PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. 723 



PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. 



IT requires no argument to prove, that without domestic animals, agriculture would be 

 utterly impossible. It is, therefore, simply in a practical view of the subject, the duty 

 of every one interested in agriculture to employ the best possible means in their power 

 for the improvement and welfare of farm stock, in order that the best conditions and possi 

 bilities for the purposes required may be attained. And this improvement and increased 

 value cannot be secured without combining with the skillful breeder s art, intelligent and 

 humane care. Mr. Bergh well says: &quot; Every living creature has assigned to it a limit of 

 endurance and power; and whoever attempts to exceed it, commits a blunder and a sin which 

 is certain to avenge itself at a cost vastly disproportionate to the advantage contemplated. 



That agriculture may reap full benefit of the labor of brutes, it is essential to estimate 

 carefully the distance to be traveled, the weight to be carried, and the number of hours in 

 the day, and the days in the week, to which their strength may be profitably applied. There 

 is a universal law affecting the material interests of living and inanimate things, and that 

 is economy. Transgress this law in any of its relations to this world s affairs, and it speedily 

 avenges itself by wasted physical power, deterioration of the elements of production, sterility, 

 and death. It is a stupid delusion to suppose that any of the laws of the Creator of all 

 things can be subverted or disobeyed by mankind with impunity. You may overwork, over 

 drive, overload, your patient and submissive animal; but you abstract so much wealth from 

 your possession by so doing. 



So interwoven and dependent on the brute creation is the prosperity, and even life, of 

 mankind, that often the meanest insect and bird stand sentinel over their property. It would 

 astonish and confound an individual addicted to the wanton destruction of little birds, for 

 example, to learn the value to agriculture of these seemingly insignificant creatures. Permit 

 me to cite an example of the unappreciable utility of only one of them, the martin, a species 

 of sparrow. From the 15th of April to the 29th of August, eighteen of these birds were 

 once killed, in the stomachs of which were discovered not less than eighty-six hundred and 

 ninety insects destructive to the produce of the farm; which gives, for each day and bird, a 

 total of four hundred and eighty-three insects destroyed. Even though the senseless 

 butchery of these feathered friends of man was done under the pretence of supplying food 

 for the table, imagine, if it were possible, how many bushels of wheat, or barrels of wine, or 

 bales of cotton are represented in each of these little victims.&quot; 



Aside from the economy and profit to be derived from the humane treatment of the 

 lower animals, no person of correct principle, refinement of feeling, and true sense of justice, 

 would needlessly inflict suffering upon the lower animals, or lend his influence in permitting 

 it. Man is lord of creation,&quot; it is true, to a certain extent, and occupying this high position, 

 it is his duty, as well as privilege, to protect and care for, the creatures that are his 

 willing and faithful servants and subjects. It is surprising how indifferent to cruelty to 

 animals many persons are who profess to be just in all their dealings with their fellow-man, 

 and how many there are who consider themselves good Christians, and are quite conspicuous 

 in their religious zeal among men, who are absolutely cruel and brutal in their treatment of 

 dumb animals. The well-known words of the poet have aptly described the true relation 

 between man and the lower animals: 



&quot;A man of kindness to his beast is kind; 

 But brutal actions show a brutal mind. 

 Remember, He that made thee, made the brute, 

 That gave thee speech and reason, formed him mute: 



