
suspicion of having any possible use in the
world. and rejoiced in degree Of uglines>
Of appearance and snappi,hncsS Of manner
that made it impossible to believe he was
brought into the world for anybody's graf
ification but his own. No puppy in polite
society had enjoyed more advantages or
was more utterly useless and thoroughly
posted in social etiquette than he. The old
horse was very much interested in the con
versation Of the puppy, who whiled away
the Journey with much gossip Of the clubs
and the high social circles he frequented.
At length they came to place where two
persons stood confronting each other with
pistols, waiting the word to bc given to fire.
Spitz exhibited great animation at the
spectacle, and began to discourse with
much enthusiasm about what he called
The Code Bat who are these per.
sons?" said the old horse. "They are
qent{emen," barked Spitz, with emphasis and
a wise toss of the head, as who should say,
"Old friends Of mine." TO which the ola
horse answered "Neighr' Not that h.
said Neigh" to the proposition, for the
puppy would have called him out if he had !;
it was only his way OF expressing surprise.
just as crowd at Il pyrotechnic exhibition
looks up and says "O-o-h?i at the impres,
sive moment when a rocket ceases to be IA
rocket and becomes a stick.
This" said Sp!tz, with a great air OF
wisdom. - is what we call in our circle an
affair of honor"
"Of honOr?'' said the old horse. How's
that? I've observed affairs similar to this
once or twice on he docks when was con
nected with a dray. There was not so much
fornality in those cases, but the intent ana
the weapon were the same. And | alway>
noticed that the parties We're hustled off to
prison immediately by the police. and that
they called it murderous assault, or some
such thing, and that it sometimes ended
with a hanging In ali these casesythougIi
the parties were in anger and hot blood
and sometimes in liquor. These persons
seem cool and sober Is that the difference
between q murderous assault and an affair
of honor, my dear Spitz?'
II perceive" replied Spitz, with littl,
yelp Of contempt at the ignorance of hi
companion, that you are not familiar witt
the usages Of polite society. Listen, then
while r4r;tn the facts in this case. which
will YXp.1m ii.yuI-civc>, even to dray
horse. Tnc>r two gentlemen had difference
Of opinion urou some domestic question
no matter "... nd one Of them under
took d. ... public that he wa
right by striking the other over the hea'
and face several times with q whip-a-
begging your pardon-horse-whip."
"a domestic question: interrupted tn
horse. "What was it,
"0h, nobody knows precisely; but tn
affair has filed the clubs with all sorts G
gossip about it,"
"And didn't the public know anythin
about the cause of the quarrel?' inquire
the old horse, who WAS getting quite inte
osted in the story.
mot word. 1t was purely privat
matter
"And YOU mean TO say" continued III
old horse, incrpdulously, that one Of the
gentlemen called public attention to tn
purely private quarrel 10y attacking II
other in the street. and did not even the
Set the grounds Of the quarrel be known
Yes, yes And as ] was about to ST
-"
"WeIl, but ] don't understand" inte
rupted the old horse.
"a Never mind what you don't undG
stand," testify broke ia Spiiz; "you a
plainly very ignorant Of the Gsages of poll
society. Let me finish my story. Aft
Ahis there was hut one course open to &
person assaulted, and that was TO invite
assailant out to meet him with dead
weapons in an open field, where each mig
do his best TO kill the other. They &
here for that purpose. The man who "
assaulted would Mt have been recogniz
asa gentleman if he had MT invited
assailant out to shoot him, and the assails
would have forfeited his place in society
he had MT accepted the invitation to CO.
out here and shoot at the man he b
assaulted"
But is MT this forbidden by Law
asked the old horse.
AOh, that's nothing" pertly answer