The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-02-12
Asa Hartz on Mules And Things.
LETTER TO A HEAD.

Ny DEAR BowER--I have frequently oh
served peculiar condition of whatness be-
tween negro and mule, which makes it
nearly impossible for me to think Of both
without thinking Of one. Indeed, the
points of similarity are so striking that you
can't think Of the other unless you think Of
one.
The negro. for instance, is as hard-head-
ed aud stubborn as the devil, and, to its
shame be it spoken, so is the mule; the on
ly difference being the fact that you can
lam mule until you make him go, whilst
on the other hand, il you wallop a negro,
to make him 60, you had better prepare for
large sized row With the Bureau man, and
fix up yodr clothes for retirement from the
busy walk ofmen.
I was once acquainted with q very res
pectable mule who labored with the most
untiring industry at the other end Of q pillow
from daylight until meridian, when be
would stop, aqd all coaxing aud whaling
were unayailing to make him go, until he
got his dinner. BE knew perfectly we'll
when the hour arrived without consulting
watch. It is but proper to remark, in
justice to the negro who was at one end OF
the same plow, That he had almost sense
enough to know the same thing without
being informed softhe fact BY. az ignorant ' az
white man. .ss..tar eF5 a.1ssss. .@5.
On the other hand I have known q ne
gro who labored hard to do nothing all the
morning stop at twelve O'Clock to eat his
dinner and after that successfully accom-
plish his purpose. f3 O 81 =
A negro and mule seem mutually adap-
ted to each other. A negro's fondness for
the mule was, before the war, only equalled
blythe mules fondpsss rthe negro. This
was the case especially on plantations; but
there being no plantations now, the mule
has snubbed the negro, gone into the
quartermaster's department, and forced un.
fortunate Cnffee into constitutional con-
ventions, city councils and the Street Com
missioner's Office. Both positions are i'd
mirably suited TO the peculiarities Of the
two, as they offer every advantage for steal
ing; for the mule will, steal his oats, while
the negro takes anything he can lay his
hands on. There IS one g constitutional !"
difference between the two, which is advan-
tageous to the negro but highly creditable
to the mule, viz: the negro can vote--the
mule can't. atiag0 M a4l@
Uwould like you, my bower, to compare
the condition OF the two. See the one 1T
the Mechanics Institute and the other in
some Government stable, aud 1 think you
will conclude that, whatever may be the
close similarity, the mule is . le-e-tle ahead
especially ID point Of usefulness TO the
world at large. 49,
/ am trying to save up, from the interest
on what | owe sufficient sum to buy fast
mule, and enter him against negro ID the
next race for Legislative honois. The mule
will win; OF if he loses, i win have the sat
isfection ofknowing that was kind to the
negro, in associating him during the can
vass wills his prototype.
Ny bower, | am not down" on the negro
for Iconsider him as good as a mouse col
ored mule when they are together, It's,
when they are apart-the one as sovereign
legislator, and the other as Woodworking
cuss in some corn feld-that the mule is
the most respectable of the two, and bis
likeness TO the negro should be forgotten
against him. It is there he is superior
syan to the ass-for he never goes q dele
nate to the Convention.
N ]. ,,,,sf oir,oe The me, hnSfne IN SNn