Evening star., 1934-09-14
OLD HORSE BOOK
AID TO TRAVELLERS
Obscure Country Doctors
I Volume Gives Directions
for Buying.
By THOMAS R. HENRY.

BY THOMAS r. HENRY.
A century ago no Virginia gentle
man would think Of setting out on q
tourney without Mason's Horse Book
In his pocket.
First published at Petersburg, Va,
In 1911, the volume went through nine
editions and % reprintings in q few
years and must have been one Of the
most widely circulated and best known
books of an age when the only way
to travel was by foot or horse and
when inns were far apart. But mean
while the patron saint Of the traveller,
Richard Mason, lived and died in a
profound obscurity which Seymour
Robb of the staff of the Library Of
Congress now is trying TO clear away,
for he had unique place In the his
tory of American literature.
The full title Of his book was The
eentleman's new pocket companion,
comprising a general description of
that noble and useful animal, the
horse: together with the quickest and
simplest mode of fattening: necessary
treatment while undergoing excessive
fatigue or on a journey; the construc-
ton and maintenance Of stables; diff
ferent marks for ascertaining the age
of horse from to 9 years; with a
concise account of the diseases to
which a horse is subject, with such
remedies as long experience has
proved to be effectual."
Widely Circulated.
The book was to be found in every
tavern. Men came to the court houses
to trade horses with copies of 1t in
their hands. For nearly half a CEN
fury 1t was not surpassed. But from
Robb's investigation, based on Virginia
court house records, is emerging q
character as fascinating as the book
Itself.
Mason was a country doctor who,
from the number Of suits he filed, evi-
IDENTIFY had good deal Of difficulty
collecting his debts. He was appar-
emily rather truculent old fellow for
on April 20, 1906. he and Edwards
Butts, ESQ, were hailed before John
Jenkins, gent, ]. p. and put under
bond to keep the peace-that is, not
70 fight q duel.
In 1908 he was appointed captain
of troop Of cavalry in Surrey County
and that same year, evidently forsak-
ing an Improbable medical and vet
Urinary practice, he was licensed to
keep tavern. He appears in the tax
lists of 1911 as having q family OF
"seven tithables and IL slaves" Robb
is eager to find out what became Of
him. The Library of Congress has
secured several copies Of the later
edition Of his book. but the only extant
copy of the first edition now is in the
library Of William and Mary College.
Horse Prescription.
Least of all would anybody consider
buying o horse without consulting.
Mason, for a gentleman often was
Judged by his horse and the aesthetic
requirements Of the age we're detailed
and complicated. Thus Mason pre-
scribed the minimum fora gentlemans
saddle horse:
"A horse which I consider elegant
and 1T for the saddle-his head must
be small, thin, bony and tapering; his
countenance lively and cheerful; his
ears quick OF action, high, erect, mar
row, thin and pointing together: his
eyes large, round, full, and black.
sparkling with scheerfulness yet hiding
his agitating passions in order and
obedience; his nostrfls large and ex-
banded. and when in motion discloS-
ing q deep red color; his brow and
forehead smooth and not too fat. his
nose somewhat rising, good turn,
and q little inclined to the Roman
shape; his neck long, thin. delicate
and arched and forming a beautiful
graduation from the breast and shoul-
ders: his name half the width Of his
neck, thin and smooth: his shoulders
high, tapering and thrown well back;
his breast plump, full and Of moderate
width: his forelegs nat, straight,
sinewy and thin; his arms large and
muscular; his back short and not too
much swayed for strength and dura-
bility but pretty even and straight.
Here the horseman was only half
through his job Of selection. The
suitable saddle horse must have q
body ground and swelling rather than
fat, and of proportional size, tanks
plump, full and with the last rib ap-
pearing near the hip bones; his hips
and buttocks full, round and well
covered with muscle; his tail well
placed and naturally or artificially
elegant, which adds much to his figure
and gay appearance: his thighs long,
from the hip to the haunch bone
large and bulging with muscles; his
hooks broad, sinewy, bony and free Of
puffs; his hind legs from the hooks
short, banding little rather than
straight, fay and sinewy; his pasterns
Of moderate length, small and bony:
hts hoofs cupped. small, round and
smooth; his hind parts not tucked,
but of easy turn and graceful slope.
when mounted his appearance
should be bold, lofty and majestic, his
eyes shinging with intrepidity and
IRE; his movements light and airy as
q phantom with fairy step that
would scarcely break dew drop. A
mahogany bay is certainly the best
color. with his marks large and pure
white to light up the countenance
and at least two white legs which will
add much to his beauty. though II
must be acknowledged the parts of q
horse that are white are much more
tender than those of any other color .
MARTIAL LAW DECLARED
HFANAHyrA Nicaroc,. c.nt.L..