31 A Humbug

In the chapter titled “A Humbug,” from “Black Beauty,” we are introduced to Alfred Smirk, the newly appointed groom for Black Beauty, who is described as a tall, good-looking individual but ultimately revealed to be a fraud in terms of his grooming duties. Smirk is courteous towards Black Beauty, especially in the presence of his master, and ensures that the horse looks presentable by brushing its mane and tail and applying oil to its hoofs. However, his grooming is superficial, neglecting thorough cleaning, leaving Beauty’s bit rusty, saddle damp, and crupper stiff.

Smirk is depicted as vain, spending much time on his personal appearance while adopting a servile attitude toward his master, which belies his laziness and conceit. Despite not mistreating Beauty, his negligence, particularly in cleaning Beauty’s stall, leads to a foul-smelling stable, making Beauty’s eyes smart and inflame and diminishing his appetite. When confronted by his master about the stable’s odor, Smirk deflects responsibility by citing concerns about the horse’s health if the stall were cleaned aggressively or suggesting that the drainage might be at fault.

The master, persuaded to address a potential drainage issue, hires a bricklayer, who after inspection concludes nothing is amiss. This misdirection fails to solve the underlying problem of the unhygienic conditions, which contribute to Beauty’s deteriorating hoof health. The master notes Beauty’s fumble-footedness, which Smirk attributes to exercise issues without acknowledging his own neglect in providing proper care or exercise. This negligence culminates in Beauty developing thrush, a condition diagnosed by a farrier called upon after Beauty stumbles significantly while carrying his master into the city. The farrier criticizes the poor stable conditions and instructs that Beauty be brought to him for proper treatment, shedding light on the critical neglect by Smirk.

This chapter showcases not only the importance of genuine care and knowledge in animal husbandry but also critiques superficiality and deceit, illustrating the adverse effects of neglect and the value of responsibility and integrity in care practices.