The Sunday Oregonian., March 15, 1908, Magazine Section, Page 4, Image 50

tun
of the
Due credit Is horoby given to Spencer
Unrden for many facta taken from" his
book, "The Arab Horse." For my appre
v in i Ion of the horno and his master
Bedouin. I am Indebted to my brother.
Homer Davenport, to whose stories of the
desert I have listened aay into the night,
by the light of an open Are.
BY ADDA DAVKNPORT MARTIN.
SO most people of the United States
the term "'Arab horse" means lit
tle more than a myth. And is it
any wonder, since the very few Eng-lish-spcaking
people who have pene
trated the heart of Arabia write such
tali's of the desert, the climate, the
Bedouin, his warlike nature, his ap
parently uncivilized condition, and then
of his wonderful horse? That such a
rae of nomads, whose method of liv
ing Is so primitive and whose knowl
edge of things so childlike in its limi
tations, should possess such rare in
sight with regard to selection and
breed in g of horses is enough to im
press one as being a wonder-tale,
surely.
The belief of the Arab, that his horse
1 inspired by God. owing to the beau
tiful way in which he carries his head J
and tail, seems not wholly without
foundation. That Ishtnael, son of
Abraham's concubine, and his mother
were driven into the desert, when Ish
mue! was a lad of 14. by the jealous
wrath of Sarah, Abraham's wife, after
her son Taac was born, is a bit of
Hible history. Spencer Borden says In
his book. "The Arab Horse,' that Arab
tradition supplements this history by
telling us that Ishmael was grieved be
cause of his barren heritage and Into
his heart-hunger came the assurance
that there "was reserved for him the
most valuable gift to men. . . . This
he subsequently discovered, was the
horse of the Kuhl race, which he found
at Hejaz."
If the future did not prove it to be
a truth, it is at least a pretty thought,
that that age was a psychic one. The
nmt commonplace occurrences were
pivotal points upon which the affairs
of human existence turned, and is It
not likely, that it was the prophetic
insight of the psychological value of
tltose occurrences, which caused them
to be chronicled and often stamped as
divine?
However, Ishmael so tm pressed his
people ( for be it remebered that all
Bcdoutn tribes are descendants of Ish
luacl and have benealogies dating to
the earliest antiquities) with their
duty toward their Inheritance the de
velopment of the Arab horse, that It
became their Joy, their life, their reli
gion Many stories are told to prove the
psychic nature of their horses. A nota
ble one Is of an enemy sheik, stealing
away in the night, from the owners
tamp, the fleetest mare of the desert.
The owner, also a sheik, welt mounted
and In pursuit, was going on his-mare;
but the Joy of recovery was eclipsed
by the sorrow of having her beaten,
when he called to the fleeing sheik :
' Whisper 'Allah in Iter ear and noth
ing can overtake you." The sheik
obeyed and the owner s pride that his
mare was never beaten, was all that re
matned to him.
Fal grave, the Knglish author, to
gether with his companion, after a pro
longed residence in Damascus, stained
his face, adopted the costume and man
ners of that place, and made an ex
tended t-lp through the desert, botlt
as merchant and physician. The posi
tion was a unique one in which to
study the Bedouin, his customs, his
country and his horse. In speaking
f the latter he mentions especially
its sensitive nature and the sympathy
of purpose existing between horse and
rider. He gives us a pretty illustra
tion of it when he tells us how he
proved this fact by mounting a hosre,
free from halter or rein, and rode out
over the desert, describing a course,
which he willed to make, indicating
it onlv by a slight pressure of tlje
knees against the horse's shoulders.
This ts just a touch of the story
side, but it Is none the less worthy
of consideration. In that their sensi
tive natures are no doubt due to the
intimate and friendly relations which
have existed between the Bedouin and
his much-loved animal for more than
years.
Sheik Salaman had five mares of
superlative" value. Five hundred years
later. Fvftblah fl Faras tal Faras-of-the-horsest
perhaps the fourth son of
iiis father, was cuosen as the roost
suitable person to breed his valuable
mares and continue their use properly,
o they were given to htm. Now,
Kahtah al Kama was the grandfather
of Anazah, from whom spring all the
Bedouin tribes which bear his name,
who breed and have bred all the purest
and choicest Arab horses, without taint
i'f foreign blood, descending fiom Al
Kumsch (the five famous mares
owi cd by Sue-Ik s.ilaman. he being
fourth In descent from Ishmael, son of
Abraham.
M.Jor Kogcr t'ptott learned that all
pure bred Arabian horses were lnclud-
d in Al Kamseh. that is, Anazah
t-tiouins refuse to recognize any ani
mal as "noble" or 'distinguished" that
a n not trace direct lineage to one of
ih1 five mart's of Sheik Salaman.
