16 EXTREMES AND MODIFICATIONS OF CHARACTER. 



road track on Ontario Street, to avoid the jam of teams, &c., the rear 

 wheels of his buggy were struck by a passing street-car ; the axle-tree 

 so bent that one of the wheels would not revolve, and the driver, 

 buggy, and all precipitated forward on to the horse, which three days 

 ago a dozen men could not have held under such circumstances, but 

 with no bad results further than stated. The horse did not seem 

 alarmed, and bravely stood while the wreck was cleared away from 

 the track, without so much as an offer to kick, fully proving the 

 thoroughness of Magner's system." 



In the fall of 1873 I was in Mansfield, O. In all my 

 experience I was never met with such prejudice and hos- 

 tility as in this town. There was a company of business 

 men there, represented by McVAY, JOLLY, & Co., who went 

 to Kentucky, and bought of L. L. Dorsey, the noted breeder 

 of Gold Dust stock, three young mares and a stallion, for the 

 purpose of breeding trotting-stock. One of the mares was 

 a sorrel, three years old, and so noted and dangerous a 

 kicker at this age, that she was purchased at a greatly re- 

 duced price in consequence. Being a fine colt, with a right 

 to trot fast, every effort was made to break her. The most 

 skilled horse-breakers were employed ; and when seven 

 years old, when I was there, she was given up as worthless, 

 and considered the meanest and most treacherous kicker in 

 that country. She would squeal and kick when the barn- 

 door was opened ; and it was out of the question to go into 

 her stall safely, and no one attempted to do so for years. 

 To have a little fun with me, and " take the starch out of 

 me," as Mr. McVay afterwards stated, the owners told their 

 trainer to join my class and bring the mare, not supposing 

 such a mare could be broken ; and being too mean to breed 

 from, she was regarded as worthless, and they did not care 

 if she was abused and injured. All sorts of rigging and 

 treatment had been tried upon the mare to no purpose : 

 she was hampered in every possible manner, including the 

 most severe whippings, through all of which she had fought 

 successfully. She was of a sorrel color, seven years old, of a 

 medium size, extremely strong, fine texture of body : though 

 abused most fearfully, she did not show the least blemish 

 or injury ; altogether she was a perfect model of great 

 vitality and endurance. The eye was of medium size, 

 well back in the side of the head, heavy eye-lids, forehead 



