The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-06

4
beast but the tender mercies of the
wicked are cruel. Proverbs XII TO-
1t is during severe winter weather
such as prevails generally throughout
the country at the present time. when
the thought conveyed in the words
quoted above strikes home good and
hard Cruelty to animals to dumb
brutes. the beasts of burden and the
beasts of the fields, which play such a
large part in the sustenance of life and
the promotion of prosperity among
man people. is kedness in most
repre- hensible form.
There is much of it. too. and mere
especially in the winter time when the
frigid conditions of the atm osphere
are particularly harsh on all of the
animals that have been domesticated
by man. Every person who keeps his
eyes open is witness to the truth of
this assertion. 1t is no uncommon
sight on the streets of a city. or the
roads of rural districts, to see hitched
to heavy loads. horses that are slip
ping around on feet which are improp
erly shod for snow and frozen ground.
Frequently they are viciously dashed
with whips because they are not able
to accomplish physical efforts which
are we'll nigh impossible. The horses
are many, also. that are made to stand
hitched to posts for hours at a time
with the temperature lowering around
zero and without a vestige of a blanket
or covering of any kind to keep the
freezing blasts from their bodies. And
some times horses are compelled to
stand in this fashion while their own
ers are singing their praises to God in
J Of
treatment of horses is due to careless
ness and thoughtlessness, but that
makes 1t nonetheless inexcusabIe.
If this c-:ticism is proper of the way
city folk neglect to do the right thing
by the horses and mules. which serve
them so faithfully. and which are such
! essential helpers in the doing of a
days work, similar censure is de-
served by the stock raisers on the
plains for the treatment they accord
their cattle when unexpected spell
/ of winter weather overtakes them. Not
few items have appeared in the
newspapers during the past few days
telling of cattle that are snowbound
on many ranges. They are freezing
and starving to death by the thou
sands because the snow has covered
up even the sparse fare which usually
| manages to keep life and little
warmth in their bodies when wintry
conditions are not so severe. The man
who winters cattle on ranges should
provide them with an adequate shelter
and feed for all emergencies, as many
men do. It would be cheaper in the
long run for a cattle raiser to go to the
expense of doing this than to lose
Thousands of dollars through the starv-
ing and freezing to death Of hundreds
of head of cattle.
Proper care of animals in all kinds
of weather is not only their just due.
1t is also of great pecuniary benefit
to their owners. Better service is OBJ
tanned from the ones used for work,
and more and better beef and mutton
is made on those raised for slaughter
There are other and greater rewards,
however. for those who show mercy
even unto dumb brutes. It is really
the highest type of mercy, for the ami
lr.als which have been subjugated by
man have absolutely no way of help
ing themselves. And Christ taught his
disciples when they gathered around
him in GaliIee that Blessed are the
mercifu1; for they shall obtain mercy