HORSE BEATS HORSE. 44i 



remorse. It seems a strange thing, when we consider it, 

 that we should take the hides of dead horses — the hides 

 upon which the lash may so often have descended — to 

 make more lashes to beat more horses, whose hides 

 will, in their turn, be made into thongs to beat future 

 generations of horses, and so on through successive 

 periods of time till the chapter ends — until the merci- 

 less drivers have passed away from this world, and the 

 spirits (if they possess any) of the patient beasts who 

 have been subjected to their lashes have departed to 

 the spirit-land where all good horses rest in peace and 

 tranquillity. 



To those who love dumb animals, it is satisfactory 

 to suppose that there is such a spirit-land, where 

 horses, relieved of harness, dwell in happiness and 

 comfort ; where dogs wear neither muzzle nor collar ; 

 where no link of a dog-chain has ever yet been forged ; 

 where ]\I. Pasteur, in common with other vivisection- 

 ists, is held up to universal execration ; where low, 

 fierce growls accompany the mention of vivisectionist 

 names, which could these merciless votaries of science 

 hear, would make these searchers after knowledge 

 relinquish all further attempts at solving such scientific 

 problems. It is probable that the untutored Indian 

 thinks and cares more for his horse and dog than 

 do many civilised beings. Pope says : 



He thinks, admitted to that equal sky, 

 His faithful dog shall bear him company. 



And again he remarks : 



Go, like the Indian, to another life ; 

 Expect thy dog, thy bottle, and thy wife. 



But to return to the question of harness, one thing 

 .a coachman must always bear in view, which is, that it 



