, 1892-09-28
To the Editor of the st. O. or avis.


Permit me through your columns to put IN
a plea for the animals known as beasts OF Dur-
dem
A few mornings ago, I left my desk Tor q
few minutes to enjoy a little fresh ar III 'no
gallery. / was just in time to see a young man
passing in a donkey cart. The animal after
it's asinine fashion, made an attempt to stop
at a bakers shop contrary to the wishes OF us
driver. The young man, who from his coun-
tenance, appeared to have been IN bad humour
before, now became furious. and standing up
in the cart, with a stick Of considerable size,
inflicted such severe blows upon the poor de-
linquent's back that the creature twisted from
pain; and although as if to make amends for
its mistake, it trotted along at its very best,
the m~erciless infiction was continued for a
considerable distance.
l have since thought seriously over this oc-
currence and the question "What can BE- done
to make people more kind to the animals
entrusted to their cars" has often presented
itself 10 my mind.
IL is very likely that the animal in question
was not the property of the young man; for as
she appeared to be in the state of becoming
a mother at a not very distant day, he would
not have used it in that cruel manner,
This supposition leads me to suspect that
much of the attachment which the. peasantry
show to their ponies, springs from self interest
and not from any real kindness to animals.
have many times observed that when a man
is sent to town by the manager of he estate
and he rides or drives his own horse, he treats
that animal with much more consideration
than when he is allowed to use a mule or horse
belonging to the estate, for upon the slightest
provocatiOn he inficts severe chastisement
unon the animal and often strikes it on the
head and ears.
Such treatment, besides being harsh and
cruel, tends to spoil the animal, rendering it
stubborn and vicious.
/ do not know Of the existence in this island
of a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals but l am told that through the
police, penalties are inflicted on persons who
are found working animals with peeled backs
or breasts. If, in addition to this, we should
use our influence to impress upon people, the
great importance of kindness to animals,
and the Nervousness of the sin Of cruelty to
them, we would be comforting q great boon
on society in general.
Such an impression may be more easily
made upon the minds of the young, as they
are more within reach of instruction than
adults, and it is better to inculcate habits OF
kindness while the mind is yet tender, for the
impressions made then are less easily efaced.
l suppose that teachers generally, in the
course of their instructions make references to
this subject, but l am afraid that in the pub
lie schools where these lessons are most need
ed (since the majority of the children who at
tend these schools have no other means Of
learning anythingJ teachers often find them
selves SO much bound to fulfil stipulated re-
quirements, that they can (save at distant in
tervals) find little time to do what, to be of
any lasting benefit, ought to be more frequent
ly repeated.
At another time, | shall with your permits
sion, mr.. Editor, make a few suggestions as
to what l think may be done in this matter.
For the present, l beg to remain.
Yours gratefully,