New-York tribune., 1919-04-20
By Judge Henry A. Shute
n HAVE recently established in my

n HAVE recently established in my
u mind q certain truth. Almost a
n maxim, l might say. I suppose l
have been unconsciously experm ent-
ing in this line ever since the time when, as
a small boy tried to milk a COW into tin
dpper. and was promptly kicked through
Slated door and half way across the hen
yard.
And have continued these experiments
through the different families of domestic
animals to the present day before realized
the truth. l have been bitten by dogs,
cIawed by cats, hooked by cows, kicked by
cows and horses, bitten by the latter, side
swiped by pigs, spurred by gamecocks,
had my face laid open by hen turkey
all to no purpose until my last and very
recent experience with q Shropshire buck
1t has been said that violinst needs to
experience some great sorrow before ac-
qulrlng a tone that makes one weep; that
singer only becomes great through the
Christening influence of lasting grief.
In my own case, not being q volinist or
even a mediocre singer, it required vio-
lent shock to know the truth. got it, or
them-in fact, several of them. AS have
SeiNb nave OCcH cApti ltiClIlR lNeIN 1OE
years. Really, think paid rather hi Oh for
my knowledge. I doubt very much If its
value is commensurate with the bites,
kicks, scratches, claws, abrasions, bruises
and contusons that l have received
At all events, here is the truth. You may
take 1t or not, as you please. An animal
that uses It's head or teeth as a means of
offence may be cured by vigorous measures,
but not one that its heels. l never
could do anything with kicking horse
But horse that was given to biting could
readily manage.
had no trouble in curing my COW from
using her horns too freely But few days
ago, while doing some missionary work be
hind her with a hoe, she suddenly kicked
me on the wrist like a flash OF lightning
The first swipe | made at her nearly drove
her through the side of the barn, but only
made her worse. The more ! beat her the
more she Kicked and I bad to try petting
before she was Quieted
My idea is that hooking, butting or
biting Is mainly bluN. Az soon IA an
animal that fights you that way realizes
that you ready with a per contra in
the shape Of sharp crack over the nose
pcrioncc. But Kicking is generally the re-
suit Of fear, and the greater the fear tn.
harder the kick
or course, except the mule from this
generalization. There is always an excep-
tion, you know.
But the one thing that crystallized my
knowledge was my recent experience with
the Shropshire ram. Now, one would have
thought, in view OF my former friends ex-
perience with the ram few months ago,
that would have been etfectually cured of
my desire to invest in SO uncertain n pos
session as a ram, but when a fancier
brought to my barn beautiful Shropshire
and offered it at an exceedingly reasonable
price, |, like the small boy in the poem
who explained why he kissed Susannah,
who shook her curls--
IL couldn't help it, sir, at all"
or course before making the bargain I
asked variety Of questions about the
animal and especially about its disposition,
The man assured me that abso-
lutcly sweet in disposition, and that proba-
bly, this one no exception. But that If
| kept my eye upon him and did not turn
my back ! would have no difficulty. That If
he showed any signs OF commencing hos
tilitics good loud yell would stop him
in his tracks.
That was the gist Of his remarks, or what