The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-09-26
Do MuIss Get TireAi
EuRxkA. Sept. Is, 1873.
For the JOURNAL.

For the Journal.
EUREKA, Sept. Is, 1878.
: EDIroRs JOURNAL: Not having the
physical ability to labor much, l have
devoted my time during the past sum-
mer to q scientifcal study of the mule
from chronological point Of view.
This animal has been much neglected
by sarants or beneath theis notice, but
tho real fact is, that the average mule is
too much for them. His head is too
long. His cogitations too profound.
His secretiveness too large. They can
not fathom his designs, and they set HIM
down for a piece of stupidity. While
he, conscious of his own plans, flaps his
ears and carries out his purposes with
all the conscious assurance, that when
we see it in human specie, We call it
greatness.
Being the fortunate owner Of PAIR
of intelligent ones, have had fine op-
portunity to study their chronological
development.
l find their moral and intellectual Or
gans we'll developed, and their charac-
tiers correspond. They have never been
known to kick or bite any person or
thing, except the horse that makes up
the trio when they are at the pillow. l
cannot speak with certainty upon this
point, but my opinion is that they feel
their superiority TO the horse and take
this mode to resent the indlgnity as the
only one in their power.
organ in q mules head and the one that
in my opinion lifts him up in the Oar
winian scheme above the Gorilla or the
Baboon and brings him close on to tho
human species.
All the great men of history have had
the faculty to keep their own councils
until the moment for action arrived and
then burst upon the world like meteor
with their fully developed plans.
Upon careful reflection you will find
that this is the mules best hold. Wheth-
or the men learned it of the mules, or
the mules of the men, am not prepared
to discuss at this time, (and if l were,
the subject would be too abstruse for
any, but strictly scientific JournaD but
of the fact there can be no question.
Every man who has had experience
with them must have observed 1t.
once called the attention Of an old
mule driver 10 this popularity IN their
disposition, and he admitted the fact, but
did not throw as much light upon the
subject as expected. Said he, "You
never can tell what a mule will do, any
how" they always do just tho opposite
from what you expect they will do, and
then turn round and look at you as
much as to say "What do you think of
that?" could illustrate this trait by
many facts, but it is too we'll known to
admit of dispute. After this long pre-
amble l now como to the question l
have placed at the head of this article.
Do mules get tired! Ou this point l
am prepared to express decided opin-
ion, as have made 1t q special study.
In the commencement of my investiga-
ton, thought would get the opinion
of my neighbors upon the matter. Ac-
cordingly asked ian old farmer who
had had q good deal of experience with
mules, the question. He replied, "Ot
course they do. Any fool might know
that" l did not know whether he
meant to be personally or cnIy had
strong way Of expressing his opinion.
but l concluded to pursue my investiga-
tons myself and not trouble men who
could not appreciate the beauties of fare
science. | then commenced to note
facts. noticed them when they come
in from tho field, that their heads were
down, their ears droopIng, their gait
slow and languid and showd every sign
of being tired. Now You viii! see where
the secretivencss comes in. They are
just "letting on" as the boys say. They
come up to the trough and commence to
drink. The driver is drawing the water.
After they have slaked their thirst, if he
has not firm grip upon the halter, up
goes head and tail and away 60 the
mules at two-forty gait off on the
prririe. Now if the driver is wise, he
will not run after them, but go in and
eat his supper, for as soon as they find
he don't want them, they will want him,
or the feed he gives them, and como up
to the stable looking as innocent and
demure as lamb. have even fancied
| could see little twinkle in their eyes
as much as to say, "perhsps you think
you can outwit q mule. Perhaps you
can, and then again perhaps you can't"
l did not fully make up my mind on
this matter until about the close Of har-
vest. We were cutting wheat in the
bottom. The mules were working upon
the header. The day was sultry the
I03s. The ground soft from
recent rains. The greenheads, flies and
we're fearful. We had to
make frequent stops to rest man and
beast. The poor beasts seemed to be
tagged out and weary. feared
should have to give up my theory, and
was glad when night como to relieve
them. The driver unhitcbed them and
jumped upon the near one to ride home.
He had tin pail in bis hand, that rat
tied as tin pals will rattle on such oc
nm a,n.a ard thai. ronf INN M