Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1890-04-18
GOSSIP OF THE DAY.

81 have no doubt that the local agent
of the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals will faithfully perform
his duties" said citizen who is inter
csted in such matters, the other day, "but
want to beg leave to suggest to him
that he bcstow special attention upon
the cases of cruelty that take place when
ever the drivers of horses torture the
dumb beasts in their care by unnecessary
high checking, or by reckless and uncallcd-
for bcatings with whips and even clubs"
-.
The gentleman had the right idea. The
chcck-rcin is a good thing to use in mod
Grafton, but when its use is carried to ex-
cess, torture is a mild word to apply to
the suilrrings that nervous, high-spirited
animals must suffer because of it after
Journey OF any considerable length. As
for the frequent use of whips and clubs
upon such valuable and intelligent crea-
ture as the horse, it cannot be defended
by any sensible being. The whip is occa-
sionally good thing to use, and as
means OF guidance to supplement the use
of the rcins il is always proper tocmploy
homeopathic doses of whiplash. As for
clubs-wcll. the fellow that would dclb-
cratcly use one on any but the most de-
tcrmincd, vicious and incorrigibly ugly
brute, and then merely to insure the
safety of life or property, deserves almost
any punishment short of lynching.
There is, however, quite strong temp
tation to make use of the chcck-rcin. The
Gossipcr like nearly all other men, has
ridden behind wcll-icd and wcll-groomcd
horses of such marvellous and wcll-dcvel-
opcd lazincss that unless the check was
used the horses heads were nearly on
level with their knees. The judicious use
of little checking isn't bad thing; its
cruel and excessive use is, of course, an
entirely different affair. Perhaps it will
require n case or two in court, however,
to determine Just where the line is to be
drawn between reasonable amount Of
style and absolute cruelty.
-.
If their own stories can be believed
many of the citizens OF Ashcvillc have an
indomtablc faith in the future of their
own city. AS one of them said the other
day, he was putting into real estate all
his ready cash, and all that he could beg
or borrow. There is certainly something
of boom quality lurking about the place
at present, and there's no apparent good
reason why the men who have planted
their dollars in the soil of this municipal
ity shouldn't dig them up later and find
their number Increased very pcrccptibly.
=.
There's only one danger, and that is
quite apparent to all sensible people
Don't follow the lead of the wild and
wuolly boomer who tries to convince
the stranger within our gates that he
has at last found paradise. The man
who is going to settle in Ashcvillc is go
ing to live in mighty pleasant place,
but hc doesn't need u halo in order to
rain admittancc To- Ashcvillc society.
Heaven is still lar away. It's all right
to hrag about the climate, the scenery,
the ouportunilirs for charming rides and
drives, the chances to regain lost health,
and all that sort of thing; but don't try
To dazc and dazzle the stranger with an
extremely picturesque and poetic story
of the excellent qualities of an ideal land
that the people upon this planet rs yet
has never had the honor of bcholding.
Some of the tales which new arrivals
have heard about this favored spot are
weird in their cxaggcration, and there is
naturally a reaction that is hurtiul when
the matter is investigated by the pros.
pcctiyc purchaser. Take the new conner
out to any one OF half Il dozen points ol
vantage hcrcabouts; let him gaze his fill
nj the scenery aud initiate his lungs with
Ashcvillc air. tell him what some of his
chances are for making dollar, il he is n
spcculator as well as a seeker for rcsidcn.
tial grounds aud then subsibc. What's
the use of trying to paint the lilv and
improve upon the works OF Providence
PORRED AT DECATUR.