The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-03-13
Peouliarities Of the Mule.

The New Orleans mule is catching
it from every point OF the compass just
now. The impression exists there and
is apparently borne out by the facts,
that the mule is equal to any demand
that may be made upon its strength or
endurance. There are no two-mule
cars. One mule is considered suffi-
cient to draw anything that runs on
wheels, no matter what its size or
weight. The strength of the animal is
really extraordinary There is some
thing pathetic about the New Orleans
mule. 1t is lambent-eyed, and the
droop of its mouth reminds one some
what of the mouth of very small boy
who has been whipped aud stands
pouling 10 the corner. Nearly every
mule in town looks as though il were
bald. This il because the sun has APP
parently burned the hair from what
might be termed the ridge pole of the
mule, and left it ochre-tinted and
bare.
The mule has delicate way of NOV
ing. Its legs are small, aud it lifts its
feet as though stepping on tacks. There
is something careless and merry about
the action of it's legs quite out of con
sonance with its bald back and solemJ
face. Having once started, mule
keeps on going as long as there is
nothing in front of it. Car horses as
a rule, learn to stop with alacriiy and
start again only under the lash with
the mule, however, this is different. 1t
leaves its stable with a steadfast, earn
est, and determined resolution to get
away from the car, and never relaxes
its efforts until it is unhitched some
hours later and led back TO rest and
quiet. When the driver jams down
the brake the mule keeps right on
pulling, and the result is that the
car starts up with a suddenness
that sends the passengers toward the
door.
As the cars pass my window now,
the mule is seen at his level best. Peo-
pie are going out TO the Exposition,
and going to a very considerable ex-
tent at that. The bobtail cars are near
ly as big as the two horse cars in New
York, but they are obliged to carry
conductors during the rush, as the ex-
cursionists cannot hang on with both
hands and feet to the roof or railings
and put their fares in the box at the
same time. "A moment ago Car pass
ed here with six men standing on the
step. At first blush this may
seem like reckless statement, as the
step itself is about the size of an ordi-
nary music book. / do not know how
80 many men managed to stand on it,
but it is fact that the ordinary COM
plement on an 8 by 10 inch step of a
New Orleans car is six full-grown
tourists. People are bulging from the
windows. and the forward platforms
are so crowded that the driver sits
with his legs hanging over the dash
board, while one of the passengers
operates the brake. The Car is crowded
to this state of fuleness tthe beginning
of the trip ; the driver then starts the
mule, and no stops are made until the
Exposition is reached. Occasionally
men pursue car frantically through
the mud, with the idea, apparently. Of
climbing to the roof, but the six men
who are precariously poised on the
steps looked at them coldly, and after
ploughing along block or two, they
return to the sidewalk and wait for All
empty car, which never comes. Then
they start off in disgust and walk to
the Exposition. On some of the roads
here the cars run on the right hand
track, and on others they run on the
left, They never think of stopping
for man, and ringing the bell once
will stop the car at the next corner,
while two bells will cause full stop
If the driver and mules are so in
clned.
Mules receive about as much consi-
deration from cart drivers as they do
on the railroads. l saw an immense
cart yesterday down town, piled high
with boxes, standing in front of the
grocery store, and stopped to look at
the mule hitched thereto. 1t looked
like little, old, decrepit negro. It's
eyes blinked with the habit of old age,
aud it wore a stolid and mournful ex-
preston. "A perfect picture OF life
time of toll and hardship was printed
on its wrinkled mug. It's legs were
thin and weak kneed, and it was so
miserably small in comparison with the
huge cart that more than one passer by
stopped to gaze at it. 1t was two
wheeled cart. and very heavily loaded
aft, the result of which was that the
shafts were lifted high in the air. This
had the effect of raising the mule
somewhat so tina; its hoofs rested very
lightly on the ground. Presently a
large, fat, and CUFF man came out of
the shop and placed heavy barrel on
the tail end of the cart, making it fast
with rope. The belly band now lift
ed the mule higher yet, and in a spirit
of mild but conscientious rebellion the
mule kicked vigorously with both of its
small hind legs. It's hoof struck the
wbitletree, and then 1t sank once more
into stolid repose. The man finished
lashing the barrel to the cart, and,
stepping briskly around to the front of
the cart, casually kicking the beast in
the ribs as he passed, climbed up to his
seat and yelled
"Gee yerp.'
The forelegs Of the mule started
away briskly, followed in a leisurely
manner by its hind legs. There seem
ed to be thorough independence of
action between the fore and hind parts
of the mule, which was explained by
the fact that lis fore legs were off the
ground, while the rear legs were firm,
ly planted there, Everybody has no,
ticed how the wheels of locomotive
fly around when they fail to catch hold
of the track. The mule kept flying
away with its iorelegs in this fashion
for some tine, encouraged by stream
of voluble profanity from the driver
and the encouraging shouts of the by
ISLANDERS. Every one here has time iC
stop and be amused Finally the diff
Guilty was pointed out to the driver. III,
descended once more to the ground
walked around the mule's head, anC