"This founding a family on a marc
i
V?7
Homer Davenport's
Perfect Animal
By the Men
rather than a stallion," says Spencer
Borden, "is a certain guarantee against
mongrelization, and the Anazeh do not
recognize the possibility of a taint
ever being covered by the intervention
of ever so many pure bred sires. They
look with contempt on even the best
Knglish . thoroughbred,- since there is
not one of them whose1 family is not
lacking In some of Its female lines.
The Arabs always mention the mares
from which their animals are descend
ed and so designate the families to
which they belong."
The Keheilet Ajuz is probably the
most distinguished of the five great
families descended from the mares re
ferred to, and the reason is so well
told by Spencer Borden that I am
pleased to give It in his words:
"The history of Keheilet Ajuz comes to
us surrounded by a romantic halo,
thrown around her by the people among
whom she was born, and lived. It is re
lated that a certain sheik was fleeing
from an enemy, mounted on a favorite
mare. Arab warriors trust themselves
only to mares; they will not ride a stal
lion in war. The said mare was at the
time far along toward parturition: indeed
she. became a mother when the fleeing
horseman stopped for rest at noonday,
the new-comer being a Ally. Being hard
pressed, the sheik was compelled to re
mount his mare and again seek safety
In flight, abandoning the new-born filly to
her fate. Finally reaching safety among
his own people, great was the surprise
of all when, shortly after the arrival of
the sheik on his faithful mare, the little
filly, less than a day old, came Into
camp also, having followed her mother
over miles of desert. She was imme
diately given into the care of an old
woman of the tribe (Ajuz an old
woman), hence her name Keheilet Ajuz.
the "mare of the old woman." and grew
to be the most famous of all the animals
in the history of the breed. "That such
a mare really lived is not. to be doubted,
whatever credence we give to the story
of her early life."
That Russia. Hungary, France. Ger
many and other countries of Europe ap
preciate and value the Arab horse at his
true worth is evidenced by the fact of
breeding studs being maintained -by es
pecial direction and at public expense.
These countries interested in horse breed-
I
Moving the Livestock Trains Without Delay
How Chk'ago Railroads Gt Cattle to Market on Passenger Time Fndcr Xo Extra Expense.
BY C. B. K1LL&OX.
THERE should be more stringent
laws passed, and rigrously enforced,
regarding the movement and care of
livestock on our Western railroads. That
the movement of stock on our Western
railroads is slow and uncertain, is due to
several causes. It Is true that there are
more obstacles in the way of quick service
on Western roads as compared to Middle
Western. Notably, in mountain grades,
and engines with small drive wheels,
made, not for speed, hut for pulling- Nox
the least of the causes that militates
against efficiency in the operating de
partments of some of our Western rail
roads is the seniority system. In no in
dustry, much less In train service on our
railroads, is the seniority system to be
commended as against the merit system.
Strikes are also an important factor,,
chiefly in the strike-breaking methods
employed, resulting in bringing into serv
ice an incompetent element that could
not otherwise obtain employment. Com
pulsory arbitration Is the only cure for
this evil.
The seniority and strike-breaking sys
tems are the two (remedial) systems to
which can be attributed the slowing down
of Western train service. The entire
personnel of the operating departments
of Western railroads lack the "Johnny-on-the-spot"
methods prevalent on lines
leading into the commercial centers of the
Middle West. f
Our principal competitor for the
trade centering In Chicago was the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail
way, and the competition between the
two s stems, as regards the movement
of livestock, was exceedingly sharp,
amounting to rivalry, each system en
deavoring to make the better time
between St. Paul and Chicago. This
rivalry pervaded the. entire personnel of
the operating departments of both
systems, resulting in a service highly
gratif ing to the shipper. So much
for competition.
It was not the practice of our com
pany to see how much tonnage they
could get over the road in one train.
The limit was what could be readily
handled on our heaviest grades without
doubling, (the reverse Ms the practice of
Western roads) which was 17 to 30 cars
of livestock. - .
Train crews were on duty minutes
before time of departure. And they were
there, too. Before the expiration of the
minutes everything is in readiness for
the incoming train. The operator has
received, and repeated back, all neces
sary orders. The conductor has checked
up the register and registered out tall
except the time of departure. Engine
waiting on sidmg with a "white feather"
roaring from safety valve: switch engine
is coupled to caboose ready to exchange
for the incoming one; a force of five or
THE SUNDAY OKE(iU.MAS, POKTLAAU, MAKClt
Sister Writes
lng look to the pure Arab horse as the
source of improving blood.
