From a 20 page program booklet from a performance of Prof. D. M. Bristol's Equescurriculum, consisting of wonder-fully educated horses, ponies and mules, at the Gem Opera House, Westfield, Massachusetts. Professor Bristol was called "the King Educator of the brute mind."

PROF. BRISTOL

Having twenty-five years' experience in the study and management of colts, awkward, nervous and vicious horses, while teaching this theory throughout the United States and Canada he gained hosts of friends and accomplished an entice revolution in the humane treatment of the horse.  He is the inventor of the Bristol Bit, which has ten different changes for the vices and habits to which horse are addicted.  It does not irritate the mouth.  He is the author of Bristol's Illustrated Horsemanship, a book of 135 pages, well written, with sixty-seven illustrations. It explains the uses of his bit and contains the latest and most humane, practical and scientific system known to the world, as by it horses are educated, not exhausted, as by other theories where the animal is whipped, hopped about on three legs, thrown and drugged and whirled, which tends to exhaust for the time only and frequently ruining the disposition and ambition of the animal.  His books and bits may be had at the box office of the theatre, or by calling on him when in your city, or by enclosing $1.00 to D. M. Bristol, Battle Creek, Mich.

FEW facts in relation to the history of the horse would, we think, be an appropriate introduction to our theme.  Among all animals that grace this fair creation the horse stands forth pre-eminent.  From the earliest dawn of history the horse has been clothed with the attributes of might, majesty and dominion.  Although man was given "Dominion over all the beasts of the field," it was only after long acquaintance and trial that the horse was subdued to his will.  At first he was only driven, and that before a war chariot in battle. Later he was ridden in battle, and also in the chase; but it is only in times comparatively modern that the horse was degraded into a beast of burden, that position being formerly filled by the ox and the ass.  The Chaldeans were the first horsemen, and afterward the Medes and Persians became renowned for their horsemanship.  So rich in equine wealth did the latter nation become that one author speaks of no less than 150,000 horses feeding at one time on a vast plain near the Caspian Sea.  The very name peresh is a Hebrew and Chaidean word, signifying horseman.

His beautiful and sublime description in Job, is familiar to all: "Hast thou given to the horse strength?  Hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?  The glory of his nostrils is terrible!  He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; he saith among the trumpets Ha, ha!  And he smelleth the battle afar off!"

This description is the very enthusiasm of admiration, and we have in Shakespeare a reflex of this which is no less striking for its sublimity and poetry than for its similarity in language and simile:  "It is a beast for Perseus; he is pure air and fire, and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him, but only in patient stillness while his rider mounts him.  He bounds from the earth as if his entrails were hairs; when I stride him I soar, I am a hawk; he trets the air-the earth rings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes.  His neigh is like the bidding of a monarch-and countenance enforcest homage."- Henry V.

In Shakespeare's poem of Venus and Adonis, we have a pen photograph of a perfect steed, which is as remarkable for accuracy and detail, as for beauty and brevity.

Look, when a painter would surpass the life

in limning out a well-proportioned steed,

His are with nature's workmanship at strife,

As if the dead the living should exceed,

So did this horse excel a common one,

In shape, in color, courage, pace and bone.

Round hoof'd, short jointed, fetlocks shag and long,

Broad breast, full eye, small head, and nostril wide,

High chest, short ears, straight legs, and passing strong,

Thin mane, thick tail, broad buttock, tender hide;

Look, what a horse should have he did not lack.

Horses seem to be sensible of pride, and it is recorded by Pintarch that Bucephaius, the renowned horse of Alexander the Great, when once caparisoned would let no one approach him but his royal master.  Many instances of the remarkable attachment of horses for their masters and mistresses, and vice versa, are on record, but we only have space to record one.  Load Ragian's white pony, which that commander rode before Sebastopol, was seen to mount the steps of a palatial residence and enter the hall through the open door, and was there met and embraced by Lady Fitzroy Somerset, the daughter of the noble earl-who lavished the pony with kisses.  Horse seem capable of much chivalrous feeling toward the weaker sex.  It has been said, let the wildest and fiercest Arabian be mounted by a woman, and you will suddenly see him grow mild and gentle as a lamb.

