Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-04-04
RACE PREJUDICE AND MuLES
The Latin Races Take Kindly to the
Mule, but AngIO-SaxOns Prefer the
Horse.
[Chicaso Times !

tChicaso Timesl
A trave'er who has been q diligent
observer of the things he has seen in
the various countries he has visited,
states that mules are generally en-
ployed in all places where the inhabit-
ants belong to one Of the Latin races,
but that horses are used where the peo-
pie are of the Anglo-Saxon race. He
declares that climate has very little to
90 with determining whether mules or
horses Shall be selected for doing work
on farms OraS beasts of burden in towns.
Mules are very common in all the coun-
tries bordering on the Mediterranean
sea, not because the climate is more
favorable to these animals than to
horses, but because the Portuguese.
Spaniards, Italians, Turks AMI Arabs
take kindly 20 them. They are scarce
IN northern Europe, not for the reason
that the climate is more favorable to
horses. but because the people are
preJudlced against mules without cause.
In this country he found many mules
In the southern states, and compare
lively few III the north. He was in
formed that this state of things was due
to difference of climate, mules doing
betttr in the south and horses in the
north. He noticed, however, that the
race OF the person using beasts of bur-
den had much to do in determining
whether horses OF mules were preferred.
He came to the conclusion that mules
we're common in the southern and south
ives ern portions OF the country for the
reason that many of the people were of
French and Spanish extraction. Neither
they nor the negroes had any prejudices
against the mule. Yankees and Eng
lishmen who engaged in farming OF
transportation in the south generally
discarded mules and substituted horses
in their places
AS IN peace 50 in war. English and
American soldiers dislike to have mules
about camp and in a train. They in.
variahlv find fault with them and gen.
eially abuse them. They praise the
noble horse. but give the mule q bad
name They declare that the mule is
poss Q 'sed Of all the vices but none of
the virtues common to brutes. Thev
accuse it of being obstinate and vicious.
and altogether wanting in gratitude,
affection, kindness and intelligence.
They would be heartily ashamed to
beat horse, but they have no scruples
about pounding and kick k'ng a mule.
Nothing Is ever done with q view of
developing the bet 'er qualities in the
mule, rs is the case with the horse.
Few seem to think that the mule DOS.
sesses 'n9 & oil qualities. Soldiers in
the Latin countries. however, are par
tial to the mule. Strange as it NAV ap-
pear, they pet mules anu they are favor
ties in the camp and march. On ac-
count OF the treatment it receives it is
docile. affect late, and well behaved.
Mules do not have bad reputation
in southern Europe or in the neighbor-
ing portions of Asia and Africa. They
do not have as good care and feed as
horses do for the reason that grain and
fodder is scarce, and they can stand
much poorer fare and still endure much
fatigue and do large amount of hard
work. There is probably considerable
truth in the conclusions of this traveller
that are founded on observation. The
mule Is not a favorite among the people
in northern Europe and their descend
ants in this and other countries Quite
likely they have an aversion to it with
out cars,. If this is the case thew
should learn to overcome a foolish
prejudice that interferes with the econ
omy of such important industries as
farming and transp ortation.