Henderson gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1911-19??, 1911-06-08
THE HORSE, THE NEGRO AND
THE GROCERYMAN.
An Open Letter to the Ladies' of Hem
derson.

derson.
A couple of weeks ago | made use of
these columns to defend my friend, the
dog, who had been so viciously attacked
at the hands OF Miss Alpha Omega. In
this issue wish to lift my voice again
in behalf of another member OF that
brotherhood which has been denied the
power of speech-tbe orse.
The horse does not possess the sagaci-
ty which characterizes the dog. Many
IF those faculties which so eminently
Iidlfy the latter as the friend and COM
panion OF man are almost wholly want
ing in the horse. Yet, in this proud,
noble animal, celebrated through the
centuries for its beauty, its feetness and
its strength, man finds one OF the most
useful of all of his servants. By means
OF it's strength he has cleared the prime
val forest, broken the virgin sod of the
prairie, and transformed trackless wastes
into fertile fields. 1t has served us in our
work and in our play, as it's feet and
tireless limbs have drawn our vehicles
over mountain and plain from ocean to
ocean. To strains Of martial music it
has carried Us amid the clash OF swords
and the roar of cannon over the carnage
of the battlefield.
By the help of the horse we have gone
far in subduing the forces of nature.
Steam and electricity have been har-
messed, and the tired horse, though still
indispensable, is being relieved of a por-
ton of the burden it has borne so long.
Next to man himself he has done the
largest share of the work in bringing
about the industrial emancipation of
the race-surely he should be permitted
to share in it's benefits.
This leads me to speak, and with burn
ing indignation, OF cruelty to the horse.
Such subject reveals the inadequacy of
the human language. What can we say,
without exceeding the conventionalities
of polite speech, of that brute in the
form OF a man who would wantonly
maltreat this age-long friend and SER
want of our race. This writer never
makes the mistake Of applying the term
Christian to the man who is guilty OF
unkindness to dumb creatures. Even in
the old dispensation Jehovah reveals His
compassion for the beasts of the fields
Jonah Ali, J and the New Testament
presupposes that the benefits of the re-
demption of the world are to be shared
by the flower" creatures, who have too
long groaned in bondage to the cruelty
OF unregenerate man. When men become
Christians they will no longer mistreat
this portion of creation, over which they
are the heaven-appointed guardians.
Judging ourselves by the standard just
laid down, we will have to conclude that
Henderson is not yet ready for the COM
ing in of the Kingdom. Our sensibility
is continually shocked by the cruelty
with which the horse is treated in our
town. shall not stop to speak OF the
poor skeletons that sometimes stagger
along our streets The man who will
not feed horse should not be permitted
to own one. desire in this connection
to mention one case only-the cruelty OF
the colOred drivers OF our delivery wag-
Ons.
There is picture which is ever before
me. l can see it with terrible distinct
ness even in the darkness of the night
The horse with rather a lean and hungry
look. His head held high, as if momenta-
rily expecting his mouth TO be cut by
the inevitable jerk OF the reins. Up hill
and down he goes at break neck speed as
if fleeing in mortal terror from the cruel
driver who stands upright on the rat
against the lines, and lashing with his
whip the poor, frightened, fleeing animal
Prominent among these offenders are
the drivers of some of our grocery wag-
ons. Persons living in widely separated
sections of the town have spoken to me
of this cruelty, which goes on unabated
day after day. Such barbarity is dis
grace to any community. Our Southern
towns are noted for their Indifference to
the treatment of the horse. | once heard
a Northern person who had lived for a
time in one of the Carolinas make this
remark: "My chief objection to living in
the South is due to the cruelty with
which the horse is treated there"
Most OF this cruelty, of course, is in
fiicted at the hands of the negro drivers.
Servants usually make hard masters
But we can prevent it in a large measure
il we will. Laws against cruelty to ami
mails prevent abuses in individual cases,
and tend gradually to create a more
humane sentiment. If we do not-already
have such laws they should be enacted
without delay. A society for the pre-
vention of cruelty to animals should
exist in every Civilized" community
until we become civilized.
This letter is addressed to the most
progressive body of our citizens-the
ladies OF Henderson. No movement for
civic improvement can succeed without
them. No such movement can fail if
they are behind it. | appeal to them in
behalf of the mistreated horse, unable to
speak for itself, powerless to right it's
own crying wrongs.
In the next issue, if l am permitted,
shall continue this article with some
suggestions as to the manner in which
the ladies, and also the grocerymen, may
assist most effectively in correcting the
abuses under consideration.
AGAIN I haU tn suhscrihn myself