MEN AND HORSES. 



One fact has often forced itself npon 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 slahles where the men arc well paid and are treated 

 with kindness and consideration by the proprietors, the horses, in turn, are well 

 treated bv the men. and look sleek and contented. 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 accordingly. Recognizing these facts, some pub- 

 lic-spirited women in 'New York and also in Chicago have recently organized 

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

 right direction. 



Bad teamsters seem to gravitate naturally to employers who do not reall}' 

 care about their horses. If the owner is a humane man. the spirit of humanity 

 will pe'/vade his whole business. If he is cruel, or simply indifferent, a spirit 

 of b"utality, or at least of selfish indifference, will run through his force. 



The highly developed nervous system of the horse renders him peculiarly 

 capable of suffering. Rough usage, even if it stops far short of absolute bru- 

 tality, keeps him in a constant state of fear or irritation. Anyone wdio is ac- 

 customed 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 stor^- un.mistakably. 



There arc 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 affec- 

 tion 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 in- 

 crease this class is the main object of the Boston Work-Horse Parade Associa- 

 tion. 



308 



