The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1946-04-25

ter of the country and its compare
tivelv recent settlement, and
goodly number, who have come in
pursuit of their life's work. From
time to time most of the county's
citizens drop into the office of The
Western News, and the present
management, having but recently
moved to this section, greatly en-
lows the process of getting ac-
quainted
A Lincoln county citizen VINO came came
n the county in 1920, HVIng III
about three years ago at Eureka'
and now having his home IN LIBBY
e T M Dad" Preston. Mr.. Pres
tons first love" and greatest IN
toreet lin addition to his family
has been. and still is, horses. he
Drove his first horse on his 6th
birthdav. and at the age of H. be-
came a partner with has father IN
the livery business back in Morrl-
son, Ill.
The business of the Prestons con-
sisted to a great extent IN raising
and training carriage horses, though
thew also raised race horses, and
one remuneratiVe branch of the
business consisted Of buying street
car horses in Chicago, which had
worn out their feet The feet were
conditioned and rebuilt, and the AMI
mails then sold for farm work hor-
ses Dad" in discussing these
animals, stated that they made the
best work stock obtainable. He al
so explained that the continual work
on the paved streets was respon-
sible for the wearing away OF their
hooves while comparatively young
This source of buying vanished many
wears ago with the conversion OF
the old horse-car to the more mod
ern electrically powered street car
Rack in 1911 Mr.. Preston came
west, settling at Warner, Alta,
where he continued to work with
horses A lover of all animals, he
had learned in his youth to care
for their ills. AS the years went
by his interest became more and
more specialized on horses and the
care of their mouths. This became
his specially, though he did not fail
TO keep up on other equine all
ments as well as those of other
animals. Dad states that d horse,
lust like a human being, has two
sets of teeth, the temporary or milk
set. and the second or permanent
set. The temporary set consists of
"a teeth. II incisors and II mOlars.
Frq If a
including IL incisors, "a moiars, and
in the males mouth four extra
CANNES or tushes are found. Two
central incisors are in the colts
mouth at birth or within 10 days
thereafter. About the same time
three molars appear on each side
of the Jaw. At months, more
middle -ineisors- pearr-and- at 8
months, 2 more corner lncisors on
each Jaw. The yearling colt sports
a full set of temporary teeth, which
are completely replaced by the per
manent set at the approximate age
of 5 years.
It was back in 1920 that Mr. Pres
ton and his family moved to Lin
coin county, making their home at
Eureka. where they lived until a
bout three years ago when they
moved to their present home in Lib
bv. Il was while living in Eureka,
that Mr.. and Mrs Preston each
spring would start forth with the
faithful car, no definite place as
their destination, but knowing full
well that in the course of their
travels they would meet with many
horses needing Dads personal at
tention-and they always did, es-
pecially in the good old day." be-
fore power machinery about put
Old Dobbin off the farm.
But Mr.. Prestons interest in
cmdes much more than the care
of horses teeth and the doctorint
of their ills-He is also enthusias
tically fond of training the animals
and he guarantees that, given al
entirely wild and unbroken hors
which no other person has eve
tried to handle, if he has the hors
within a corral built to his SECT
fication, it will be only a matter o
about an hour until the animal ma
be safely mounted. He adds how
ever, that the horse will not b
permanently broken" in that time
unless he continues to receive tn
same kind and understanding treat
ment which never fails to inspir
confidence in the animal for h
master.
There is much more that could
written regarding the life and e2
periences of Mr.. Preston, for a Iii
devoted to the care and training
our dumb friends" is of need
filled with many interesting an
touching moments, and lovers
animals, if fortunate in findiu
Dad" at liberty, could listen wit
intense interest by the hour Will
the horseman tells of his favorit
animals, their habits and weakne!
ses; and relates anecdotes of I'll
past, as well as some of his plar
for the future. And finally, thoS
raadare IF The Western News VIII