Record of Shorthorn Prize Jf'inncrs 



A FANCIFUL SUGGESTION OF SHORTHORN ORIGIN 



In 1903 the Central Shorthorn Breeders' Association held its annual 

 meeting in Lincoln, Neb., and was welcomed to the city by an address of 

 Hon. W. J. Bryan. On behalf of the association B. O. Cowan responded 

 as follows: "I confess it is with no little diffidence that I rise to respond 

 to the cordial and earnest words of the gentleman who has just addressed 

 us. But I should be wanting in courtesy due the gentleman and recreant 

 to the spirit that I am sure animates this gathering if I should fail to 

 express our hearty appreciation of this cordial welcome to the city of 

 Lincoln and the state of Nebraska. Both city and state have many pos- 

 sessions in material ami intellectual development of which her citizens 

 may well feel prou.l. Tin- city has one resident whose eloquence has 

 charmed vast audiences and another whose record has made him king of 

 livestock auctioneers. 



"I desire now to speak to you briefly about the breed of cattle that 

 brought us together today. Authentic bnvino historians, though differing 

 somewhat as to exact datea, fix the origin of Shorthorns at one and a half 

 to two centuries ago, while the claims of some ad : a rival breed 



go back to a time antedating the floo<1. I come to you today, gentlemen, 

 with a suggestion, which, if a< ocates to 



i seat far back in the h ill of historical celebrit 



"When I was a schoolboy I found much pleasure in reading the mys- 

 teries Of mythology and one of the stories that has often come back to me 

 was about Jupiter, a god who was worshiped by the K<>mans, also by the 

 Greeks, under the name of Zeus. Jupitfr "w of di 



and whi-n not engaged in hurling thunderbolts at ; s not 



averse to flirting with the fair young s who enlivened the Elysian 



This Jupiter had no right r 6 his wife. Juno, like many 



wives in modfrn histor\ i these flirtations. Among these goddesses 



lo, famed for her beauty and grace, was a :' f Jupiter. On one 



occasion, when he was basking in -her bewitching smiles, he was surprised 

 by the approach of Juno and in order to avoid an embarrassing explanation 

 he exercised his magic power by hastily surrounding himself and his love 

 by a cloud, and when the indignant Juno peeped through a. rift in the mist 

 instead of beholding her hated rival she saw a beautiful whjte heifer into 

 which Jupiter had transformed lo. This heifer, gentlemen, I claim as the 

 ancestress of Shorthorns, and my argument in defense .of the claim is 

 that while other breeds of beef cattle have produced many beautiful heifers 

 none will lay claim to a white heifer. 



"While Juno apparently was baffled and denied the ground for a specific 

 accusation, yet her wrath was not . and it is evident that she 



knew a thing or two, so she importuned Jupiter to make her a present 

 of this heifer. To this request he at first demurred, but, being unable 

 to furnish a reasonable excuse for denying it, he finally consented. Upon 

 obtaining possession of the beautiful heifer the revengeful Juno let loose 

 on her tender back a vicious swarm of gadflies and thus gave the world 

 the first exhibition of 'The White Heifer That Traveled.' To stockmen who 

 know the nature of the gadfly it is needless to say that she broke all speed 

 records. 



"But, turning from the realm of fancy to that of fact, we can point with 

 pride and tion to the record of our favorite breed of cattle. More 



than a century of authentic hist. ;.'.ete with the victories of Short- 



horns and splendid acl ta of noted breeders who have made that 



history, illustrious -'. n to us diction of encouragement." 



