The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-02-22
DON'T Abuse the Horse.

We have sometimes heard the remark
that man and his horses look alike. a d
there is more truth in the saying than
one would suppose at first thought.
neatly appearing man is one who takes
pride in having himself and his sur
roundings present a good appearance,
and of C urSe his horses are not for
gotten in his careful management 10 this
end. But however a man may look, it
wo I'D seem that his aspirations would
be toward having all his stock in excel
lent condition, a result which can come
from thoughtful treatment zone. If
there is one duty more prominent than
another in life, it is the kind treatment
of dumb, faithful friend. It's a burn
inc shame that humane societies are
found necessary; that men must be
watched by associations of better men
to prevent them from abusing the rea-
sonably obedient, patient and willing
animals under their care Yet the
necessity exists, and unfortunately it
eltends beyond any present adequate
means of reaching it. Our humane
cietIes cOnfine their operations mostly
to the cities, where, it is true, the larger
proportion of cruelty to animals is
found. Ia all cities there are
thousands Of two-legged brutes who
have not the slightest sympathy for
the lesser brute, in all things except
legs. If it were not for the surveillance
kept by the officers Of the law over such
fellows, their cruelty to horses, dogs
and cattle would tax our cred lily. AS
it is. it is not unfre luently the case that
half starved or pOOF, crippled horses are
found in the streets utterly unfit for use.
But there Is cruelty in the country as
wen as in the city. We have seen men
drive to the village and leave their
horses shiyering in the cold rom morn
inc until CHIT while they were in the
saloon playing cards and drinking beer;
and among the OGenses that shoald be
punished at the whipping post, this
should stand among the first. We have
never thought it best to take issue with
any man who thinks there is no harm in
taking glass of liquor although as
we view thematter, he is wrong but
we have no respect for n man who gets
drunk-and any man is liable to- if he
takes LIQUOR at all and we utterly des-
pise man who will abuse his horses,
while he is enjoying the liberty of max
ing an unhooped barrel of mself- The
fact that the horse has judgment enough,
even after being nearly frozen to death,
to take his drunken owner home, ought
to be sufficient to entitle him to kind
consideration ever after
1t is a strangely constituted man who
can abuse an animal with such history
and with such attributes as the horse
possesses, In peace and n war this
noble animal has occupied a cOnspicu-
Gus place in the pi ture of passing
events. In the field before the pillow, on
the road before the carriage, and on the
battle ground beneath the commander
or the private, he is the same picture OF
fidelity, dignity, courage and wonder
full intelligence. Define his duty 50
that he can understand it, and he will
perform it with almost human sagacity.
IN our equestrian statues of note, the
fine limbs. uplfted head, distended
nOstrils and intelligent eve Of the horse
make as enrapturing picture as the
statue of his rider, because we know 1T
is a faithful likeness. Yet with all his
worth, there are some n en- capable OF
abusing him. The great. strong, ami
NAL submits to such cruelty because he
| is ignorant of his power to retail ate,
and partly because OF his noble nat re.
/ An animal that has shown such supe-
! rior Judgment in countless instances,
| that has saved human life so often, by
/ a marvellous presence of mind we
/ can think of no other expression that is
! so cOmplete-an that, under extraor-
1 binary ci -cUmstances. has shown such
/ delicacv of feeling, viii submit inten-
/ tionally to a great deal OF cruel treat
I ment, and we are not sure but that he
4 often has a feeling of sincere pity for the
/ british ignorance that makes such treat
\ ment OF him possible. - Western hUrai.
Z