The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-12-28

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such value as to be entitled to greater
consideration than it generally receives.
In an economical point Of view its mer-
fits are conspicuous. To say that the
animal is tough expresses a prominent
characteristic most fully. 1t viii live
and work under positive abuse, and,
while II certainly does die, it seems to
die about as seldom as anything we
know Of. The very appearance of the
mule shows IL TO be possessed Of stay
ing qualities, and it does stay wherever
and at whatever you choose TO put it.
1t eats less and does more work pro-
portionatcly than horse will do. OF
course there is difference in mules as
there is q difference in horses. We
have seen mules that were of weak con-
stitution and could stand but little, but
we never saw many such. We have
eecn those, too, that would eat more
than large horse, but they were cx-
captions to the rule. Our observation,
and what little experience we have had
with the animal, leads us to very differ
ent conclusions from those which most
people arrive at. The general opinion
is that it is a stubborn, ill-natured,
spiteful creature that kicks for the fun
of the thing, and usually prefers going
backward to going forward when the
driver is in special hurry. On the
contrary, we have usually found the
animal TO be patient and willing, and
not half 30 inclined to kick as it is given
credit for. 1t is rather slow in it's
movements, but it is quite as rapid as
hundreds of our farm horses are. It IL
devoid Of beauty, but that same indict-
ment can be made against entirely too
many Of our horses. We have not ar
rived at that point where we can say
with truth that beauty is very much of
o general consideration in selecting our
horses. 1t ought to be q great consid-
Grafton. There is no use in having q
horse so ugly that he is "a sight to be-
hold" when by the exercise of q little
care we can have good-looking stock.
But the mule makes up in other quail
ties what he lacks in beauty, and if we
have him at all we must take him as he
lie. There is not much opportunity to
improve his looks. He win 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, the mule has not
had much inducement to be different
from what it is. 1t receives no special
training, and there is not much kind
ness wasted upon it. 1t is oftener struck
than 1t is pctted, and we have known
some some naturally excellent mules to
be spoiled in handling, especially at
the time of breaking. We recall to
mind mule that was made a most
wicked kicker through bad manage
ment, but the owner thought it was
the result of natural mulishness. Gen.
Grafton after generation of bad man
agement and positive abuse will leave
lite marks upon the character of any
animal, and we once knew of mule
that by judicious handling-such hand
ling as would be given to vicious
horsc-was made as gentle as could be
desired, although originally very vic
ious.
The freedom of the mule from dis
ease is one thing that strongly recon-
mends it. It is seldom sick, and has
proved invincible to some of the worst
epidemics that we have ever had. In
fact and in short, the mule is usually
ready for service at all times, win do
its work well, and with much less care
than horse win do it. It is not well
in selecting team of mules to get
those which are too small. A small
mule will eat as much rs large enc,
md is not the equal of the latter in
heavy work. While they will do all
they can, they cannot be expected to
perform impossibilities, and to expect
them to do moro than they have
to do is expecting an impossi-
Western Rural.