New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-15
ILL TREATING ANIMALS.
Humane Society Discusses Various
Phases Of Cruelty.

The East Room Of the Waldorf-Astoria was
turned into a clearing house yesterday afternoon
"a clearing house for suggestions on how TO
make life less hard for mans faithful friend and
servant, the horse, and for all other four-footed
animals too. These suggestions were offered at
a meeting called by David Belais, president of
the New York Humane Society. As IL. Belais
was unable to be present until toward the end,
Mrs Belais presided
Colonel Joel B. Erhardt the first speaker, re-
marked that the meeting could hardly have
been held al a more appropriate time, coming
IT did at the end of the hardest two weeks
horses have ever suffered in New York.
Women" he said, can do more than men
toward succoring abused horses.
when a man remcnstrates with brutal
driver. unless he is an athlete the argument is
likely TO end disastrously for him when the
driver gets down from his cart. But when
woman steps out from crowd and speaks
word for q horse the driver must heed what she
says, or else run away. one driver pursue
the latter course only the other day in 42i
street, and though I waited fifteen minutes I
didn't see him come back TO face his accuser.
Women sometimes feel certain reluctance
about appearing in court and hesitate to press
a charge, but I don't think they need TO- for, so
far as 1 have observed, courts are very
quick TO heed these cases quick to punish
cruelty TO animals"
Colonel Erhardt. who was formerly identified
with the Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty
10 Animals and who assisted at the birth of
the New York Humane Society, remarked that
he didn't agree with the people who objected TO
the formation of a second humane society in
New York
1 was glad when this one was organized" he
gaid. and hope more will be organized The
more the better. We need them And one of
their chief objects he went on. Should be TO
teach the children TO be tender to all animals"
Then he told a little story. My wife and J." he
said, Sometimes disagreed about the disposal
OF the mice she caught in traps. I would go
cretly and set them free. One day when my
daughter was younger than she is now I showed
her mouse in trap. DO you hear what he is
saying? I asked. Why. he isn't saying any
thing she told me. Yes, he IS; he says. Mr..
Man only came in here for bit OF cheese.
don't mean anybody any hsrc. Please let me
go home And" added Colonel Ehrhardt. 81
don't believe the child ever forgot that lesson
that animals have feelings as we do
Colonel Erhardt suggested that the New York
Humane Society give some entertainments. fol-
lowing the example of Bide-a-Wee which" he
said, realized S1.J00 believe, ct an entertain
ment 1t gave recently"
Herbert y. Casson. who for couple Of years
has been devoting portion Of his time to giving
talks in the Board of Education course in the
public schools on humanity TO animals, in behalf
of the New York Humane Society. was the next
speaker. He characterized the late unpleasant
ness in the realms of humane societies kind
Of 'jam" like the lumber jams in Northern rivers.
''The jam Is broken now" he said. "and the
S. P c. a. raft is slipping along all right. But
there can't be too many humane RATS the
river Of life"
Mr.. Casson offered a number of suggestions,
jotted down at odd times, ne said.
Let Us be humane TO horses" he went on,
but let US be humane to drivers too When
driver works for sixteen hours 4 day he may be
excused. perhaps, when &c loses his temper and
whips horse. Let US try to influence the man
back of the driver. who overworks his men, who
sends his horses out with smooth shod feet that
cannot grip the ice. who cuts the wages of the
driver if he fails TO haul as many and heavy
loads IN FEBRUARY as he does IN May. And let
Us educate the drivers many Of whom i'll treat
horses through ignorance more than through
brutality / would suggest asking the Team
Eters' Union to allow veterinary student TO be
appointed by this society to give talks to the
men at their meetings on the right treatment Of
animals. Perhaps women might lecture before
the drivers too. And ] think ought to pay
some attention 10 the East Side, to those Italian
hucksters who viii buy poor, worn out horse
for a few dollars ana club him through the
streets. We have a heavy task in the educa-
ton Of the thousands Of immigrants who
coming over here, most Of them from regions
where ideas OF what is due to animals are very
olnerent from the American conception Of hui
mainly"
Mr. Casson. while he admitted that the society
had enough 10 do TO protect the million horses
and the much larger number Of dogs and cats
IN New York thought IL ought to have some at
tention 10 spare for the girls who sell papers
in the streets 1T IS bad enough TO see the
small newsboys," he said. 1T is absolutely
brutalizing 10 see little girls vending papers
out in the crowds. in the cold, in the streets
Homer Davenport told some stories Of animal
intelligence and loyalty. After him came Mr.
butcher. Of the Audubon Society Mr.. butcher
declared that lovers Of animals ought not to
trade ar stores whose proprietors allow their
drivers 10 abuse their horses.
Then Albert r. Rogers, who has organized
children all over the country into bands Of
mercy, made a strong plea for the conversion
OF cruel drivers rather than their prosecution
often a driver who is punished for cruelty,
he said. will go home and in the secrecy Of
his stable inflict worse fortunes upon his horse
The driver who is converted learns how TO
cherish his horse"
Mr.. Rogers said he thought we should be
polite 10 animals well kind, and he told
q story Of an old Southern who rebuked
Negro for beating a ba!ky mule When she
mule" said Mr.. Rogers, the Negro turned
bow TO the mule saying. 'Massa Mule, please
Ladies and gentlemen, when YOU see a horse
love them, horses can be stubborn-go out
and give that horse pat on the neck, a bit Of
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