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From Chadron to Chicago.

The cowboy race from Chadron to
Chicago, over seven hundred miles, has
begun. It is possible that the humane
sentiment aroused throughout the country
by the apprehension of cruelty will
operate to prevent it. Judging from the
public remarks made on the occasion of
the starting, there is no little anxiety
on the part of the promoters of this race
to show that the element of special cruelty
is absent, and if this feeling should
have a dominating effect, the humane
societies will have carried their point
without recourse to the penalties of the
law.

The idea of a long-distance race originated
in Europe, and was revolting in
its cruelty. The horses died, or were
so nearly used up as to be at death's
door. Such racing would be as inexcusable
as the slow torture of a Chinese
execution. A race on this continent
which would show better time with no
special hardship would be an achievement
to be proud of. It would add one
more bead to America's necklace of superiority
to Europe. But, if the cowboys
lose sight of that object, and the
race degenerates into a mad scramble
for personal distinction as a hard rider,
the spectacle presented will be a continental
disgrace.

It is undoubtedly true that for adaptation
to long, hard rides the American
ponies have no equal in the equine
family of the old world. We doubt if the
rough riders of the steppe could match
them. Their horses may be larger, and

Outer Ocean

June 15/93

June 15/90