EVILS OF MODERN STABLES. 207 



single week of such probation, what does the reader conjecture would be 

 the report delivered by the groom, who sat behind with the whip, ready 

 to enforce silence ? In what respect, does imagination picture, would be 

 the distinction between man and horse ? 



Stable propriety conceives that the dumb inhabitant of such a building 

 is fitly occupied when gazing upon the whitened interior of its prison. 

 It is barely possible that stable-men may think this a most engrossing 

 amusement ; but there evidently exist horses which are so naturally per- 

 verse as to imagine that sight was, by an all-wise Creator, bestowed for 

 a more active purpose than to merely look at vacancy when at home, 

 and to be blmded by blinkers when abroad. These are, generally, the 

 new-comers. Colts, not thoroughly broken in, or quite inured to the 

 customs of civilized equine existence, are such wayward creatures ! In 

 their inexperience, they are too impatient ; the first taste of captivity is 

 apt to generate in them a desire to look around, or to gaze on the fellow- 

 beings about them. 



Inspired by a feeling of dissatisfaction with the boards which human 

 care has placed on either side of their compartment, these youngsters 

 are likely to gratify the promptings of the moment, by rearing up and 

 by lodging the forefeet within the manger. Thein heads are thus raised 

 above the limit of their partitions. Where the com is commonly thrown, 

 the front hoofs now repose ; and, as a consequence, the view instantly 

 becomes more extended. The scene is novel; the exalted quadruped 

 can exchange glances with its companions. The prospect is pleasing, 

 and the sensation it awakens is decidedly gratifying. But, unhappy 

 creature I While its eyes drink in delight, it cannot perceive the angered 

 visage of the groom ; nor can it even think of his existence, till the smart 

 of a well-placed lash recalls the sufferer back to the hopelessness of that 

 solitude, under submission to which it can alone hope to escape from 

 positive torture. 



This grave offense, like too many human failings, is engendered by 

 idleness. The offending animal was without occupation. Its spirit was 

 sick with inactivity. Therefore, in despair, it indulged that forbidden 

 gratification which most men in their own persons do not view as merit- 

 ing severe corporal punishment, or find to be a very stimulative amuse- 

 ment, when, to kill time on a rainy day, they glance out of the windows 

 of their apartments. The equine sin was, however, of no greater mag- 

 nitude ; if it could, with strict justice, be said to attain to such lofty 

 dimensions. The culpability, nevertheless, lay in an animal acting as 

 though it had a right to use its own life for its selfish enjoyment. A 

 horse obviously is the property of its master. The title to such property 

 is absolute. The creature, consequently, has no right to act on its own 



