Year: 1874

ties.


The interest shown by Mr.. Bergh in the
crying evil of our wretched pavements only
shows what will come from well directed ell
thusiasm. We have never objected to the en-
thusiasm of Mr.. Bergh, but have rather re-
spected it. Enthusiasm is o subtle, silent
marvellous quality which may control the
universe under proper checks. What we
dread is unchecked enthusiasm; and it is
when Mr.. Bergh has shown himself as an
illustration of this force that we have differed
with him. Everything has its use. Steam in
tea kettle has musical and domestic quail
ity; steam with wider opportunities becomes
power that moves the world. Electricity is
beautiful when it tints o summer cloud, and
terrible when it comes in the majesty and
power of the storm. 1t has noble function
as the messenger of science and society. So
it is with Bergh. He has an enthusiasm like
steam and electricity, and our only care has
been that like these subtle and extraordinary
powers, he would become useful minister of
society.


Therefore, when he assumed the plenitude
of the extraordinary powers confded to him
as President of the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals we regarded him as an
illustration of enthusiasm under good control,
like steam in q well-directed engine, or cleo
tricity in telegraph battery. We did not
tremble when we saw him armed, single
handed, with powers almost dictatorial, such





coin. We felt that he was doing q noble
work in making war upon our wretched pave
ments. The letter which he has addressed to
US shows how keenly he appreciates this
crying evil. We agree with him that
there are no roads like macadamized
roads, and that the expensive and de-
plorable lessons of our Tammany regime
are thus seen as in so many monumental
ruins But we are panied to observe that
Mr.. Berghs enthusiasm is not unselfsh.
While we mean to strengthen his hands in his
vast and trying work, he must not ask us to
support any particular form of pavement In
his letter he introduces some especial patented
composite plan, forgetting that New York has
been ruined by patented plans already. Mr..
Bergh must not count upon our support if he
adds the business of an advertising agent to
his already extraordinary powers. He will
become like a common pedler with rattraps
and muslin, with patent in his pack seeking
for market.


Mr.. Bergh may give practical turn to his
mission by setting on foot On inquiry that
may have most important results. Let him
have an accurate census made of all the horses
now owned in New York-those especially
devoted to private purposes. AS our roads
are made largely, if not wholly for the comfort
and uses Of the owners of horses, let him draw
up a bill imposing tax upon them. Let
each horse pay tax of ten dollars per annum,
and the fund thus accruing could be devoted
to the maintenance and improvement of the
streets In this way Mr.. Bergh would achieve
twofold service. He would enable New York
to have highways worthy of Paris and would
contribute in an untold degree to the comfort
and happiness of the poor, silent, suffering
dumb brutes who lead lives of torture up and
down our wretched, rugged avenues. In this
way he would be of an essential service to the
human race, instead of prosecuting midnight
cocks who are not willing to wait for the
early morn, or of instituting metaphysical in
vestigations in slaughter houses as to the
exact amount of pain necessary to the death
of the hog and his proper translation into
spare ribs and hams.