MEN AND HORSES. 



One fact has often forced itself upon the attention of the Directors, 

 namely, that the welfare of the work-horse is bound up with the welfare of 

 the men who drive and care for him. In stables where the men are well 

 paid and are treated with kindness and consideration by the proprietors, 

 the horses, in turn, are well treated by the men, and look slick and con- 

 tented. On the other hand, in stables where there is a bad feeling, or 

 utter want of good feeling, between the employer and his men, the horses 

 suffer accordingl}'. Recognizing these facts, some public-spirited women 

 in New York and also in Chicago have recently organized clubs for 

 teamsters, and even clubs for teamsters' wives. This a step in the right 

 direction. 



Bad teamsters seem 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 pervade his whole business. If he is cruel, or simply 

 indifferent, a spirit of brutality, or at least of selfish indifference, will 

 run through his force. 



The highly developed nervous system of the horse renders him 

 pecularly capable of suffering. Rough usage, even if it stops far short of 

 absolute brutality, keeps him in a constant state of fear or irritation. 

 An3'one who is accustomed to observe horses can tell by a single glance 

 at a given horse whether the driver is a good, bad or indifferent one. 

 The expression of the animal's eye, and the carriage of his ears, tell 

 the story unmistakably. 



There are many teamsters who treat the horse as if he were a 

 machine, and therefore are guilty of continual cruelty toward him, which 

 reacts on their own characters. 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 a livelihood, but a constant source of 

 happiness. To reward and increase this class is the main object of the 

 Boston Work-Horse Parade Association. 



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