Evening star., 1922-01-30
PLEADS FOR BETTER CARE
OF HORSES ON STREETS
Virginia Urges All Citizens to See
That Neglected Animals Re-
ceive Attention.
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
/ am sure many of us were touched
to the heart when we heard of the six
teen horses that perished in the
smoke e-filled stable of Gait & Co. be-
fore they could be reached on the
evening of January 21st, and We
commended the bravery of the men
of the twenty. They were beautiful
animals and returned in full for the
good care and affection bestowed upon
them by the big flour and feed COM
pany. l recall that several of the
teams were in the 1920 BE Kind to
place day or so ago I expressed my
sympathy in the loss of these horses
to one of the colored drivers unhitch-
ing borrowed team, to -Thich he re-
piled. Il sure hated to .,se the two 1
drove"
The incident of the fire and the
last few days of bitter cold have
brought to mind the varying condi-
tions of the hundreds of beasts of
burden that work on our streets.
With pleasure 1 have noted many
well kept ones belonging to both
trash collectors. and that the ma
jority of horses were blanketed these
icy mornings, though some of the
coverings were mere apologies. How
ever, there are still too many horses
left shivering near the curb and
sleeping in dirty. drafty stables, with
little or no bedding. Some of these
half-starved. worked down ones will
eventually be led to the auction sales
to be sold as KILLERS" their hides
going to the tanners and their car
casses either converted into fer
tilizer or fed to the animal life-pris-
oners at the Zoo.
horrible as that seemed, than that
of enduring in advancing age and
waning strength the hardships i'm
posed upon them by calloused OF ig-
norant owners whose only purpose is
to wiring from them the last dollars
worth of toll. Some Of them when
young were as proud and well cared
for as the -four and feed horses.
Better that their lives are shortened
bit by the killer than that they
drop in harness. but despite this fact
the sights of such wretched crea-
auction stables again and again are
a disgrace to this Capital city.
Passersby can at least do bit In
cold weather by observing If all
horses are blanketed, having the COW
ering replaced If blown off, and re-
Is none.
Then, too, this continued freezing
weather is harder than ever on feline
and canine alley waits. and the SPAR
rows of the street. Put out the table
scraps for the timid garbage pail
tabby and pup, and crumbs for the
hungry sparrows. Add a receptacle
of warm water. If possible, for these
creatures which are thirsty in cold
as we'll as in warm weather.
A fine lesson in humane education
may fittingly be taught here by i'm
pressing these suggestions upon the
minds of children. They will be only
too glad to do their bits. Children
living in the suburbs will be especially
interested in feeding the birds for
there will be many more kinds than
the common sparrow and each kind
will need some special feed. This will
stimulate the children to study the
needs of thSir various guests, and in
providing accordingly for them they
will learn at their little bird shelves
nature lessons first hand, more valu-
able than those taught from school
books.
Every one will rest more comfort
ably in his own warm bed these
near-zero nights If he has the con-
sciousness of helping bit some hu-
man or animal that must weather the
elements as best he can, and he will
be living better the Golden Rule.
VIRGINIA w. SARGENT.