The age-herald., 1901-05-31
TrOtting, Pacing o-sss. ssiss Dsss. .ss ssi;s; . ByAH. cAFrHH and Racing World

Among the hundreds of rare species of the animals of the earth that are exhibit ed to wondering mankind at the New York Geological Gardens Is one of the equine family that attracts fore than it's legitimate share of attention. l refer to the onager. This is said to be one of only very few in captivity. year ago. possibly longer an article published Tn Temble Bar by an English officer station ed in India attracted our notice. Among other Oriental curiosities, he wrote of the onager, commonly known as the wiid ass of Persia. He says their speed IS simply marvellous, surpassing that of any living creature. The colonel owned a thoroughbred mare that had often de- feated many of the famous Arab and Moorish horses in that country at various distances, and was regarded as invinci- ble in long or short race. One day, the colonel prtes, he was riding his fleet mare across an open plain, when to his surprise bunch of beautiful onagers bounded out of a clump of bushes and sped away like the wind. The officer set his mare going, and was soon bounding after the wild animals at top speed; but urge his mare as he would and bending to her working with extended limbs and dilating nostrels and smoking Hanks every link out-the onagers ran straight away from her as if tied to a post. Upon investigation some singular and interest ing facts concerning this fieetset of all animals were developed. Balzac says there exists in Persia an extremely rare ass the onager of the ancients, the Kou- Ian of the Tartars. Pierre Simon Pallas went to those regions to examine 1t; he gave it to science. It is mentioned in Holy Scripture; Moses forbade that it should breed with it's congeners The onager is described as possessing a coat more exquisitely shining than that of our best groomed horses; it Is striped with tawny lines, and bears a striking resem- blance to the zebra. The animals hair is soft and unctuous to the touch; his sight is equal in reach and precision to mans; he is rather larger than our finest domestic ass, and possesses extraordi- nary courage If, by chance, he is over taken or surprised, he defends himself with remarkable intelligence against the attacks of other wild beasts. Balzac fur ther says: "As for the rapidity with which he moves 1t can only be compared to the flight of birds" Pallas says an onager can outrun the fieetest Arab and Persian horses. Nisbuhr says: ''The ordinary pace of these wonderful creatures is 1000 geometric strides per hour" Our degen- crate donkeys give us an idea lof this proud, daring animal He is nimble in action lively, intelligent, shrewd, grace full In appearance and movement.
 Turkish and Persian superstitions both ascribe to the onager a mysterious origin, and the name of Solomon is min gled with the traditions that are current in Thibet and Tartary about tlfe prowess of the noble animal. A tanned wild ass is worth vast sum of money, it being nearly impossible to capture them among their mountain fastnesses to which they retreat on the first alarm. The fable of Pegasus, the winged horse, no doubt found its origin and rise in them. The valuable saddle asses, obtained in Persia by mating the female ass with a tanned onager, are dyed red. according to immemorial cus- tom, and that Is probably at the bottom of the proverb, Wicked as a red ass" . We wrote of this interesting animal some years ago, but his recent importation to our shores lends additional interest to students of animal nature.
 The man who admireS the light harness horse Is of virtuous sentiment and lofty principle. and 1t is through him and his kind that we are coming daily nearer to a condition which will make us a nation of satisfied people.
 We heartily endorse the opening of parks for public playgrounds where all may enjoy in reasonable moderation at any time innocent and health giving re- creation, such refresh the body and produce a cheerful frame of mind We contend that every human being should not only be permitted to enjoy every re spectacle pleasure, but that suitable places should be supplied and maintained by the public treasury. When we give to the poor the bright sunlight and pure air and an opportunity to enjoy proper amusements we are giving them a glimpse ' of heaven and bringing them nearer to God, and we are, at the same time build ing for ourselves a hope for a future reward, because as humans we have been humane and because we have obeyed the command to Love thy neighbor as thy self.