Fine Tribute to the Horse: Gen. Pershings Thoroughbred Mount Named Jeff, for Giver, Daily Racing Form, 1919-11-14

article


view raw text

FINE TRIBUTE TO THE HORSE Gen. Pershings Thoroughbred Mount Named Jeff, for Giver. . The Horse Always an Important Factor in the Big Things of the World. : General Pershing has written a letter of thanks to the president of Lieutenant Jefferson Feigl First Division Post, of this city, for the horse presented to him during his recent stay- here. "He is an ideal mount," says General Pershing, "and performed beautifully in carrying me through part of the New York parade and through all of the Washington parade. I have christened him Jeff in honor of the young officer who lost his life while serving in your division during the first day of its contact with the enemy." This reminds us that we must not forget the part the horse played in the great war. To the horses in the world conflict, living and dead, is due unstinted praise. To them the victorious nations should erect a monument of unexampled beauty as a memorial of the sacrifices and sufferings of those who could only express their loyalty and devotion to duty by dumb obedience. From the days of Job the horse has been, an important factor in the scheme of things. In the thirty-ninth chapter of the Book of Job there is a description of the horse unequalcd in grandeur. Here it is in part: "Hast thou given the horse strength? Hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? He pawoth in the valley and rejoiccth in his strength; he goeth on to meet the armed men; he mockcth at fear and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. He smelloth the battle from afar off, the thunder, of the captains and the shouting." The centaurs of Phidias, the chariot of Jupiter drawn by eight white horses, the Thessalinn cavalry celebrated in history, the horsemen of Philip and Alexander, of Scipio against Hannibal"; the steeds of Mohammed, the chargers of the Bedouins, the chariots of Pharaoh,, the Libyan charioteers, the cavalry of David all tell of the part the horse has played in ancient history. Who has not read of the taming of Bucephalus "Kke a centaur looked the youth and steed" and the words: What a noble creature did he seem, . Too noble for a creature to bestride? Who has not read of Byrons Mazeppa, "who looked like as though the speed of thought were in his limbs"? What lover of chivalry has not read of young Lochinvar, immortalized by Scott, and the words: "Through all the wide border his steed was the best"? Wliat lover of the heroic has not thrilled over Joaquin Millers "Kit Carsons Ride"? In the ride of Paul Revere to warn the settlers near Boston Longfellow has paid a tribute to a noble horse as well as a noble man. What schoolboy lias not recited these words: He springs to the saddle, the bridle he turns And beneath from the pebbles, in passing, a spark Struck out by a steed thnt flies fearless and fleet? The horse has borne to victory and fame many men in history. Napoleon and Wellington, Alexander and Caesnr, Cromwell and Washington and Grant won immortal glory on the back of a horse.. Who has not read Thomas Buchanan Reads stir-ping words of Sheridans ride: With foam and with dust the black charger was gray; By the -flash of his eye and the red nostrils play He seemed to the whole army to say: "I have brought you Sheridan all the way From Winchester twenty miles away." And when their statues are placed on high, Under the dome of the Union sky Be it said in letters both bold and bright: "Here is the steed- that saved the day Ky carrying Sheridan into the fight From Winchester twenty miles away"? The hero horses of the great war gave their lives for our service. They faced shot and shell and "in the shock of battlo fell." All honor to their memory! New York nerald.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1919111401/drf1919111401_2_2
Local Identifier: drf1919111401_2_2
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800