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Nebraska's Cowboy Race.
Turning from its position of antagonism to the cowboy race from Chadron, Neb., to Chicago, the Humane society has allowed two of Its representatives to become judges of the long contest, and the riders are already a day's journey and more on their way to this city.
According to arrangement, representatives of the Humane society will inspect the horses at each of the twelve registering stations between Chadron and Chicago. If anything approaching cruelty is manifested the animals will bear the mark of it at these stations and the society is to interfere. Otherwise the agents of the national organization will prevent the interference of any petty officers of local societies.
This arrangement seems well enough in its way, but it is not easy to see wherein it is to be 8 race at all unless the vitality of horses and riders is to be taxed. If each rider urges his horse only to the reasonable limit of the animal's strength, a good judge of horses might have decided the race before it was started. If the rider mounted on the poorest horse urges his animal to compete with the best animal of the lot, there will be the elements of a race-and also the elements of cruelty. Where Is the line to be drawn?
Probably the best end attained by this novel is the sympathy which has everywhere been awakened ed with the Humane society's mission. Every state traversed by the course has been prompt to urge vigilance on the part of the state officers to prevent cruelty, and in Illinois a proclamation has been issued by the governor calling upon officers and all good citizens to see that the laws of the state are not violated.
All of this goes to show that the mission of Henry Bergh years ago in the city of New York has not been in vain and that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Is one of the cherished organizations of this Christian land. It is hoped that it may acquit Itself creditable in the supervision of the cowboy race.