ANIMALS AND THEIR CLOTHES.
ON the hottest day of the week a distribution of bats for horses, presented to the poorer owners and drivers of horses, took place in Vincent Yard, near Vincent Square, Westminster. The hats, of the most approved pattern, were given by the Society known as Our Dumb Friends' League, and the applicants, cabmen, car-drivers, and vanmen, numbered over three hundred. Having received the sun- bonnets for their horses, they contributed very liberally to the box placed for donations, one carman giving two shillings, probably more than he would have paid for a summer bat for himself. They were very well informed as to the different " makes " of sun-bonnets for horses, and expressed their approval of the " make " adopted by the Society, which was of the highly practical kind, standing well away from the head, so as to allow a current of air to pass through, and not interfering with the natural movements of a horse's ears. The men soak this hat in water, which makes it a still better protection in semi-tropical weather.
Before long all our horses, excellent creatures as they are, will no doubt be provided with hats in hot weather. It is also probable that many who now go without coats in cold weather will expect to share the privileges of their carriage and race horse friends, and have smart suits for the winter. Horse clothing is now almost confined to the higher ranks of equine life. But these are provided with most attractive and well. cut suits, which, though they occasionally tear them up at first as a useless encumbrance, they learn to appreciate later. To teach this "anti-cloth biters" are sold, just as children are made to wear gloves to prevent them from biting their nails. Some horses are even measured for their suits, though the majority have to content themselves with " reach- me-downs " made to sizes. They have the distinction also of having their "things" marked—with the monogram of their owners.
There is no knowing what this extension of the move- ment to bats may lead to. That simplicity which Carlyle thought he had discovered in the world which does not wear clothes may possibly be impaired. Animals may learn in time, like Teufelsdroch, the enormous importance and significance of clothes. It is remarked that among the naked Kavirondi of British East Africa (now put into trousers) immense hats, made of clay, bamboo, and feathers, were in vogue when no other garment was even thought of. Horses may soon not like to go into the Park in unbecoming hats. They may learn by some form of instinct that even at this moment paragraphs are appearing
in the papers complaining of the want of variety and the plainness of their headgear. Hitherto one of the pleasures of the Park in the season has been to see the undoubted self-satisfaction of the horses in their best harness and ribbons. Shamefaced horses, unable to hold up their heads when they passed and repassed other pairs which they knew despised their hats, and would mention it afterwards, would detract much from the feeling of the thing. When the sage of Chelsea in " Sartor Resartus " drew his comparison between the horse wrapped only in his own skin and the rider invested in many portions of the skins of other creatures he was, strictly speaking, not quite accurate. For horses, or at any rate modern rich men's horses, are the most carefully clothed of any animals. Complete Jaeger suits are now advertised for their use. Like gentlemen who wish to get into training, they are often muffled up in them and ridden So wrapped up to get off weight. Nor is it likely that horse clothing will ever be in less request than it is now, for unless they are clipped their own coats take a long time to dry, and are difficult to brush. It is a convenience to clip them and supply artificial garments.
When Oliver Cromwell inquired affectionately after the "little brat" with which Dorothy Cromwell had presented her husband, he was, according to current belief in the North, alluding unconsciously to a form of animal garment. The lambs are fitted, before going on to the hills, with waterproof coats, called "brats." These lambs, or young sheep, are also called "brats"; whence the name for babies. Everybody knows that in Holland the cows wear rainproof jackets all the winter, which are only taken off late in spring; but these are very cheap compared to horse clothing, which costs about 23 a set. Horses also have night rugs and extra rugs, about 36s. the two, and summer suits also, costing about two guineas. Coats for show cattle are quite the fashion in England, espe- cially when they are sent to a distance. A really smart Jersey cow would not like to be seen at a show without her luggage : a chest containing not only her sleeping jacket, but her brushes and combs. She puts on, or has put on, the jacket in the daytime if she has to stand in a draughty place. If they are not sleeping out it does not so much matter. There are many ladies who would almost go without a jacket them- selves rather than see their best animals go to a show without proper clothes.
