Thoughts of a Farmer: The Back Sever

Thoughts of a Farmer By Dr. Joseph M. Tanner The Back Several years ago I visited, in company with the Agricultural College presidents of the United States, the famous stables of Leland Stanford, at Palo Alto, California. After a number of beautiful colts had been shown to the admiring crowd, the man in charge brought out an aged mare which he introduced as "Beautiful Belle." She was sway-backed, and that single form brought a snicker from those present. The man in charge was disgusted, and with a look of disappointment returned at once with the mare to the stables, but not until he had sarcastically remarked that the mare whose sway-back had caused the laughter had produced colts that were sold for more than $150,000. His words had a sobering influence on the company of visitors who soon made their way to the University. I remained behind to learn something of the animal with such a remarkable record. Her keeper brought her out again and explained to me the apparently hidden beauty of her back. "Notice," he went on, "the movement of the muscles of that back. See what harmony there is in them. They are full of life, and bristle with intelligence. The back is really the animal's greatest charm, and the symmetry of its muscles give a peculiar quality of life that accounts for the uniform superiority of all her colts. What those people wanted to see was the straight back of a Hereford steer." To most people there was a hidden beauty, an unlooked for standard of quality. How much there is concealed from us, because we see only the surface of things ! The thought was worth something. It was not only a rebuke to those who judge from superficial appearances, but it had a latent value. Not many years after, my interests were transferred to Canada where I engaged in ranch life. The horse business became an ab?orbing thought. Soon I found it necessary to purchase a stallion. I went to a neighboring town where a horse importer had a stable full of stallions to sell. First of all I wanted a horse whose colts would have a uniform size and quality. I looked at the pasterns, the fetlocks, the hook joints, the flat bones, and other points from which students are taught to judge animals. What interested me most was the back. The stallions were all

THOUGHTS OF A FARMER 31 taken out and moved around that I might study their action. It was worth while to examine closely so expensive and important an animal. I spent a day at the stables and studied carefully the back. I found that its qualities gave character to the life, intelligence, and disposition of the horse I was to buy. I made my selection mainly from a study of the back. I made no mistake. Recently a horse buyer called at my stables and greatly admired my horses. "They are the best and the most uniform lot of horses I have seen in the whole district. You 'sure' have a fine horse. His colts show it." Farm life helps one to study and reason by analogy. What has the animal in common with mankind? Are people's backs any index to the quality and character of their lives? I began a study of the back in human life, after the pastime of my study of it in animals. I have come to think that the judgment of the back in animals is helpful to a better knowledge of human nature. Later on, I sent to an employment agency for a foreman. One well recommended soon came. I needed a vigorous man, but I also needed a leader. He had a good face, but what about the back? I started him off to work, and then watched the movements of his back. I saw his shoulders move backward and forward like a swinging door. His was one of those emotionless backs that betray a lack of intelligence. Its bones and not its muscles characterized it. He soon demonstrated his inability to meet conditions. A season later I employed a group of men to shock my grain. I was greatly in need of another binder-man, something rare in farm hands. I asked myshockers if any of them had ever run a binder. They were all without any experience with such a machine. I must, however, try one of them. A choice must be made, so I applied my horse rule. I started them off in a certain direction and followed, studying their backs as they walked. There was truly a conglomeration of backs. Among them there was only one with a living back. Its movements were animated, forceful, intelligent. I stepped up to him and asked if he would try the binder. "If you care to risk me I will try it." It was his first trial, but he made good and proved to be one of the best binder-men I ever employed. After all, the back plays a wonderful part in those qualities of human life which interest you. It belongs to that "something" which makes people more interesting to you the more you learn of them. In it are centered power, motion, grace, and nerve supply. It may increase the qualities of life or reduce man's efficiency. It holds your attention and admiration when the face ceases to attract you. Its beauy is that of motion rather

32 IMPROVEMENT ERA than of form. Beauty of motion is higher than that of form, just as the animate world excels the inanimate. Beauty of motion outlasts that of form. In motion one finds a higher order of companionship. Out of it a fondness for animal life increases and the pleasure of human society grows. The back i> worth cultivating. We are substituting for the hoe, the broom, the axe, and the flatiron, the automobile and upholstered furniture. We ride when we should walk. We are growing less interesting, and less companionable, and less cheerful. I havo found the back a very good test for optimism and pessimism in people. If the back deteriorates, the facial expressions fade and grow sluggish. A good expressive back is a prime test in animal:.. It is an important one in human life. For pleasant and lasting companionship, I am led to believe the test of the back is safer than that of the face. There is a wonderful diversity of backs. In a large city one may witness an unending variety of them. Did you ever see persons pass people in the street, and then look back to see what kind of a face they had? What they wanted to learn of the quality of individuals from their faces they might have learned more accurately from the motion and form of the back. All in all, the back affords a remarkable test in the quality of both animal and human life. Study it, and it will reveal a fund of valuable information; cultivate it, and it will reward the physical nature and mental aptitude of man; neglect it, and all other parts of the body suffer in form and beauty. Our physical nature supports our intellectual life. Did you ever see one of those emotionless backs that has about as much expression in it as a piece of wood? Whether you marry or buy a horse, it is worth while to study the back. Getting Even If you're spending time in trying Just to even up, my man, You would better cease your striving, Unless you have found the plan That was given by the Master, When on earth He used to live, Which commands for ev'ry evil, To keep even, we must give Good to penetrate the shadow And in part to blot the stain Of some fellow creature, giving Good to help him rise again. Grace Ingles Frost