San Andreas independent., 1856-10-18
T HI e z EB RA.
By DOW, JR.

himself, which is the most useful, proud
and courageous; the ass, which is the most
stupid, meek, patient and humble; the
hobby, which is fit only for children and
politicians to ride; and the zebra, which
is the most beautiful, but at the same time,
the skittishest animal that ever grazed in
the pastures of nature. Nothing can ex-
ceed the delicate and polite regularity with
which this interesting creature is marked,
or the glossy smoothness of its skin; but,
on the otherleg, nothing can be more timid
or more untameable.
In shape, he prefers to resemble the
mule, rather than the horse or ass. By
wisely choosing the middle aspect, he
escapes being the cause of jealousy or
vainness on the part of either; for, no
doubt, either would feel proud to have it
said that the zebra was made after his own
image the mule, therefore, alone has the
honor of being the rough, original model
He is a vulgar fraction less in size than
the mule, and about hair and half
larger than the ass. Like the ass, his
head is large and thick, his back straight
as quaker's, his legs placed scientifically
exactly where they should be, and his
slender, sickly tail tufted at the nadir, as
if feebly exerting itself to resemble
paint-brush. Like the horse, itsskini is as
smooth as hypocrite's tongue, and as
close as a miser's chest; and his hind
quarters are round, like the four quarters
that make dollar.
But the zebra, ladies and gentlemen,
prides himself most upon his striped coat
and trousers, which throw all state-prison
dresses into an impenetrable shade 1t is
astonishing to amateurs with what streaked
regularity and elegance the lamp-black is
laid upon the snow-white canvas ! These
stripes are so disposed over the whole
body, and with such exactness and SYM
metry, that one is pushed into the conclu-
sion that Nature, in thus outwardly deco
rating this animal, worked by the day, and
not by the job. At any rate, it is evident
that she has taken extraordinary pains in
the adornment. But not so in regard to
any other creature. Take, for instance,
that which is generally considered beau
tifully marked beast, the leopard. Why,
he looks as if the fair artistic had hastily
daubed him with coat of yellow ochre,
and then kept throwing a paint-brush at
him, dipped in chimney-soot, just for the
fun of seeing how many spots she could
make without one interfering with any of
the Others But look again at the zebra;
there's carefulness-there's elaborateness
there's patience; there's the highest
order of artistical talent exhibited for you!
Painted on him are just one hundred and
thirty-four stripes, including those on
his ears and tail, but not counting those
laid on by the whip of his master. These
stripes, like so many black ribbons, are
narrow, but not to meanness parallel, and
exactly separated from each other, not
running impudently into or confusedly
into one another, like the shades on other
parti-colored animals. Every stripe is
perfectly distinct, and enjoys an indepen-
dence not to be disturbed by any 'oppo-
sition lne;;' and continues to run round
the body or limb without any diminution,
or the least sign of fatigue.
In this manner are the head, the body,
the thighs, the legs, the ears, and even
the ramuscule, beautifully streaked; so
that, at fair distance, one would be apt
to suppose that the animal was dressed to
kill by art, and not thus admirably en-
belished by the pencil of Nature. O.! he
is a magnificent spectacle to behold in a
menagerie ! Amid the chattering and
squealing of the monkeys, when stirred up
by short pole-the earthquake growlings
of the monstrous white bear-the terrible
SCREENINGS of the panthers-the awful
roaring of the lions-the startling bull
gine bellowings of the elephant, and the
brazen, misunderstanding blasts of the
Observation-Disclosures, alone in his cage,
stands his serene majesty, the ZEBRA care
fully selecting the choicest spears of hay
from mouldy wisp, as perfectly unmind-
ful OF the deafening din as clam horse
IN the midst of a political celebration
Such is the beauty of this creature,
ladies and gentlemen, that it seems fitted
up expressly by nature to satisfy the pride
and pleasure of man, and formed to be
taken into his service; but, [ assure you,
that ne disdains all servitude. There is
as much OF the white as the nigger about
him; and no kindness can coax, nor force
can cudgel, his native spirit of indepen-
dence out OF him. He may be partially
subdued, but never wholly tanned /; his
wildness will stick out much faster than
you can push it in. He sometimes how
ever, performs in the ring with the monkey
upon his back; but, Notwithstanding ali
the equestrian skill that Jack is master of
he no unfrequently finds himself spilled
in the sawdust, and evinces decided un-
willingness to incur the risk of remount-
ing.
j The zebra knoweth his masters will ;