Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-06-23
WALHALLA, 8. O.:
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1909.
MANS INHUMA NIFTY TO BEASTS.

munity in Oconee:
To the Editor Of The Keowee Cou-
rier: l wish to put In a plea for a
square deal" for mans best friend
the horse. To any one who is
even casual observer 1t cannot but
be apparent that this particular and
most useful Of all the dumb, driven
beasts" Is far away from receiving
square DEAL" If what one sees on
our streets of Walhalla is to serve
as basis for judgment The writer
wishes to ask the aid of the editor
and OF all right-minded people in
this community - putting a vigorous
and immediate stop to acts of cru
city to animals he has witnessed. 1t
Is not an uncommon sight to see
horses and mules being used here
abouts that no one but the most
thoughtless would venture to say are
fit to do as much as an hours work,
let alone working seven days in the
week. Horses there are that are so
"bony" and so full of sores from
cruel treatment and sickness that 1t
surpasses credulity that the officials
Of Walhalla can stand by and see
such inhuman acts, as the working
of such horses certainly is, carried
on.
On one day last week the writer
saw at least three poor, "bony,"
weak horses dragging about the
streets fat, healthy, sleek men, who,
to tell the truth, were far more able
to pull the vehicles than the ami
mails were. or course the ever-ready
''pole" was bel & used to exact from
the "hone-racks" the last ounce of
effort. Also, there has fallen under
the writer's eye the inhuman spec
tacle Of men and boys driving teams,
deliberately cutting their animals in
the eyes, or at their eyes. with long
whip lashes, to make them go fas-
ter.
! say, Mr.. Editor, such sights are
brutal and degrading in the extreme,
and should be stopped by any and
every one who sees them, but espe-
cially by the properly appointed Off
GERS of the law. Men who will not
feed their animals should be deprived
OF the use of them until he provides
food for them; men who whip ami
mails in the face, deliberately, should
be made to pay fine.
1t is no new matter that | am
suggesting. There are in many of
our towns and larger centres active
and vigorous chapters OF that most
excellent organization, the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ami
mails, and even If we have not such
an organization here a few plain and
simple instructions from the Mayor
TO his officers to arrest any and all
persons found guilty Of using ami
mails unfit for use, or detected in
cruelty to animals, will have most
excellent effect.
May we not count on your active
support? Humanity.
Walhalla, S. G..
There is unquestionably truth in
every line Of the above communica-
tion. 1t ought to appeal to every
citizen of our town and county so
strongly that in the near future such
complaint against this condition
will be impossible. Unfortunately,
we find there is no local law dealing
directly with this question of cruelty
and ill-treatment Of our dumb ami
mails, and we lack that concerted ac-
tion OF citizens that would prohibit
from the very beginning such prac-
tices as are complained Of
Speaking for the Town Council,
we feel sure that so far as they are
"
ter the July meeting of that body,
whereby specific and adequate pun
iShmcnt will be provided for i'll
treatment of any dumb animal, for
the working of horses and mules un-
fitted for service by disease, accident
or improper care. and that will tend
TO bring about better condition Of
our dumb animals in general, and
the horse in particular-this latter
being beyond question the animal Of
greatest service, yet the one most
abused
1T has been a source Of great sat
isfactiOn to us TO note that our peO-
pie are getting together in vprous
lines for mutual benefit. Our busi-
ness men have organized a Business
Mems League, our ladies have or
ganized a Civic Improvement Asso-
citation, and there is a feeling of
closer touch and interest In all quar-
ters. Now we propose one more
organization that is sadly needed
a Society for the Prevention of Cru
city to Animals. This Is acting on
the suggestion of Humanity" the
writer OF the above appeal for our
dumb animals, and in the interest Of
humanity" that first and one of
the highest attributes Of the human