608 
W. H. DALRYMPLE. 
are striving, but, to strengthen its hands along this line, it needs 
a little more appreciation and encouragement. It must be borne 
in mind by our people, that the day of the old “ horse-doctor ’• 
is fast nearing its close, and that that worthy, who served his 
day and generation as best he could, according to his light, has 
been superseded by a profession that is as honorable as it is 
noble, and which has within its ranks men of as high order of 
education and intelligence as in any other of the learned pro¬ 
fessions. 
The object of our humane societies is perhaps the noblest 
under heaven : preventing, mitigating, or altogether relieving the 
pain and suffering of those creatures who have not the oppor¬ 
tunity nor the power within themselves to do so; and there is 
no organization which should be so gigantic in its membership^ 
or so universal in its power for good. People of all ranks, 
whether social, political, or religious, should be on its roll, and 
lend their best efforts to carry on the good work. We must 
educate ourselves out of the too common idea that the lower 
animals are mere automatons, and learn to know that they are 
flesh and blood like ourselves. Let us all adopt the golden rule 
and apply it to those dumb servants which the Creator has 
placed within our care, for our benefit, comfort, and happine.ss. 
Then we will have the pleasing satisfaction of knowing, that in 
doing our duty to that noble part of the creation, we are per¬ 
forming a duty to the Creator himself. 
I will close with two verses from a short poem on “The 
Hoss,” by James Whitcomb Riley : 
“ But when I see the beast abused, 
And clubbed around as I’ve saw some, 
I want to see his owner noosed. 
And jest yanked up like Absolura ! 
I love my God the first of all. 
Then him that perished on the cross ; 
• ■ And next, my wife,—and then I fall 
Down on my knees and love the boss.” 