The above applies to our clown mule Denver;  this mule has been taught among other comical tricks to permit no one to sit on his back.  Imagine our surprise when at Ford's Opera House, at the conclusion of the performance the ladies and children were invited to the stage, and before the attendants were aware of it two little misses had mounted Denver's back and were having a pleasant ride the little mule evidently realizing that they were children.  We had always admired Denver, but since his gentle behavior on this occasion we love him.

We say these horses do everything but talk; indeed it is a question if they haven't a way of conveying their ideas one to another.  One almost comes to believe this when he becomes acquainted with this wonderful school, for where one of their number's name is called, as they stand in line on the stage, should the animal be slow in answering the others in various ways tell him to go, proving that his name is known to all the others, although without the power of speech.  No intelligent human being can come away after once seeing them without being convinced that they are reasoning creatures.  Will some of my readers explain how, when a horse is told to squeal that she immediately obeys the command, if she doesn't understand what is said to her, and when told to squeal louder, she does so?  I mention this as one of the innumerable tricks done by these graduates of Prof. Bristol's school.

We have frequently been asked why we remain so long in place.  our answer is this, in no place that we have exhibited have we failed to draw the same people again and again, because they become more interested, It is in fact astonishing; and while it perhaps is far more entertaining that most plays seen, it is instructive.  This new system convinces us that we have never thoroughly understood the horse.  We have already referred to the Arabian steed as believed to be the true horse.  you will not think so after reading the description of this school's performances?  As hard as it may be to believe, you will be convinced on seeing one entertainment, and will say it is wonderful.  The idea of a mule ringing a bell to call a class to school; the horse scholars running along to the school-house carrying in their mouths baskets, slates and lunches; and let me here mention the fact that almost any of these horses will eat pie, cake, lunch or the food' eaten by their human friends, Eagle being very fond of sandwiches.  What do you think of a mule cracking a whip, another assisting the Professor to reason-gifted" animals, you are not convinced of the reasoning powers of the horse we would like your explanation.  The question is often asked, "Why did the Professor educate a blind animal?"  The answer is simply this, to convince you that the mule understands what is said to them when the idea is properly conveyed by one whom they know and trust.  This of course taken time, patience and a peculiar talent, as exemplified in Prof. Bristol.

We haven't space in this little pamphlet to describe one-half of the wonderful things performed by this school of educated animals, but invite you to come and see, be convinced, amused, astonished and entertained; at the same time encourage this remarkable man in his good work.  At Cincinnati, after the performance, he was publicly thanked by the members of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals.

JNO. C. PATRICK,

                        Director.

"These wonderful horses," endorsed by the entire press of Boston as being the most remarkable exhibition of Horse Sense ever given.

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PROF. D. M. BRISTOL

The most remarkable man in his system of education yet known was born on his father's farm near the present city of Flint Michigan, December 25th 1849. He developed his love for the horse at the early age of 10 years, his father being the owner of a number of valuable horses and a splendid stock farm.  The Professor was educated at Hillsdale College, in his native State.  We are sorry we have so little space to devote to his early life; suffice it to say his whole mind seemed to be devoted to the horse during his vacations, his horse being his constant companion.  On one occasion his father came suddenly upon him on the bank of a stream in a wooded pasture, accompanied by his favorite colt, his pastime being them to try to teach the animal to hold a fishing-rod, a feat so ably accomplished by the clown Denver, of the present school.

His father reprimanded him severely for loss of time in such (to him) silly employment, but nothing could persuade the boy Deloss from spending his time with his father's horses, appearing to be determined to teach them seeming impossible tricks.  On one of these vacations he taught his colt to drive without reins, simply by motion of the whip.  This mode has since been imperfectly copied by a few horse trainers, the secret undoubtedly originating with Prof. Bristol.  The father little knew what his seemingly useless boy would accomplish in after years, evidently being instrumental in introducing an entirely new method in making man's best and most useful friend (the horse) comprehend and obey the wishes of his master without the use of whip or cruel treatment.

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