The late George T. Angell, in “Our Dumb Animals,” gives this incident,
showing that fear of unseen authority, is a forcible motive, even with
would-be transgressors:
The incident occurred on the rise of land near Park Street
Church (Boston). A horse, evidently laboring under the
impression that he was overloaded, stopt and refused to go any
farther, and a crowd gathered. Just then one voice called out
from the crowd:
“Why don’t you whip him?”
“Whip him,” said the driver--“whip him! How do I know that there
ain’t an agent of that darned old Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals standin’ right here in this crowd?”
We have never considered it good policy to send out any of our
agents in uniform, and so any respectable citizen who seems
to be interested in the protection of horses is liable to be
suspected of being one of our agents. (Text.)
(1080)