70 THE PERFECT HORSE. 



to the principles of breeding, have contributed to the 

 improvement of the American horse. The world is 

 happier and better conditioned to-day because Lafosse, 

 Ilarey, Hiram Woodruff, and men of their intelligence 

 and character, lived. And not alone to these great 

 masters, who revealed to us the true method of shoe- 

 ing, training, and driving horses, are we indebted, but to 

 all of lesser note who in any sensible measure assisted 

 in the improvement of the animal himself, or of man's 

 knowledge of his wants, and his capacity to serve 

 the human race. If it be a disgrace to teach men 

 useful knowledge ; to add to the intelligence and 

 humane impulse of the country in respect to the 

 humblest of God's creatures; to show those of small 

 fortunes how to increase their limited means, and hence 

 to improve their own condition, and swell the aggregate 

 prosperity of the country ; to fire with a worthy am- 

 bition the young agriculturist to produce better stock 

 than his father bred before him, — if this, I say, be a 

 disgrace, then I rejoice to share it with those, who, in 

 every State of the Union, are laboring to accomplish the 

 same noble end, — men whose public spirit I admire, and 

 the integrity of whose characters I hope to equal, but 

 may never expect to excel. I love, with an attachment 

 which increases with the passage of years, my native 

 soil; and hold that its cultivation, and employment in 

 those pursuits connected with it, is most conducive to 

 the practice of those virtues which ennoble man, and 

 minister to his happiness. I love the earnest, honorable 



