122 



FEAR ITS EFFECTS. 



I was once present when a team of four horses was har- 

 nessed for the first time to a band wagon. With the first 

 note, the horses were excited to such intense fear that it 

 was only by the greatest effort they were kept from run- 

 ning away, though the band stopped playing instantly. I 



directed the men to get out and 

 go back about fifteen rods. In 

 the meantime, I took the most 

 excitable horse by the bridle, 

 stroked his nose, talked to him 

 quietly, and directed the others 

 to be treated in a like manner. 

 They were greatly excited ; the 

 one I held fairly shook with 

 fear. After a few minutes, I 

 directed the band to commence 

 very lightly upon one or two in- 

 struments at first, the others af- 

 terward to gradually start in. This slight commencement 

 was repeated several times before the horses would bear it 

 without showing great excitement. I then directed them to 

 play louder, and increase the tone gradually until up to the 

 full force of all the instruments and drums. This point 

 made, while playing they came forward very slowly, got in 

 and commenced again in the lightest possible manner, grad- 

 ually increasing the sound until they played again with 

 full force. I now directed the band to keep quiet while 

 the team was driven a short distance, then, as before, com- 

 mence lightly and slowly, gradually playing louder until 

 the horses appeared indifferent to the sound. The result 

 was that in less than twenty minutes the band paraded the 

 streets, playing as they pleased, the horses entirely gentle, 

 in fact, appearing to enjoy the music. Here we see such 

 marked excitement and fear shown from hearing a sudden, 



FIG. 112. Docile, intelligent 

 character. 



