The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-27
The HOFseahoers.

The HOrseshOsrs.
With the great increase Of autOmO-
biles and the decline Of hOrseracing and
equestrianism, what will become Of the
hOrseahOer? Il his ancient craft TO 90
the way Of that Of the flint grinder and
become q lost art? Horse shows are still
held, and the long line Of draught horses
that parade in their best harness and
trappings one dav in the year on Fifth
avenue is evidence that these faithful
animals still exist. But these are not
sufficient TO sustain the art Of the shoe
smith, which ranked in ancient times
with that Of scholar and bard and was
practised not only by nOblemen. bishops
and squires but by kings themselves.
Many noble families Of England, France
and Poland have the device Of the horse
shoe among their insignia The great
age Of the calling is attested BY the rep
reaentation OF a horse being shOd on a
coin Of Tarentum OF 100 B. c., and II Is
recorded that the Huns when invading
Europe left footprints Of iron where their
horses trOd. a. did the steeCls Of WILLIAM
the COnqueror 0S English soil
| Afavorable sign that an art with such
a long and honorable history il not yet
without a considerable following Is
given by the HorseShoers' JOurnol. a
monthly Journal devoted 10 science
arr. literature and the trade. The adj
vertising pages Of the Journal show such
changes and improvements in the i'm
plements Of the trade that the old viii
lage blacksmith Of a half century ago
would scarcely recognize them, and
would certainly not know how 20 Use
them. The up 10 date horse~hOer may
uss nails and shoes stamped with his
own name and shoes Of 20 great a va
riety Of form and siye that a horse that
cannot be properly fitted Ough 10 be
ashamed Og itself. There are shoes for
every variety Of hOof evil, for every
kind Il weather anu every kind Of road.
The assortment Of shoes offered 10 a
lady in a fashionable shop IL small in
comparison TO that offered BY the ad-
vertisers in the HOFsesAOsrs' journal.
Modern development has robbed the
trade Of one Of is greatest charms, for
the great brick forge with its CHEEKY
hre and showering sparks has been sup
planted by an ugly little sheet iron affair
with a self-actlng bellows. That the
calling Of smithy still holds a fascina-
ton Tor youth in spite Of the inroads
made on its picttTesqueness IL shown
in these verses:
4 blhrErnlth's what "a IKE 70 be
When get 70 be q man
And ,hins that vin be one. Too,
n papa says { can.
I'm rOiue 10 ave ny pennies up.
TIN can buy NBscs,uith shop
This apparently is the season for con-
yentions aud meetings. and the Journal
is full 81 the reports Of such gatherings
| Al Ogdensburg the attendance was good
and three new members were enrolled.
while at Fort WAYNE "A gala day was
cslebratsd by giving a smoker 10 which
all the horseshoers and blacksmiths Of
our city and the adiacent counties were
cordially invited. at Youngstown the
attendance was not large but what the
convention lacked in numbers II made
mp In the fine spice with which il was
favored. The various conventions have
agreed on a national holiday for horse
shOers and have set the date this year
for August I3.
To many people the development Of
modern inventions had made the future
Of the hOrseshOcrs' trade somewhat
precarious. bat to the horse~hOers them
selves the future has never been brighter
than il Is now, nor have they ever been
more ambitious for the advancement
Of their craft The subject that il being
most agilated in all The organization Is
/ that Of the State examination and regis
! tration Of all hOrseshOers. In Michigan
a law has already been passed that in all
cities having a population Of 10000 or
more horseshoers shall be duly examined
and registered, and in Pennsylvania the
blacksmith- are preparing 10 urge the
legislature TO appoint q board Of ex-
aminens for the purpose Of issuing Ger
tiicates 10 competent hOFseshoers.'
The editor ~ tho Journal thinks, how
ever, that the movement should he wider
in scope:
And hghi here n strikes 10 f0Fcibly that To-
stsad Of dsailag win State Govsnmsnts II would
be mighy EOod move for sane aus 70 20 riga {
down 10 YashingtOu and tAtkis orr most rssDertsd
Uncie hGhI IN ht own den and after pointing
ont 10 him facts that are facts We might Be able
TO Cunyincs him that our eauss Il good one.
just and Easily rsrorn liable one
When this measure IA achieved the
hor-eshoer will rank with those pro-
fe-sional men ~ whom the state Requires
special qualifications
-T------
/ What peculiar and disrpspectfil meaning
I attaches to the word cake that ita appli-