CHAPTER XXIV. 

 HUMANITY AND COMMON SENSE. 



I. THE ECONOMY OF HUMANE TREATMENT. II. COMMON SENSE IKf flj^ 



THINGS. III. THRIFT AND UNTHRIFT CONTRASTED. IV. CRUELTY 



AND IMPROVIDENCE VS. THRIFT AND KINDNESS. V. WHY THE HORSE 



REQUIRES INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT. VI. HOW TO KNOW AN INTEL- 

 LIGENT MASTER. VII. PICTURES FROM REAL LIFE. VIIL THE 



KIND MAN WILL HAVE A WILLING TEAM. IX. THE "GOOD FELLOW'S" 



CRUELTY. X. HOW TO USE ONES MEANS. 



I. The Economy of Humane Treatment. 



In the treatment of animals, humanity and common sense are one and 

 the same thing. For, the humane treatment of these dumb creatures 

 not only contributes to their comfort, but promotes their physical wel- 

 fare and enables the owner to get from them the largest amount of labor 

 that they are capable of. The farm animals, and especially the horses, of 

 a cruel, slovenly or miserly farmer are rarely in condition to perform the 

 most efficient labor. A master, so unthrifty or penurious as to begrudge 

 the proper care and feeding of his animals, is also apt to over-work and 

 under-feed his laborers, and an employer who does this never has efficient 

 help. His hired men, while at work, shirk everj^ duty they can, and at 

 the first opportunity they quit him ; and the work that they cannot shirk 

 is done in the most inefficient and slovenly manner. Even if inclined to 

 do their duty they cannot work to the best advantage because the team is 

 unfit. Here, then, we see two causes operating against the grudging or un- 

 thrifty farmer — inefficiency in his help and in his ■animals ; whereas, the 

 farmer who has common sense and humanity enough to keep his animals 

 in good condition, has only one possible cause of inefficient labor to 

 guard against, viz: inefficiency in the men he employs. A man of the 

 latter kind, however, will have little difficulty in securing efficient help; 

 whilst the grudging or unthrifty man seldom secures the best labor, be- 

 cause good men will not work for such a ma.ster, unless obliged to. 

 Hence, the want of common sense or of humanity always reacts against 

 the individual, and at a loss to himself. The horses of a good farmer 

 are not pampered. His workmen do not expect to be ; but the common- 

 sense man will see to it that they are made as comfortable as circum- 

 stances will admit ; that neither hoi-ses nor men are ovenvorked ; that the 

 food, both for man and beast, is given in sufficient quantity, and that it 

 is of good quality. Plain, but substantial food, well-cooked, should be 

 provided for the men, and sound grain, plenty of water, careful groom- 

 ing for the horses; and the eye of the master should also see to it that 

 the animals are pot abused by beating. If the horses have not been 



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