68 
HON. 0. P. HAWES. 
ORIGINAL ARTICLES. 
ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE THE AMERICAN VETERINARY 
COLLEGE. 
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Graduating Class : 
There is a beautiful legend of Arabia which is referred to 
by the author of “ Ben Hur,” but which is as old as Arabia 
itself. It describes in charming manner the origin of the 
horse, and indicates the kindly love which the Arab bears 
him. God. gave the Arab, it says, a measureless waste of 
sand with treeless mountains and bitter water. The poor 
man complained, and God pitied him and said : “ Be of good 
cheer, for I will twice bless thee above other men.” The 
Arab heard and gave thanks, and started out to find the bless¬ 
ing. He travelled all the boundaries first and failed; then he 
made a path into the desert and went on and on, and in the 
heart of the waste there was an island of green, very beauti¬ 
ful to see, and in the heart of the island, lo, a herd of horses ! 
He took them joyfully, and kept them with care for what 
they were—best gifts of God. And from that green isle went 
forth all the horses of the earth, even to the pastures of Per¬ 
sia and to the dreadful vales that are chilled by the blasts 
from the Northern seas. Such is the story of their origin, 
and we all know how the Arab, the Persian, and, in fact, all 
the Eastern nations have a tender regard for their horses; 
they are members of their family, naming them after the 
stars, which are their guides at night, “ borrowing their 
names in gratitude and giving them in love,” and the horse 
of Arabia has responded to this affection by beauty, loyalty 
and intelligence, for it is a tradition in the East that the horse 
by long association finally unites the soul of its master to its 
own sense, until they come to feel all we know of ambition, 
love, hate and contempt, so much so that it has come to be a 
saying that “ in war they are heroes, and in trust faithful as 
women.” Now, you will say that this is sentiment and fancy. 
Yes, I will admit it. But have you ever thought what comes 
