Bad toanisters ^eein to gravitate naturally to employers who do not really care 

 about their horses. If the owner is a humane man, the spirit of humanity will per- 

 vade his whole business. Jf he is cruel, or simply indifferent, a spirit of brutality, or 

 at least of selfish indiSerence, will run through his force. 



The highly developed nervous system of the horse renders him peculiarly capable 

 of suffering. Eough usage, even if it stops fai short of absolute l^rutality, keeps him 

 in a constant state of fear or irritation. Anyone who is accustomed to observe horse? 

 can tell by a single glance at a given horse Avhether the driver is a good, bad or indif- 

 ferent one. The expression of the animal's eye, and the carriage of his ears, loll the 

 story unmistalcably. 



There are many teamsters who treat the horse as if he were a machine, and there- 

 fore are guilty of continual cruelty toward him, which reacts on their own charac- 

 ters. Such men miss the opportunity of their lives, and their daily labor becomes a 

 degradation and a curse to them. 



On the other hand, there are many humane drivers, who have a real affection for 

 their horses, and take the greatest pride in their appearance. These men make good 

 husbands, good fathers, good citizens; and their daily labor is not only a means of 

 livelihood, but a constant source of happiness. To reward and increase this class is 

 the main object of the Boston Work-Horse Parade Association. 



SCHOOLS FOR DRIVERS. 



The past winter in Boston has !:)een cold and ihc streets have been icy to a degree 

 perhaps never knovn before, and work-horses have suffered accordingly. The snow is 

 removed so qiiickly that it is impossible to keep horses sharp, and the city authori- 

 ties are extremely negligent in sanding the slippery pavements. These circumstances 

 are bad enough, but they are aggravated by bad driving. It is a common thing to see 

 a pair of work-horses slipping and straining, witli the reins loose on their backs, 

 necks stretched out, and legs sprawling; whereas, of course, they should be well col- 

 lected, the reins taut, necks arched, legs well under theui, and toes gripping the 

 pavement. 



In backing, also, horses are continually hampered by bad driving; their muscles 

 are strained, their tempers irritated, and their stren^h exhausted — all because the 

 driver docs not know how to direct their efforts. 



Last year a school for drivers was established in Paris, and during the past win- 

 ter a course of instruction has been given to the drivers employed by a large firm in 

 Chicago. That something of the sort would be useful in Boston is ob\dous, and the 

 Boston Work-Horse Parade Association would be glad to co-oixrate in the matter with 

 the master truckmen, or with any other persons. 



