Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-12-29
Merits OF the Mule.

We regard the mule as an animal of
such value as to- be entitled to greater
consideration than IL generally receives.
In an economical point OF view its merits
are conspicuous. To say that the animal
is tough expresses a prominent char
acteristic most fully. IL will live and
work under positive abuse, and while
IL certainly does die. IL seems to die
about rs seldom as anything we know
of. The very appearance of the mule
shows 1t to- be possessed of staying
qualities. and il does stay wherever and
ut whatever you choose TO put il. 1t
eats less and does more work proper
tiOnAlly than horse will do. OF course
there is n difference in mules as there
is difference in horses. We have seen
mules that were of weak constitution
and could stand but little, but we never
saw many such We have seen those,
too, that would eat more than n large
horse. but they were exceptions TO
the rule. Our observation. and what
little experience we have had with the
animal, leads us TO very different con-
illusions TO those which most people
arrive at. The general opinion is that
the mule isa stubborn. ill-natured, spite
thing. and usually prefers going back
ward to going forward when the driver
is in n special hurry. On the contrary
we have usually found the animal to be
patient and willing, and not half so in
clined TO kick as it is given credit for.
1t Is rather slow in its movements, but
II is quite as rapid as hundreds of our
farm horses are. II is devoid OF beauty,
but that same indictment can be
made against entirely too many of our
horses. We have not arrived at that
point where we can say with truth that
beauty is very much otageneral consd-
Grafton. There is no use in having n
horse SO ugly that he Is "a sight to be-
hold, when by the exercise OF little
care we can have good looking stock. But
TIE mule makes up in other qualities
what be lacks in beauty, and IL we have
him ut all we must take him as he is.
There is not much opportunity To i'm
prove his looks. He will always be q
mule.
We do believe. however, that its man.
ners can be considerably improved,
when they need improving. Like the
native cow and hog. tho mule has not
had much inducement TO be different
from what IL is. IL receives no special
training and there Is not much kindness
wasted upon It. IL is Oftener struck than
IT Is petted. and we have known some
naturally excellent mules TO be spoiled
In handling. especially at the time of
breaking. We recall To mind n mule
that made n most wicked kicker through
bad management, but the owner
thought 10 was the result of natural
mulishness. Generation after genera.
ton OF bad management and positive
abusive. will leave its marks upon the
character of any animals; and
we once knew of amule that bv iudicious
handling-such handling as would he
given TO n vicious horse-was made rs
gentle rs could be desired, although
originally very vicious.
The freedom of the mule from disease
IS one thing that strongly recommends
II. IL Is very seldom sick, and has proved
lnv.ncible TO some of the worst epidem-
les that we ever had. In fact and in
short the mule is usually ready for
service at all times. will do its work
well, and with much less care than a
horse will do il. 1t is not well in select
ing team of mules to get those which
are too small. A small mule will eat
as much as large one. and is not the
equal of the latter in heavy work.
While they will do all they can. they
cannot be expected to perform. im-
possibilities. and to expect them to
do more than they have strength to do,
Is expecting an impossibilify. Vest
eyn Rural