The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-12-28


and -rwntrd n Ancleut Tlnna
10 Is porhapa small matter fox
wonder that tho nations who frst
tanned tho horse for riding attached
high honor to the creature. seated or
whose back they secured with such
swiftness. Tho exhiiarafion Of rid
ing is ono which custom does not
stale and which Affects the civil
lized rider of today, n be bo Of on
emotional nature. probably almost
as keenly as 10 did tho ancient Scyth-
ian. German OF Slav. In addition
TO this. neighboring races who had
not this art looked upon those who
had IL with kind Of superstitious
wonder, weaving strange stories
about them. Tho hrrsemen Of Thcs-
sally appeared TO tno other Greeks
through n mist of fables a. oontaurs.
half man. half brute. but wholly di-
vine. And In the frank fashion Of all
primitive people tho horscman gave
back 70 the horse tho glory that he
received reflected from it and made
of his comrade In war and chase q
kind Of deity.
The ancient Germans took oracles
from white horses. Just as tho Egyp-
tians did from their sacred oxen.
The animals wero kept in groves
and gave augury by neighing.
Among the Slavs tho sword CON-
bined with the horse 20 foretell fu-
ture events. Tho weapons were
planted in tho ground. and the
horses led among them. BY tho
movements of tho beasts tho attend
ing priests judged tho viii Of tho
gods. Among tho Norsemon tho SIC
rifice Of n horse and tho eating Of its
flesh was n token Of saoramcntal al.
legianco to Odin.
Among tho ancient Irish, whom n
ing was crowned in Ulster, 10 was
customary TO slay n white marc and
boil 10 in vat. Into this vat the
newly made king descended and
there sat. drinking tho broth and
tasting small portions Of tho meat.
The eating Of horsohesh was 50 wei
recognized as n heather rito that the
carly Christian saints forbade Il 20
their converts. Among the Scyth.
isns the horse was deemed sacred 20
tie sun. and its worship crossed the
Himalayns and was early establish.
od among tho Rajput kings.
Next 90 n human being. who prob.
ably was. as a matter Of fact, never
sacrificed in ancient India, tho horse
was the most acceptable Offering 20
the gods. It is laid down in tho Pu.
ranas that the sacrificcr Of 100 horses
Gusts Indra. the king Of tho gods,
from his throne and reigns in para.
disc (swarRa) in his stead. There Is
no record, hcvever, Of any ono hav.
ing earned this s--rassing felicity.
Kings, on attairins the throne. usu-
ally sacr.acod n horse. their tribu.
tary princes performing the more
meninl duties connected with tho
nswamedha (horse sHCrifice). In
deed, oven tho ofiico Of porter In
this solemn rite could only DO as
sumed by one Of royal blood. Ono
Of the books Of tho great Hindoo epic,
the Mahabharata, contains an GO
count of the ashwamedha held by
Yudhistbira. king Of tho Pandus,
when he had. by the defeat Of the
Karavas, firmly established his rule
over northern India. The sacred
horse was turned loose TO wander
wherever IL listed for a year, while
the loyal army followed it every.
were at n respectful distance. Other
tribes whose pastures itcrossed were
given tho option Of either turning
out in force TO join the triumph Of
the horse or Of accepting wager Of
battle. AT tho end Of the year the
horse was led back to the palace and
there sacrificed Standard.