The Press., 1907-12-11
HORSE WHIsPERERS.
Men Who Can Control the Most Vi-
 cious Animal by Voice.

Men Who Can Control the Most Vi-
 cious Animal by Voice.
 The horse whisperer might be an un known quantity in England and Ire land today. but there are not q few men who exercise wonderful coptro with their voices over horses which when the dominating influence is. ab sent are apt to literally kick over the traces. In the thoroughbred stables of England and Ireland today there are not a few stablemen and jockeys who succeed in holding in check the vice in I horses which in demOnstrative manner show that they cannot tolerate the presence of the grOoms or attendants. Nimrod claimed for Count Duval q power and influence of the human voice over the brute creation, but that power was backed up by lecture to the horse with "his cIinched fist in his face"
 But the horse whisperer of today avoids all gesticulations and trusts en. tirely to combination of sounds or
 
 the whisperer can face mad horse with his hands behind his back and apparently at the mercy of the beast that has to come under the charm. One means of keeping remount horses quiet in stations during the South Af- rican war was that employed by the yeOmen. who sat in ring of head to head horses singing as loudly as possi- ble and riveting the ears and attention of the otherwise spraw wiling and hungry animals.
 One of the first whisperers to ac- Quire absolute control over fractious equines was Con Sullivan, who mi grated in his youth from Kilmallick. where he could trace his geneaIogy through q long line of snafflers. and became almost exclusively employed by Lord Doneraile The whisper of this man made an indelible impression upon any horse. bringing the pupil to degree of docility unattainable in the ordinary course of discipline.
 The race horse King Pepin. famous racer, vicious and reputed to have kill ed two grooms at the Curragh, once came under his charge. He was want ed to win race at Mallow, but when saddling time came it found him In one of his manageable moods He reared, plunged and flung out fore and aft until he completely cowed groom and jockey. It was at this crisis that some one recommended that he should be whispered" As it was the only chance left of tanning him in time for the start, his owner gladly availed himself of it. though warned that horses were sometimes thrown into a state of stupor by the process.
 Sullivan was soon found. and he was delighted at the opportunity of "fwhuisperin' before so much 'uuoli- ty' from all parts." Show us the wild baste," he said, "and we'll soon tache him manners"
 When he got within the circle-and wide one 1t was-in which King Pc pin was playing his antics he walked up to him, approaching the horse from behind. He mumbled some words as he walked which. though not quite inaudible, were as uninteIligible as q sermon in the unknown tongue, but they had a most magical effect on the horse, for he stood stock still Sulli- van then patted him on the neck, while he whispered word or two in his ear, whereupon King Pepin went on his knees and incontinently lay down
 The whisperer then stretched himself on him at full length, took out pouch containing pipe and tobacco. flint and Pteel. struck light and blew cloud 'as he lOunged on the stomach of thlS high mettled colt with as much com. posture as if he were seated on bench in his favorite taproom. After two or three puffs he got up. beckoned the nag to his legs. saddled him and walk. ed off to the starting post. the horse following and fawning upon him like a dog He won the race in a canter.- London Live Stock Journal.
 A girl generally plays with a man's heart just about as carefully as ba- by toys with watch Dallas News.