BIPEDS AND QrADRTJPEDS. l7l 



seen boys, when trusted alone with animals, correct, 

 and indeed ill-treat them, for the mere purpose of 

 shewing power. I have often seen a boy (if there 

 were persons to see him) correct his pony for no 

 fault, but to shew he dare do so ; the permitting this, 

 or allowijig a boy to get into such habit, is most 

 reprehensible ; and he most certainly will do so, if 

 trusted alone with an animal. I will not pay the 

 heads of families so bad a compliment as to sup- 

 pose that the comfort of any dumb animal they may 

 possess is unheeded by them ; but I shall perhaps 

 insure that comfort more, if I can shew that the 

 welfare of their children is involved in it. 



The permitting a boy unwatched control over any 

 animal, being certain to lead to such conduct and 

 tyranny as I have mentioned, is neither more nor less 

 than laying the foundation of a tyrannous, domi- 

 neering propensity ; the habit of sacrificing the 

 feelings of others to his whim or pleasure, and con- 

 sequently to the blunting of proper feeling, and con- 

 sideration for any thing but self. It will teach him 

 to grow into a man abhorred by others, and one 



