The Brookhaven leader., 1884-01-03
Race Prejudice and Mules.

A traveller who has been diligent
observer of the things he has seen in the
various countries he has visited, states
that mules are generally employed in
all places where the inhab tants belong
To one of the Latin races. but that horses
are used where the people are of the
Anglu-SaVon race. He declares that
climate has very little TO do with deter
mining whether mules or horses shall be
selected for doing work on farms or as
TCa~ts of burden in towns. Mules are
very common in all the countries bor-
daring on the Mediterranean Sea, not
cause the climate is more favorable to
these animals than to horses, but be-
cause the Portuguese. SpaniardS, ltal-
ianS, Turks aad Arabs take kindly to
them They are scare, in Northern
Europe. not for the reason that the eli
mate is more faN orablc to horses, bat
beca s. the people are prejudiced against
mules without cause. In this country
he found many mules in the Southern
StGtes, and comparati' ely few in the
North. He was informed that this state
of things was due to dile ence of eli
mate mules doing better in the South
and horses in the North. He noticed,
however, that the race of the person
using beasts OF burden hal much to do
in determining W ether horses or mules
were preferred. He came to the CON
clusion that mules were common in the
SoutheIn and Southwestern portions of
the country for the reason that many of
the people were of Frcnch and Spanish
extract on. Neither they nor the ne
grocs bad any prejudice against the
niue. Yankees and Englishmen who
engaged in fl ming or transportation in
the South generally discarded mules
an | substituted horses in theirplaceS.
As in peace 81 in war. English and
American soldiers dislike To la e mules
about 4 camp and in n train. They in
NariaLly find fault with them and gen
e-ally abuse them. They praise the
noule horse. bat give the mule bad
name. Tley declare that the mule is
posse sed Of all the vices but of none of
the virtues common to hrutcS. They
accuse it o. bang obstinate and vicious.
and altogether wanting in gratitude, af-
lection, kindness. and Intelligence. They
would be heartily ashamed to beat a
horse, but they have no SCruple about
pounding and Kicking a mule. Nothing
is ever done with q view of developing
the better qualities in the mule. as is the
case with the horse. Few seem to think
that the mule possesses any good quail
ties. Soldiers in the Latin countries,
however, are partial TO the mule.
Strange as it may appear, they pet
mules and they are fayortcS in the
camp and march. On account of the
treatment it receives it is dociIe, alice
Tomato aud well behaved. Mules do
not have Il bad reputation in Southern
Europe or in the neighbOring portions
of Asia and Africa. They do not have
as Good care and feed us 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 n favolite among the people oil
Northern Europe and their descendants
in this and other countries. Quite likely
they have an aversion to it without
cause. If this is the case. they should
learn to overcome a foolish pre- udict
that interferes with the economy OF such
important industries as farming and
portation.-CH Chicago Times.