The Hickman courier., 1881-03-18
HOW MAUD $. WAS SAVED.
showing tho Power or Uniform Kindness
Owe. PRssIOnnIe RrufnIity.

Ove- Passionate brutality.
Counsellor Samuel T. Harris, of Gin
cinnati, an enthusiastic writer ON horse
matters, in an interesting article in IVat-
lace's Monthly, refers to Maud S. in this
style:
II saw her make the first trial she
ever had. Within three weeks after she
was harnessed, in her three-year-old
form, she made full mile in 3:20 to
wagon. BARS face was sunshine. He
then and there predicted for her a won
derful future. Because" said he,
"every time l call upon the baby, al
though so green and only three years
old, she steals away from me so easily
that she will trot as fast as she wants to
when she gets age and strength. "
Bair has studied her temperament
more assiduousiy than most fathers Sc >
to learn the proclivities of their children.
She is willful, high-tempered, and imper-
ious. She resists brute force with a
violent resentment that cannot be con-
quered. She yields to the power of
kindness with the affectionate sensibility
of noble-born gentlewoman. She Is
ambitious to the degree of rashness, and
intelligent far beyond her years and oP-
portunities
No other trainer, within my knOwl-
edge, either living or dead, at all times,
and under all circumstances, seems to
realize that the best method of exercis-
ing'mind over matter IN the horse crea-
ton is by the unfailing power of consid-
crate kindness.
When Mr. Vanderbilt sent her back
to her old trainer, at Chester Park, she
was giving a public exhibition during
the October trotting, meeting in the
presence of a special party of New York
horsemen. She arched her back in de
termined disobedience, and braced her
lower Jaw against her neck as a purchase
to withstand any attempt to control her,
and, with n willful frenzy of mad temper,
she plunged and broke and jumped and
tossed her head i'll defiance of all obedi-
ence. This was not n new revelation to
all horsemen who had known her in her
colthood. She was rank as a raging fire.
She plunged and jumped with mad fury.
The grand stand was well filed with GU
rious spectators. There sat Mr.. George
Alley, and Mr. Alley Bonner, with their
New York party, watches in hand, evi-
IDENTIFY disappointed at this humihating
performance. Bair blushed with Grim
son confusion at the insane conduct of
his frenzied favorite. But he showed
no exhibition of temper. He was as pa
tient and undisturbed as the sphinx. He
never resorted to the cruel treatment of
many so-calied and skillful trainers
that is, to coax and bribe their horses
with sweetmeats in the stable, and on
the slightest provocations undo all this
effect by Furnishing them numerically in
public. His conduct that day, followed
up in his subsequent treatment, saved
Maud s. from ruin and made her the in
dex trotter of the year Just passed. He
quietly held her, coaxing her to desist,
never scolding, or jerking, or striking
her. till she reached her stable. Even
to the door her eyes famed with open,
sSsiselIion. There she was embarrassed,
pulled off, and she was kindly led into
winter quarters, In the hope that months
of recreation would bring forgetfulness
of disastrous contests with her late Fast
ern driver for the mastery.
At last the track was drying up, the
spring rains were over and gone, and
Maud s. was quietly led upon the course.
Instantly the old fury returned. She
showed defiance to the tips of her great
ears. But the same gentle touch and
kindly voice reassured her confidence,
and she became as tractable as a little
child How wonderful is the power of
never-failing kindness 4!
She was not driven at once upon the
track, but led four or five miles, and
then quietly harnessed amid caresses.
If she began TO show the least dispo-
sitiOn To renew her unfortunate battles
she was not resisted, for she would GER
tainly have gained the mastery, but she
was quietly walked TO the stable, and put
gently away till the next day, when she
was led ten miles before being harnessed
to the sulky. This may seem to be too
much jogging, but sh, required vast
amount of judicious work. Thus her an
ger and fears were dispelled; thus her
in her driver became absolute,
and thus her great powers of speed were
made perfectly practical. To-day any
one who can hold steadily the reins with
out pulling can drive her with the great
EST ease