Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-02-18

Only a few centurie~ ago the
ancestors of more of us were
barbarians without local habitation,
and living largely by the products
of the chase In the course of time few
of the wild animals about them were do
mesticated. At first probably for play
things for the children, and for compan-
ionship for adults, and finally for their
value as food and clothing. Then the pas
toral life began.
When in his upward development man
became wise enough to teach the OK and
the horse to draw a load, when he found
that either of them could, as a draft ami
NAL, do as much work as 10 men, and that
by using one of them man could increase
his productive power ten-fold, and by
using two, twenty-fold, and finally when
he learned how to teach four or six Of
them to work as unit, then man had in
creased his working efficiency forty and
sixty-fold, respectively. Then he became
able to produce more food than himself
and family required, and he also had the
means of transporting the surplus to con-
siderable distances. Then commerce grew
and civilization began.
The money value of the domestic ami
mails Of the United States exceeds So, Co.,,
100000. What part of this value comes
through their domestication cannot be &C
cuSately stated, but it is a very large
part, as one will admit If he considers of
how little value would be all the horses
II at once they were to return to their
original state as wild horses: or if the
cattle all at once could be changed to the
condition, the nature. and the disposition
of the wild cattle of the original forest
and plain.
1t Is probable that more than 30 per
cent of this value comes through the kind
treatment their ancestors have received,
and which has changed their disposition,
so that this disposition is now inherited,
and also is strengthened by continued
kind treatment.
All who handle farm animals know
that their value is affected by their dis
position. This disposition comes from the
state of the animals mind: and the state
OF his mird toward us depends upon how
we are treating him, whether kindly or
cruelty. BY kindness he is made trustful,
fearless, and docile; by cruelty, sus-
picious, fearful and intractable.
That animals have a mind is a fact
that all who have to do with them should
realize They are not like the machinery
of the farm, which If a man neglects and
misuses. hurts only his pocket book but
IL he neglects and misuses his animals,
he not only Injuries his pocketbook but
does himself more grievous wrong.
Sometimes probably, there will be written
a psychology of the lower animals, as
there is now a psychology of the highest
animal. There is ample material for It,
and it would be a proftable study for all
engaged in animal husbandry.
Animals have memory. they remember
where to get food and drink, where they
were comfortable. where they were in
jured and where frightened. They re-
member where their home is and often, II
taken from 1t will travel long distances,
climb high mountains. and swim wide
rivers to return. They remember the
voice of a kind master. and manifest joy
at his coming; they also remember the
voice of a cruel master, and will flee at
it's sound, or If flight is impossible. will
plainly manifest their horror at his ap-
proach.
They have curiosity, especially the
young. and will examine a new object
with great care. looking at it from all
sides, and from various directions; they
will smell of 1t, taste of 1t, and with
their sensitive lips, feel of 1t. They seem
to enjoy acquiring knowledge.
They are sociable. To them there is
a pleasure In the society of others of
their kind. hence they go in herds and
flocks, and even sometimes they show
great pleasure in the companionship of
animals belonging to an entirely differ
ent order from their own, for example,
horse and a dog have been known to