Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-12-21
The Naples Donkey.

The donkey is more of an institution
in Naples than anywhere else, and a
variety exists here that is more hardy,
and capable of enduring more brutality,
than any other kind of donkey on the
globe. They are little, diminutive AMI
mails. with rough. shaggy hides, and an
expression OF face rs though life was
something to be endured and not en-
ioyed, as though they were conscious
that they had SO many years of scant
living, and brutal beating, and that
those years must be gone through with
and that relief was only in death. OF
all animals the donkey comes the near
est to humanity in the expression of IFS
face. There is nothing human in the
features, but there is human look
about the eyes, an expressiveness, half
mirthful. half-sad and all cunning, that
no other animal has. The monkey has
q half-human face, but il is malicious.
Inc donkey has reasoning expression
as though a human mind had been
thrown into the body of an ass. 1t is
singular that the donkey should be
classed stupid-there is nothing stupid
about him. He is the most sagacious
oil animals. He never kicks but he hits
what he kicks ut, and whoever he kicks
has reason To remember it. He is as
certain in his kicks is fate and as deadly
as lightning. And when he has kicked
there is an expression of satisfaction on
his countenancs, n pride that is even
more than human.
The donkey in Naples does the bulk
OF the labor, and monopolizes large
share of the brutality. No matter how
faithfully he pulls, or how heavy the
load that is piled upon him. he is beat
en- perpe;ually. The donkey was APP
parentIy created rs a vent for the in
nate brutality of these people. They
act as sort of lightning rod for the
wives. The NeapOlital donkey driv-
er having donkey to beat
lets his wife off easily. The favorite
method Is TO lash the poor animal with
heavy whip till that becomes tame.
and then beat him between the ears with
the heavy butt thereof, keeping this nm
Tor the mere fun of the thing, till the
wearied arm relaxes from exhaustion
and the donkey has rest.
An English lady once demonstrated
with donkey driver for his brutality.
1.-The donkey is not a Christian was
the reply, land 1 may beat him If I
choose"
"But why beat the poor dontey?"
The driver had never before Il. ard an
appeal for a donkey, and he could not
understand it,
Giuseppe, Philippe, come bitherr'
he cried Behold the mother of dom
kevsr'
The loads these little rats. not more
than three feet high. are compelled TO
pun or carry is something wonderful.
After everything possible is piled upon
the cart or panniers that can be piled.
the driver mounts the panuier or cart
himself. adding his two hundred pounds
weight to the already enormous load.
And then the whip and bludpeon is
called into requisition, and the little
martyr moves of somehow TO its desti-
nation and gets there. if il does not fall
down and spite its owner by diving on
the street Could the Naples donkey
driver manage two bludgeons at once Il
would be still worse for the donkey. 1t
Is fortunate for the much abused brute
that there is limitation in the matter
oil hands and arms to his masters
power for cruelty.-D. r. Locke, ia
Toledo Blade.