The list of horses and mares brought
to England is a long one, but the "Royal
Mares" are the foundation of the Eng
lish racehorse of today. Spencer Borden
again Informs us that "Touchstone in
his great book, published by subscription
in 18W), whose preface was written by the
Duke of Beaufort, remarks (page. 131):
"It is certain that when a thoroughbred
is taken out of training early, when he
is no longer subjected to that especial
regime which changes his outward form
and modifies his constitution, he reverts
to the Arab type with astonishing rapid
ity. "
And then again Weatherby's General
Stud Book of Thoroughbred Horses, the
only recognized organ of the English
Jockey Club, says Borden, makes the
specific statement in writmg, that ''Native
six car repairers stand ready to attach
their flag to either end of the train, when
so attached denoting held for inspection.
Shs comes!
The conductor hastens to a position
about 75 yards distant from the main line,
from which vantage point the initials and
numbers of the cars are easily taken,
even though the train is under consider
able headway. The train has scarcely
stopped before he is running into the of
fice to check up with the till clerk.
One slow train-crew will delay every
train they meet. What could be expected
where there are several slow crews on
every division? Several years ago I was
in the employ of the Chicago. S Paul,
Minneapolis & Omaha Railway, as con
ductor, ' running chiefly on the east end
of the eastern division. The western
terminal of this division is Altoona. Wis.,
the eastern, Elroy, Wis., where we formed
a junction with the Chicago & North
western, which belonged to the same sys
tem, though under different "management.
The waybills are not cold from the
hand of the incoming conductor before
they are in the outgoing conductor's
pocket. A half turn to the left brings
him face to face with the operator,
who has his orders arranged in a row
awaiting his signature. To sign, and
the operator receive the O. K., Is the
work of a moment. Meantime the
yard crew changed cabooses, the head
brakeman has coupled the engine on;
the- car repairers have inspected the
train and removed their flags. Con
ductor hastens out of the office, gives
the "high sign" to the engineer. Gone.
Time of delay varying from one and
one-half minutes to three minutes.
Usually two minutes. . Rarely three
minutes.
On the road! And those running or
ders! The same from day to day.
They voiced the interest of the , gen
eral office in every line:
St .Paul. . .
Conductor will run special Altoon
to Eiroy re (tardier of all trains except
passenger trains. Run as fast as deemed
consistent with safety.
Perhaps at ythe first telegraph office
the operator appears with a message
fastened to a barrel hoop. The con
ductor swings down on the lower step,
catches the hoop on his arm, detaches
the message and reads:
St. Paul. , .
Conductor you will receive orders
Operator will sign.
A few minutes later you are at the
point designated in the message. And
here is the operator with your orders
fastened to another hoop. No need to
slow up; you couldn't miss one of those
hoops.
Perhaps these orders are meet orders
on No. 3 passenger train, and reads like
this:
St. Paul
Tram 'o. 5, Conductor , and Con
of the Desert ' 1 -zo vrsBSBBggssi- .
A!
: '
MFlliTr? ATM
Arabs, with the Barbs,, are xhe source
from whence the racehorse springe."
With the blood of the Arab horse as a
foundation we have in England the En
glish racehorse; in Ireland, the Irish
hunter: in France, the Percheron, the
French cavalry and coach horse; in Rus
sia, the Orloff horse, in Germany, the
Hanoverian horse, the Tricany horse (the
mares of which are not allowed to leave
the Royal Stud), the German cavalry, the
coach and many forms of saddle horses.
From the Holy Land comes the funda
mental, principles of the Christian reli
gion: from there also, and ante-dating
the birth of Christ, springs the source of,
possibly, every noble and distinguished
breed of horses known to civilization, and
the desire which produced them the most
remarkable for beauty, endurance and in
telligence, sprung from the heart of sor
rowing Ishmael. child of a social leper.
ductor : 'a Special East will meet and
pass at . No. 5 will take siding.
No. 6 is met and passed. Tue con
ductor iskept busy making out register
slips (we used to call them soup tickets)
to hand to the operators, and to con
ductors of trains that he meets and
passes. X.
Coal we must have at least once and
water two or three times.
And we must stop at all railroad cross
ings. And all hand brakes on the freights
in those days.
But here we are at the last railroad
crossing. -Camp Douglass. Here we cross
our competitor's main line. Fourteen miles
more, eight to -the top of tunnel hill, then
a six-mile run brings us to the end of our
run, Elroy, where a C. & N. W. crew is
waiting to receive and hustle the stock
train on its way to Chicago.
Tie consumed on our run, "varying
from three hours and 32 minutes to three
hours and 40 minutes. . rarely more than
three hours and 35 minutes. Distance 105
miles. That is the way we handled live
stock on the C, St. P.. M. & O. in the
early 80s. And I dare say the conditions
obtain there now.
