WORCESTER SOCIETY. 135 



Working Oxen. 



To say that there were well trained cattle and skilful drivers 

 on the ground, is but making a record of what was witnessed 

 by the gazing multitude. The interest in this part of the exhi- 

 bition has always been manifested by numerous competitors 

 and thousands of spectators — the scene is an exciting one, 

 entered into both by the ox and liis master — and it should be 

 remembered that the teamsters are as closely observed as the 

 teams — and that opinions are formed in reference to well-trained 

 men, 'dso( well-trained cattle; those that performed the best 

 were not struck a blow, neither were they frightened by Babel 

 like language from the top of the voice. The whip iti the 

 hands of a skilful driver will be observed, but not felt by the 

 cattle. We live in a day of reforms, and it is a question 

 whether the ox should not share our sympathy. Hninanily 

 and self-interest call loudly for a change. As applicable to the 

 subject, the following extracts are from the transactions of 

 the Westborough Agricultural Society for 18u0, from the report 

 of L. H. Boutell. 



" The training of cattle is a subject deserving of much more 

 attention than is usually bestowed upon it. Cattle are intelli- 

 gent creatures, and should be treated as such, if we would use 

 their powers to the best advantage. The degree of their intel- 

 ligence is indeed small, compared with that of man ; whatever 

 may be its extent, it is governed by the same laws which regu- 

 late human intelligence. 



"The person who undertakes to train cattle, should possess 

 judgment, patience, tact, and a right mixture of gentleness with 

 firmness. It should never be intrusted to those who have never 

 been trained themselves, nor to ignorant and irritable men. 



" It is necessary to be careful about the language employed 

 in their government, and always to use the same term to denote 

 the same thing. The language of teamsters is often nothing 

 but nonsensical jargon ; and we have sometimes wondered that 

 cattle did not stand still in utter astonishment as the driver 

 bawls out a dozen different commands in the same breath. 

 Such drivers generally end their coramauds with a blow, and 



