The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-10
< OUR HORSES.
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(By Andrew James Miller. ]

Everybody is fond of horses; many pas sionately love them; only a few thoroughly understand them; yet how many can you find who really feel for them. We admire their grace and beau- ty; their frequent prodigies in speed their wonderful sagacity, ofttimes approaching human intelligence; their regal bearing in harness or under the saddle; their morc practical uses, when hurrying hither ana thither, drawing carriages, cabs and carts, as well as their real substantial part in the progress of civilization. Un- der all these conditions, the horse com mands our deepest interest and admira- ton. while we are otherwise practically indifferent to his daily abuse and cruelty negligent of the tortures to which he is subjected in fulfilling his destiny as the slave of man. Many of us-indeed, most of us-are cruel only from carelessness. In the hurry and scurry of social and business life. we are prone to overlook the many humble and commonplace things, which contribute so extensively and materially to our comfort and pleas ure. Beauty, in the midst of her social duties, sits smiling. unconsciously enough while her two thorough -breds are tossing blood-hecked foam from their frothing, at a reception and for two hcurss the horses may stand wrlthing in, discomfort and agony, because an unfeeling' coach I man will not get down to loosen their over-checked and bearing reins,' Indeed he will often thrash them for moving their necks up and down. or stamping with impatence and discomffiture 7 Our gentle women and warm-heartedF gener- I ous girls are simply needless, they are not cruel If they were thoughtful ana considerate of these poor dumb brutes they would not only demand, but would see that they were treated more humanely by thoughtles drivers and hostlers.
 If cruelty can be charged against those l horses so especially favored. as the pride | of the rich, what must we say of the | poor draught aDimals who, through the | sweltering heat of summer or the chilling | frosts and rains Of winter, are compelled | to do such herculean tasks? Thihk of | those innocent. faithful brutes, which do so much for man, and so often receive a ghastly reward in prods. kicks and lashes. Mnat, a dread must the poor horse feel of the coaling season, when overlooking Is so apparent and appall- ing. Where can one ever see the emer- gencv horses. for steep hills, when the roads are bad frozen or slippery? We are all aware of these abuses, which especially characterize the winter season, and in those countries, where Humane Societies are in vogue, the practice would almost be classed social scandal.
 But the hardest fate of almost every horse is what is reserved for his declining years When his strength begins to fail he is sold for whatever he will bring. and in the hands of a new and impoverished master. his Inferno becomes more real than Dante ever dreamed of, for human criminals. He is compelled to do more work. when he is less able to do it, and gets less food, when he needs more. In this enfeebled conditions, he often goes without shelter and with no grooming OF care, falls a prey to scratches, sores and rheumatism, frequently eliminating intotal blindness Then he may be sold for song. to some negro farmer or gardener. and a new and final hell is thus created for the last days of one of mans nobest and most faithful friends.
 This picture of animal misery is. in no wise over-drawn. It is almost daily be- fore our eyes. It is, indeed. so common place that the daily sight of It. we might saw robs the spectacle of the element of horror Is there no need in Mont gomerv for salety for the Prevention of Crueltv to Aai.nals?" na,a