Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1890-09-27
Ages of Men and Animals.-A Spanish
Fable Which Accounts for the Great
Disparity in Years.

FdDl6 WnlCn Accounts Tor the Of0dL
Disparity in Years.
Jupiter, having made the world, proceeded to
make animals to live in it. The ass was the earliest
created. He looked about him. He looked at
himself; and as the habit of asses is, he asked
himself what it all meant; what it was to be an
ass, where did he come from, and what he was for?
Not being able to discover, he applied to his maker
Jupiter told him that he was made to be the slave
of another animal to be called man. He was to
carry men on his back, drag loads for them and be
their drudge. He was to live on thstles and
straw and to be beaten continually with sticks
and ropes ends.
The ass complained He said that he had done
nothing to deserve so hard fate. He had not
asked to be born, and he would rather not have
been born He inquired how long this life, or
whatever it was, had to continue. Jupiter said it
had to last thirty years. The poor ass was in con-
sternation. If Jupiter would reduce the thirty to
ten he undertook to be patient, to be a good SER
want, and to do his work patiently. Jupiter re-
fected and consented, and the ass retired grateful
and happy
The dog, who had been born meanwhile, heard
what had passed He, too, went TO Jupiter with
the same question. He learned that he also was a
slave to men. In the day he was to catch their
game for them, but was not to eat it himself. AT
night he was to be chained by ring and to lie
awake to guard their houses. His food was to be
bones and refuse. Like the ass he was to have
thirty years of it, but on petition they were SINH
larly exchanged for ten.
The monkey came next His function, he was
told, was to be led about by string, and grimace
and dance for mems amusement. He also remon-
strated at the length of time, and obtained the
same favor.
Last came the man himself Conscious of
boundless DESIRES and, as he imagined, of bound
less capabilities, he did not inquire what he was,
or what he was to do. Those questions had al
ready been answered by his vanity. He did not
come to ask for anything but to thank Jupiter for
having created so glorious being and 10 ascer-
tain for how many ages he might expect to endure.
The god replied that thirty years was the term
allotted to all personal existences.
"Only thirty years." he exclaimed "Only
thirty years for such capacities as mine. Thirty
years will be gone like dream. Extend them!
oh, extend them, gracious Jupiter, that may have
leisure to use the intellect which thou hast given
me, search into the secrets of nature do great and
glorious actions, and serve and praise thee OH my
creator, longer and more worthiy!"
The lip of the god curled lightly and again he
agreed III have some spare years to dispose of, /"
he said, "of which Others of my creatures have
begged to be relieved. You shall have thirty years
of your own. From thirty to fifty you shall have
the ass'S years and labor and sweat for your sup
port. From fifty to seventy you shall have the
dogs years and take care of the stuff and snarl
and growl at what younger men are doing From
seventy to ninety you shall have the monkeys
years, and smrk and grin and make yourself ridic-
ulous. After that you may depart. Elk.