Harvey in 1895. In 1891 he became a staff writer on the New York Tribune, in which he contributed over his name notable articles on the tariff and currency questions.
HORROCKS, Jeremiah (c.1617–41). An English astronomer, born at Toxteth Park, near Liverpool. He entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in 1632, and remained there until 1635, devoting himself principally to the study of astronomy. In the latter year he returned to Toxteth and commenced, under extremely unfavorable circumstances, his original observations. In 1639 he was appointed to the curacy of Hoole, Lancashire, and in that village, on November 24, 1639 (O.S.), he made his famous observation of the transit of Venus—the first observation of this phenomenon ever made. Hearne, in his memoranda, tells us how Horrocks was called away, during his observation of the transit, “to his devotions and duty at church,” the day being Sunday. Newton, in the Principia, bears honorable testimony to the value of Horrocks's astronomical work, especially commending his lunar theory as the most ingenious yet brought forward; adding, “and if I mistake not, the most accurate of all.” Horrocks is frequently mentioned by the scientific men of the seventeenth century; the observation of the transit is by no means regarded as the most important of his astronomical achievements. He died suddenly at the age of about twenty-three, on January 3, 1641. Hevelius printed Horrocks's Latin treatise entitled Venus in Sole visa in 1662. In 1672 Horrocks's fragmentary works were published under the auspices of the Royal Society, being edited by Wallis, with the title Jeremiæ Horroccii Opera Posthuma, etc. Other works of Horrocks's perished in manuscript.
HORSA. See Hengest.
HORSCHELT, hôr′shĕlt, Theodor (1829-71). A German painter, born in Munich. He was a pupil of the Munich Academy and of Albrecht Adam. He began with studies of horses, and afterwards painted military pictures. Among these first is “The Poacher” (1850). He then went to Spain and Algiers, and afterwards took part in the Caucasian campaign of 1858-59, and made some of its episodes the subjects of his pictures, such as: “The Seizure of Shamyl,” “Taking of the Citadel on Mount Gunib,” and “Cossacks Returning from a Razzia.” His many water-colors of Spanish and Algerian scenes show the same vigor and spirit.
HORSE (AS. hors, OS., Icel. hross, OHG. ros, Ger. Ross; possibly connected with Lat. currere, to run,less probably with Skt. kūrd, to spring, Gk. κόρδαξ, kordax, wanton dance, or with AS. hrēodan, OHG. rusten, Ger. rüsten, to adorn). One of a genus of pachydermatous quadrupeds of the family Equidæ (q.v.). Since the domestication of the horse it has become next to man himself the most important factor in the business and pleasures of the world, and in fact all the practical details of everyday human life. According to the monuments, the horse was introduced into Egypt at the time of the shepherd kings. His use, however, was very limited, both the Egyptians and Assyrians confining the use of the horse to warfare. Subsequently, however, his services to man increased, and he became an emblem of rank and an object of luxury or sport, as well as an aid in war.
The speed of a horse is its greatest asset,
because it is its chief value to man. It is the
recognition of this value that has been the important
factor in the evolution of the horse, an animal
especially plastic in the hands of the breeder. His
size, form, action, and instincts are subject to
modification to a degree unknown in that of any
of the other larger species. During his early
history modifications of type were due to the changing
conditions of warfare; but to-day the principal
variations of type are, to a far greater extent,
due to the exigencies of commerce, or the
demands of sport. It has been suggested that the
different breeds of the modern domestic horse
have been developed out of the interbreeding of
several original wild species; this, however, is
only conjecture. What is known is that domestic
breeds have existed in Europe from prehistoric
times, and also that they have been improved
continually by blending with Oriental horses.
Arabian horses are divided into three classes, which have been recognized as sub-breeds since the fifteenth century. The genuine Arabian is found in the region from Damascus to the Euphrates, as well as in Arabia proper. The breed is found in its greatest purity and excellence in the stables of the Sultan of turkey. The Turk, or Turkish horse, found in portions of European Turkey, but principally in Asia Minor, was of considerable importance in the seventeenth century, but it has deteriorated very much since then. The Barb is a native of the Barbary States, whence its name. It is found in greater perfection among the Moors, who introduced the Barb blood into Spain during their rule in that country, and so improved the Spanish horse that for several centuries it occupied the first place throughout Europe. Spanish horses of this stock brought to America by the Spaniards are regarded as the progenitors of the mustangs and the other wild breeds common to Mexico and California. (See heading, The Horse in America.) About the middle of the sixteenth century Italian and Spanish horses (the former heavy types, and the latter, owing to their Barb blood, very much lighter and fleeter) were in the greatest demand. It is during this period that horsemanship (q.v.) began to be studied as a science, the first book concerning which was published by Grisoni in Italy in 1552. The Italians were also the first to take up the teaching of horsemanship as an accomplishment, after which riding came into vogue throughout Western Europe. The English thoroughbred is spread over a larger portion of the earth to-day than is that of any other breed, and the literature bearing upon it equals that of all the other animals combined. It is used more than any other to improve the blood of horses of general utility throughout the world, and, according to statistics, more capital is influenced by it than by any other two or three breeds combined.
The history of English horse-breeding has been divided into three periods: the first extending from the earliest records to the end of the sixteenth century; the second from the accession of James I. to the first year of the Stud Book (q.v.), 1791 (in which period the thoroughbred came into existence); and the third period extending to the present time, in which the thoroughbred has become a clearly defined as well as a pure breed. The original British horse was a small pony, shaggy and hardy, and rarely more
