Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1869 — Gentle Treatment the Best. [ARTICLE]

Gentle Treatment the Best.

A gentleman of New York is the pos sessor of a thousand-dollar horse, whose organ of approbativenes3 is so prominent lv active he can be coazed but rarely driven against Jiis will. When the considerate owner enters the stable the horse greets him with a hearty whinny, his only language, which is equivalent to a cheerful expression of delight. He is at once treated to a lump of loaf sugar, which the beautiful and sagacious creature knows is usually carried in a vest pocket—for he rubs his nose directly In there. On returning from a drive ho expects two lumps. As two are invariably forthcoming when unharnessed, it is unmistakable evidence to the horse that his conduct and efforts were satisfactory. The sight of a whip to that animal would be an insult and an outrage to his affectionate regard for one who looks carefully to his health, security and comfort. Such an instrument of barbarity does not belong to that good man’s carriage, and may God speed the incoming day when they will only be seen in museums to illustrate the conditions of countries that ultimately became Christianized. We put blinders over his sparkling eyes, and then beat him unmercifully if he hesitates to leap blindly over a ditch. Our horses snap at a bridle and run with a carriage because they dread the ap- ■ proach of the driver as often as otherwise. Bewildered and distracted with apprehensions of danger, they fly for safety where dangers multiply with increasing horror. Their speed is increased when unlawfully at liberiy, they so dread the scourge of the lash, which they know will Inevitably follow their capture. Fear makes cowards of men, but worse cowards of horses. The only true and successful method of controlling the animal kingdom is by tke exercise of kind measures. That monster of gigantic strength, the elephant, may be led by an Infant with a string, if tenderly solicited. Even the lion likes to be petted—and that is the time to handle his paws. Horse tamers of the modern schooigfcubchio the most furious animals by a with them in a stable are no auditors. They neither flagellate them or overcome their wildness by severities. On the contrary, they have the art of convincing their dumb pupil he is his particular friend. When that has been accomplished, the changed quadruped requires no repetition of promise made while he was in duress. Ever after the horse keeps bis pledge to behave well, remaining gentle to the end of life, even when misfortune places him under tbe ownership of a reckless, unprincipled savage of a master. — American Stock Journal.