The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-09-09
SOME HORSE STORIES.
How Dill Hardy Escaped to Pres.
colt.

A~O~ LII marry G6cap6Q TO Rr09-
colt.
Is 1t possible for man to confine
himself strictly to the truth wher
srcalsing upon the feats Of his horsei
II is said the Arabian horse seller never
prctends TO show off the quality of his
animals, but brings them to market
rough and shaggy; nor does he ever
condescend to dwell on their merits. II
isenough. he thinks, for the purchaser
70 know bis animal is Of pure stock,
for II would be decrying their good
qualities TO yaunt their praises like a
common hucltster But that Is only
from commercial standpoint No
doubt the Arab sheiks speak much
about their horses, and, perhaps. un-
Willingly tell long stories which have
tinge Of the romance about their
grand achievements.
The Afghnns are probably the most
inveternte horse liars in the world
They have the most marvellous tales al
their tongue tips about the extraordi
nary strength of their stout-built coba
They boast little Of their speed. for
that would be useless. as their form
would stamp the speaker as a ln-
matte; but when It comes to strength
and endurance the willy Afghan
will swear by his beard, Allah and all
the prophets that no horse lives which
can equal his animals.
"Sahib," said an elderly gentleman
70 me in praise Of his stnd, they nre
strong so strong that II one Of nv
horses kicked an English horse when
they are drawn up in close order on
parade his leg would go clean through
the English horse and kill the next
Now, come; that's too much to be-
lieve."
oh, yes, you say SOL but you have
never seen my animals kick"
The argument was unanswerable.
Cowboys in this country are the most
awful fibbcrs about their horses, and
their tales OF buck jumping show them
J TO be men Of peculiar and inventive
genius No animal, to them, has the
slightest value unless he is possessed of
every vice which horseflesh could pos
sibly be heir TO- He must be q man.
eater, bolter, a bucker and SO fero-
cious as to endanger the life or lives Of
entire communities When gathered
around the campfire after long DAYS
rae with cattle imam could hardly be-
heve those faithful beasts, hobbled and
calmly munching grass, were such In.
carnations Of deviltry. To an ordinary
individual they showed more intelli
gence than their riders, aud certainly
knew their business better.
From the many horses Indians own
It would be thought they loved them.
but don't believe there exists race
more cruel to their stock than the
average Indian They seem to have no
aPpreciatiye qualities, Very careful
that they do not overwork themselves
the human brutes heap on their ami.
mails every cruelty They overload
them; starve them; ride them furious.
"; spur them viciously. Ii matters
not whether their poor beasts are sore.
backed or not on goes d saddle, and
the wretched animal is lashed OF
spnrred into long continuous gallon.
There is not whit Of difference be-
tween the Indians Of Oregon or those
on the Colorado desert They are equal.
~ cruel
Asfor placing a value upon their ami.
mails, they do not, for it is not uncom.
mon for them to ride one to death, and
not the slightest compunction Is felt az
the untimely decease II is only when
you want TO purchase q pony that 1,
has fictitious value What, part
withrthat horse? No, it would be i'm.
possible 1t Is SO valuable and such
accounts are given of its speed that
one - inclined to ask whether these
people know about stop watches. The
Modoc lndianS placed an extraordinary
\ prieeAon their beasts, but the Cahuillas
could give their northern brethren sew.
eral pointers II is ludicrous TO ash
them what they would take for their
wretched stock whose sole sustenance
for nine months ont Of the year Is dry
sagebrush, for it must be understood
that under no condition could an IN
dian think it proper to feed his horses
Some do raise alfalfa, II is true, but i,
Is never cut and stored They viii un
blushingly ask seventy five dollars anc
eighty dollars for N nag that would II
dear at five dollars
Perhaps 1t is the fault 81 the wHite,
Nm their exalted ideas, for the sfew
Americans ON the desert entertain
great opinions of their horses. tn,
ancient, one-eyed spawned nag, whose
age would approach to almost On,
hundred years has been accredite,
with such exuberance 81 spirit in in,
N bneking, boiling, racing line that II,
Is approached until the beauty Of hi.
architecture bursts into view VIII
greatest caution. One sight, howeyer
dispels amy illusion that may hay,
leen entertained, and yet his prou,
possessor speaks Of him and shows hin
81 as very Nancy Hanks