In the middle of last week the following interesting sights were seen in Kensington Gore. First came a coster. monger, his horse duly "hatted," and the hat trimmed with ribbons. Next came a lady in a victoria wearing a hat. Her horse also had a hat, and both hats had pink flowers in them. The assumption of garments is carried to such a pitch of elaboration by some animals that they actually wear, or are made to wear, disguises, "and the same with intent to deceive." There is a decoy dog known to the writer which has begun, in the first instance, by growing as like a fox as it is possible for a dog to be. This in itself is vastly attractive to the ducks, which seem to have an irresistible impulse to swim after a fox and see what he is up to. But after a few days they get used to the dog, and do not feel any more curiosity. Thereupon his master supplies him with a disguise, tying over his shoulders and back a jacket made out of a dirty-white sheep-skin rug. The dog dances about with delight as soon as this is put on, as she knows that it means a fresh start in life for a day or so. The ducks soon get tired even of that; whereupon the dog's master takes down another dress from a peg in his reed-shed, a black rough woollen jacket, and tries its effect. The dog apparently knows exactly what it all means. There is another decoy dog in Yorkshire which is fitted up with a complete fox-skin over her back, with a brush, to make the disguise more complete. Some controversy arose lately with the local authorities near Epping Forest as to whether a pig could legally be kept in a dwelling-house. The owner of the pig kept it as a pet, and pleaded that it was an edu- cated pig, and quite a house-pig in manners. The local authority held strong views about the subject, were not convinced, and made an order for its expulsion, or for the closing of the house. It was then pleaded that the pig wore a jacket, slept in a bed, and when in bed had a nightgown. This settled the matter. and it was reported recently that it was exhibited duly clothed and in bed to a number of interested visitors. It is commonly believed that monkeys which are made to dress up
and wear clothes do rot like it. This is a mistake. They would tear their "things" up directly if they did not like them. Sometimes they begin by doing so, but they soon learn that they keep them warm, though their wretched frivolity prevents their taking any real pride in that or any- thing else. But a large ape, such as a chimpanzee, will exhibit thc utmost solicitude about the arrangement of any simple garment, such as a cloak or blanket. It will spread its blanket, take it up at the corners, and lay it over its shoulders as carefully as an old lady arranges her shawl. It would be an interesting ex- periment to see whether the apes have any preference for a red blanket over a blue or brown one. 'Prince,' a very intelligent penguin kept at the "Zoo," was pre- sented either annually or once every six months with a scarlet-and-gold jacket. He used to come hopping up with joy to have this put on, perhaps because he liked the coat, or perhaps because he associated its appearance with a walk in the garden outside, which was his privilege when wearing it.
Of the follies of the Parisian ladies in overdressing lapdogs we do not propose to speak. There is no reason to think that the wretched little " toy " creatures like the frippery or under- stand its smartness. Except 'Oriel Bill,' who was a very abnormal old bulldog, and seemed rather to enjoy being put into the little striped "sweater" some one gave him, dogs, generally speaking, hate clothes. A dignified old setter, made to shove his fore feet and legs through the arms of a boy's jacket, and to have it buttoned round his neck, may not growl, but his face is the picture of misery. He thinks lie looks a fool and is being made game of, and when released withdraws in sulks. Greyhounds, which are exceptions to dog-character in several ways, and are very , chilly creatures, have by long experience learnt to wear clothes, and appear rather to like them. They generally look particularly spruce and bright in them. Their clothes are less expensive than might be expected, as they have ordi- nary clothes and waterproofs. "Slip cloths" cost about 15s. each ; waterproofs, 12s. 6d. When coursing in the marshes, the necessity for their wearing clothes causes a good many comical scenes. The marshes are divided by broad drains or ditches full of water. Over these very narrow planks are laid, which are often slippery. The greyhounds, being in couples, are unable to walk over them together, and when uncoupled are very apt to slip in and "wet their frocks," which would never do, as the wind blows icy cold over the fiats. Accord- ingly they are picked up, sometimes singly, sometimes one under each arm, by the attendants ; and anything funnier than the sight of a tall, lanky kennel-boy sidling cautiously over one of these planks with a long, meek-looking grey- hound under each arm, with its tail and petticoats hanging down below the carrier's knees, can scarcely be imagined.
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