BIFEDS AND QUADRUPEDS. 153 



I would no more take a groom, who was addicted 

 to seeing bull baiting and dog fighting, to take charge 

 of my horses, than I would engage the wretched 

 priest, who lately nearly flogged a child to death, as 

 a schoolmaster or tutor to my own, 



I would not suffer a female servant in my house, 

 who disliked dumb animals ; such is a proof I never 

 knew fail, of bad temper and want of kind feeling. 

 There are, on the other hand, persons who pet 

 animals to an excess that is injurious to them, and 

 renders their existence irksome to themselves, an- 

 noying, and sometimes disgusting, to every one but 

 their ill-judging owner ; such conduct, however, has 

 its rise in an amiable feeling, and all we can do is 

 to pity its misdirection ; we love the person, while we 

 deride the practice. 



I have stated that avarice, ignorance, and vanity, 

 each in its separate way, is often productive of much 

 suffering to animals ; for the first there is a shadow 

 of palliation, for it is possible a man may feel some 

 compunction, while he overtasks, or otherwise ill 

 uses his animal ; this doubtless is small, indeed no 



