1MPOKTA.NCE OF QUALITY IN HOUSES. 157 



of that of Beeswing, and you will find more than one point 

 of resemblance. 



PKECEPTOR. Without seeing the resemblance, I will cor- 

 dially admit that they are both very much to be admired, 

 and after a handsome woman, a handsome horse has the 

 next place in my favor. But all this will not help the 

 passage of the bill through Congress. With the co-ope- 

 ration of the influential horse admirers, both East and 

 West, the thing would be easier of solution. This cer- 

 tainly looks like the most feasible way. I know of hun- 

 dreds who would do everything in their power to assist 

 in getting such a law enacted. Horse races having be- 

 come the fashion at Saratoga, would materially advance 

 the cause. Yet it wants to be looked at in a higher light 

 than merely the means of aiding a listless crowd to dawdle 

 away their time. The very existence of a country may 

 depend on the quality of the horses ; and if those used 

 in the late war had been of a higher grade, the cavalry 

 would not only have been more effective, but the cost to 

 our government would have been much less. In time 

 of peace the merits of the horse, if not so apparent are 

 equally of the same importance ; the horse, more than 

 any other animal, belonging to the highest civilization, 

 and aiding more than all others the development of a 

 country. 



This talk has rather led us away from the animals im- 

 mediately under our charge. As their treatment will need 

 but little variation for a week or two, till they commence 

 jogging, the only thing required is to see that they are 

 regularly fed, groomed, and walked, watching things that 

 may appear trivial, but which often grow in magnitude 

 till they are difficult to eradicate. Idle horses, or those 

 not working very hard, are apt to acquire habits that are 

 very annoying as crib biting, weaving, pawing, disliking 

 to go through a doorway, kicking the sides of the stall, &c. 



