The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-07-22
SOME HORSE STORIES.
How Bill Hardy Escaped TO Pros.
colt

How Bill Harry Escaped to Pros.
colt.
Is II possible for a man 10 confiue
himself strictly TO the truth when
speaking upon the tents Of his horsoi
II is said the Arabian horse seller never
pretends to show Off the quality 81 his
animals, but brings them 10 market
rough and shaggy, nor does he evcr
condcsceDd 10 dwell on their merits. II
Is enough, he thinks, for the purchaser
70 know bis animal IL OF pure stock.
Tor y would be dccrying their rood
qualities 70 vnunt their praises like
common huckster But that a oniv
from q commercial standpoint No
doubt the Arab shellts speak much
about their horses, and, perhaps, I'M
Willingly tell long stories which have
tinge Of the romance about their
grand achievements.
The Afghans arc probably the most
inveternte horse liars In tho world.
They have the most marvellous tales ii
their tongue tips about the cxtraordi-
nary strength Of their stout-built cobs.
They boast little Of their speed, for
that would be useless, as their form
would stamp the speaker as I iu-
matte; but when II comes 70 strength
and endurance the willy Afghan
will swear by his beard, Allah and MI
the prophets that no horse lives which
can equal his animals.
"Sahib," snid nm elderly gentleman
70 me In praise OF his stud, they arc
strong 50 strong that II ono Of nv
horses kicked m English horse when
they are drawn up In close order on
parade his leg would 60 clean through
the English horse and kin tho NEXT. !
Now, come; that's too much TO bc-
licve.n
"Oh, yes, you say so; but you have
never seen my animals kick"
The argument WINS unanswernble.
Cowboys In this country arc tho most
awful hbbcrs about their horsea, and
their tales Of buck jumping show them
70 be mon Of a peculiar and inventive
genius No animal, to thcm, has the
slightest value unless he Is possessed of
every vice which horsefcsh could pos
sibly be heir To- He must be a man
eater, bolter, buclser and so fero-
cious rs 70 endnnger the life or lives Of
entire communities. When gathered
around the campfire after long days
ride with cattle man could hardly be-
lieve those faithful beasts, hobblod and
calmly mnnching grass, were such in
carnationa Of dcviltry To an ordinary
individual they showed moro intelli.
gcncc than their riders, and certainly
knew their business better
From the many horses Indians own
- would be thought they loved them.
but ] don't believe there exists race
more cruel 10 their stock than the
average Indian, They seem 70 have no
appreciativo qualities. Very careful
that they do not overwork themselves,
tho human hrutes heap on their ami
mails every cruelty. They overload
them; starvc them; ride them furious
"; spur them viciously II matters
not whether their poor beasts are sore
backed or mot, on goes q saddle, and
the wretched animal is dashed Or
spurred into o long continuous gallon.
There IS not q whit 81 difference be-
tween the Indians Of Oregon or those
On the Colorado desert They are equal
ly cruel.
AZ for placing value upon their AMI
mails, they do not, for II Is not uncom-
mon for them to ride one to death, and
not the slightest compnnction Is felt ut
the nntimely decease II is only when
you want To purchase d pony that 1t
has fictitious valucl What, part
with that horse2 No, IL would be i'm
possible. II Il so valuable and such
accounts are given Of its speed that
one Is inclined to ask whether these
people know about stop watches. The
Modoc Indians placed an extraordinary
price on their beasts, but the Cahuillas
could give their northern brethren sew
eral pointers. II IS ludicrous to ask
them what they would take for their
wretched stock, whose sole sustenance
for nine months out Of the year Is dry
sagebrush, for IL must be understood
that under no condition could an In
dian think II proper to feed his horses.
Some do raise alfalfa, It Is true, but IL
Is never cut and stored They will I'M
blushingly ask seFenty-fye dollars and
eighty dollars for nag that would be
dear at five dollars
Perhaps II Is the fault Of the whites
for their exalted ideas, for the few
Americans on the desert entertain
great opinions Of their horses. The
ancient, one-eyed spawned nag, whose
age would approach TO almost ono
hundred years, has been accredited
with such exuberance Of spirit In the
bucking, boiling, racing line that he
is approached until the beauty Of his
architecture bursts into view with
greatest caution. One sight. however.
dispels any illusion that may have
been entertained. and Jet his proud
possessor speaks Of him and shows him
on = q very Nancy Hanka