Smyrna times., 1889-07-24

NAL the Most Interesting Specimen of
His Race-He May BE Indolent, but ITo
IndustriousIy Pays Old Scores.
The Mexican mule is a sort Of cross
between a mountain goat and flying
squirrel, with the distinct difference that
its surplus electricity flows off from the
negative pole instead of the positive, as
with the goat. 1t is in its meanderings
on the mountain trails that it shines re-
splendent, but with a luster wholly its
own, that can no more be compared with
any other than can the flash of the dia-
mond be compared with the fire of the
opal
A BLOOD CURDLING WAY.
On the mountain trail this distinct
species of mule was never known to fall,
although he has an exasperating and
blood curdlng way of stumbling along
over it that would raise the hair on end
of bald headed man. Many a time l
have watched the mule was compelled
to ride with a view of discovering his
methods of trying to scare me to death,
as payment for past injuries Often
times the trail would lead past dizzy
heights or cliffs, where one could look
sheer down far enough to be dead'befOre
he reached the bottom should he fall,
and every few feet along the trail, of a
foot to a foot and q half in width, it
would have tumbled in a foot or so and
again taken up the original inclination
of the mountain, or about that of the
leaning tower of Pisa. Here the mule
would always be sure to stick one foot
and stumble q little bit, but always re-
gain its equilibrium at the next step,
having clearly done it Intentionally, and
for no other purpose than pure cussed-
ness. One can imagine the cool Alpine
zephyr that is waited up the dorsal
vertebr1 with sufficient force to blow
the hair straight up on end.
If you have touched the beast during
the last three or four days with the whip
or dug into its sides with the spurs when
it was absorbed in melancholy refec-
tions, it will be sure to remember it when
you are climbing over the comb of a cliff
5000 feet high, and at the least move
ment Of your feet or twitching of your
| fingers it will throw it's head high in the
air like hound on the scent and go
stumbling over every pebble and blade of
| grass on the dangerous way, evidently
trying to make you regret that you had
| tried to punish 50 delicate a creature. At
any other time you can turn double
somersaults on its back, or act like a raw
ing maniac, and it will not increase it's
funereal march a foot a day as result
Of your actions. Whenever q trail leads
exceptionally neara cliff, before it turns
on the reverse grade down or up hill, the
Mexican mule never fails to go within an
| inch Of the crest and let a hind leg over
with a slight quiver as it turns around.
All these mountain trails are full of little,
round, hard stones about the size of mar
bles and larger, hidden underneath q car
peting of pine needles. These are liable
to mako mule stumble if two feet are
on stones at once; but this is very rare,
although they always go sliding over
them on the sleeper trails.
1t is wonderful how these rotund rocks,
hidden under the pine needles on the
trail or off Of it, will throw human be-
ing PROSTATE if he dismounts a few min.
utes to take a walk on a slope and stretch
his stiffened limbs. OF course the mule,
under headway, walks over them before
it can stop. Hobnails i'll shoes, nor
anything of mans make, help to avoid
| them.