The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-16


House, a farmer in Massachusetts on
his return from town one day, an
nounced that nc had bought horse.
The members OF the farmers family
were exceeding glad" for during the
spring planting ard summer haying,
the two horses in use had so much work
10 do that they could not be spared 10
serve the family when 1t wished to go
abroad--to bargain sales In town or 10
church. They. the members OF the
family. must walk. Bat now third
horse could share the labor OF the two,
and delightful outings awheel were in
prospect.
The farmers delighted auditors called
for a description OF the new horse. ard
he set her forth as a fine bay mare,
gentle as a lamb. and remarkably intel
ligent. apparently. with black name
and tail and he remarked further that
he had bought the mare 'at n great
bargain" 1t was reported afterward
| that the farmer said. aside, or in his
sleep. "There'll be n picnic when that
mare arrives" There was. The next
day, the farmer said, he would lead
the horse home, and when il was time
for him to appear, the family gathered
on the piazza To get the first glimpse
of the horse that was to be "A welcome
help In huckleberry parties, Dorcas
meetings and church going. when COM
ing into view In bend in the road.
There is the new horse, carrying the
head high and moving as airly as a
circus horse, her shining coat glisten-
at...tsG .af a.
family exclaimed in delight. but their
10Y was soon turned To sorrow and
mourning when they saw a feature OF
the horse overlooked In the first nasty
summary: they lifted UP their hands
and voices in indignant protest, ana
then marched into the house, and, PROB
ably slammed the door.
When the farmer drove into the yard
he stopped by the house door and
shouted. Come out and see your new
horse" although he had seen the move
ment on the piazza and understood IL.
Some one behind n closed blind re-
piled, You can go on 10 the barn
| We've seen enough of that horse! No
| wonder you bought at bargain The
| farmer laughed and drove on. The
| horse by accident or disease, had lost
| most of the tail. but more remained
| than some Providence horses are pro-
| vided with.
| No member of the farmers family
| could be induced, at first to drive the
| horse except after dark. Later. how
| ever. the horse proved TO be SO intelli-
| gent and affectionate that all prejudice
| vanished and the mare became the pet
Of the farm. Thus was the bob tai
horse regarded forty years ago. and the
| sentiment OF the friends of the horse
has not changed. To wit: Not long ago
man within ten miles OF Providenc'
bought a bob tail mare. but his wife re-
fused to ride. Again. a man wished 4
buy q pair. and a dealer In horses ap
peared with two mutilated specimens
The man who was expected To buy eX
| claimed with some warmth. II wan
| whole horses, not parts or horses
Therefore. some horse sense remains il
! this age OF docking.
The process OF docking II cruel ne
| cessarily. but the initial cruelty Is in
significant compared with what fol
lows. The horse without switch Is sub
iected 10 continual torture in my time.
| Only spirited carriage horses are dock
ed for reason apparent, and. thu
abandoned 10 their enemies, their dis
positions change, and the horse. gentl
before docking. may become a kicker
| u bitter and a vicious animal. ON sal
isbury beach where the farmers gathe
marsh hay. there Is a fly that can draN
blood at every strike; therefore, IN
| horses wear trousers and are other
wise protected. But the docked hors
is for show on parade and hence mus
be uncovered to show his oats and hi
carrots. With mems trousers held up b
: ! suspenders over hips and shoulders. tn
horse would not add to the attractive
ness of the equipage. -
= Why should not horses thus torment
ed become dangerous? Bitten or irr
tated by flies. the neck drawn into "a
unnatural position and kept there II
| the parade is over, by the high chec
rein, the eyes covered with sauce,
shaped blnders that shut out the ligh
with "A cruel curb bit jerked or kel
taut. TO make the horse show his me
tie and froth at the mouth, and wit
;, | an unconscious automaton (with whiI
on the box. what wonder that II
horse become vicious! The wonder
= that the horse can live through all TN
a and keep any OF his natural instinct
e Horse lockers asked why they cut Q
d tails, replied. 30, that's the way % tri
g | "a horse" or, He looks better" and oI
man said, IF you do not cut Off tail
the horse may throw his tail over q
n rein. hold IL and run away" But eve
excuse is dodge and subterfuge.
The dog fancicr has, apparently q
- same idea. He believes that he CT
F" improve the handiworli Of Nature al
cuts off ears and tail. Why does n
>. the dog fancier cut off his own ear
His outer ear is not so necessary TO hi
as the outer ear is TO the dog. Takil
=, his view Of ears. nc ought To look b.
e, ter with his ears removed. When d
ID has lost or been deprived OF ears n
tail. he has no way of expressing
!, gratitude or affection. Whnt can
l. more cruel than 70. rob dog of
smile and laughterg
But the docking OF horses will st
~ as soon as the news IL spread abros
" The height of tho cruel folly has bo
reached and the docked horses now
L. hand will be released from servitu
ne and will begin 10 drift. perhaps, FIR
90 an express wagon, then 90 G,
no | team then to the tread mill. then 10
\, banana peddler. and then by slow .
=, grccs, worn out, oiazed by tortufi
flies. reaches the last resting place l
H. der the sod.
y. But good news has come. and. as
~. result docking will stop. n contril
tor TO the Boston Transcript SAYS n
the highest authority In England, n
IN part of the titled aristocrGcy Int
IL