Liberty, Wash.
. IX Your IJght Shine.
Talk happiness. What if you're not
As llpht and as bright as the ikies.
Where the sun ever shines , .
Down the silvery lines
That swine out of Paradise;
Will the shadows you feel
And do not conceal
Make the Bhine of the sun any brighter?
Will the burdens you bear
And expose everywhere
Make the load of the weary ones lighter?
Talk happiness. What though
You've got an overplus o woe.
Conceal it somehow. Tou will find
There's plenty of the other kind
To talk their troubles. Don't you let
YoursHf be caujrlit in any net
With such a bunch. Brace up. and show
Yourself superior to woe.
Of course it is a bluff; but. say.
You needn't (five .yourself away.
And thnse who listen need not know
What lies behind your cheerful show.
Talk happiness. By that
You rif above the dreary flat
Of trouble-talkers, and command
A passing piimpse of Happy Land.
A passing glimpse that brings some cheer .
To you no less than those who hear
Th words you speak, and. hearing, lift
Their heavy eyes up to the rift
That breaks the clouds and lets the blue.
Willi its good cheer, come streaming
through.
Talk happiness. It's hard, no doubt.
But there's enough to talk about.
And though it isn't yours, perhaps.
nj!ce at other people's Fijap.
If you have troubles, cut tiiem out.
Or leave to friends to talk about.
Talk happiness, although
Your bosom may be full of woe.'
Put if you can't if you must tll
How far the Lord ha not done well
By you. R-i out and lhp.' your mds
Of wio and trouble to tH birds--.
V. J. Lamp ton in the Circle Magiizine.
13, 15JOS.
w w
Vi
.. . ...
m
V.
LABOR'S strength in Parliament' Is
largely due to the practicality and
sound common sense, combined with
energy and enthusiasm, of its repre
sentatives there. Of this striking evi
dence has been afforded by the elec
tion of Arthur Henderson as the chair
man of the party. In theory, at least,
like most of his colleagues. Mr. Hen
derson Is a Socialist, but he does not
make an effusive display of his label.
He does not even sport a red necktie.
With- him Socialism stands for the
millennium something: . that can be
realized only in the more or less dim
and distant future. He does not believe
in the adage, "Attempt impossibilities
and you will accomplish wonders." He
Is foe striving for the things that are
possible ae opportunity offers, and us
ing them when gained as stepping
stones to more sweeping measures of
social reform in the interests of the
toilers.
Kike most of the Labor M. FVs. ho
has been trained in the school of prac
tical experience. Born at Glasgow in
m
t M-sii?'-:-s-:- .1 rs : mm jBir!" ' . - - -am ;:mm:mimxi:mmf s, tmmi-:' : ;
I GREAT BRITAIN'S NEW LABOR LEADER
'.. . -1 . ii.
3 ?
31
1863, he was apprenticed as a molder
to the Newcastle firm of Robert Steph
enson & Co., when 12 years old. With
that firm he remained for years. Be
fore he attained his twenty-first birth
day he joined the Friendly- Society of
Iron Founders, and speedily attained
to official distinction, in that body. In
1894 he was made secretary to the
Northeastern Conciliation Board, and
in that capacity rendered much valua
ble service- in settling labor disputes
and averting strikes. He served his
apprenticeship in public affairs as a
member of various borough and county
councils, including those of Newcastle.
Durham and Darlington. He has also
served oh tlie magisterial benches of
two of these towns. In these days
when Socialism is being assailed as the
deadly foe of religion, it Is not without
significance that the new leader of
Labor In Parliament is one of the shin
ing lights of the Wrleyan Church,
whose services as a lay preacher are
eagerly sought.
He was first returned to Parliament
in the interest of labor in ltK3, when.
Am ir
- til 4 . 1 Lii
1 II I
7M
: 1 V
I
at a bye-election, he captured the
Barnard Castle division of Durham
In a three-cornered fight by the narrow
but still surprising majority of 47
votes. But at the general election in
1906, when he had only a Tory candi
date against him, he led the poll by
1652 votes. He is a forceful speaker
and a hard hitter in debate. He pos
sesses in an abundant degree one of
the most desirable qualities for leader
ship tact. Personally he a popular
with men of various shades of political
opinion.
At present tremendous efforts are be
ing made for political purposes to get
up a scare about Socialism as some
thing which is threatening Kngland
with red ruin and various other catas
trophes, but Henderson does not lend
himself well to the popular conception
of a destructive monster. He is a dif
ficult man to make a bogey of. It
was much easier to treat his prede
cessor. J. Kcir Hardie. in that fa -s hi on.
Hardie was much more of a "whole
hogger" socialist and much addicted ti
the utterance of blazing: indiscretions.