Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-08-05
A DONKEY FARM.
Unique Charity Instituted by a
London Lady.
Gives Employment to Many Irish
Girls in London-Milk Alleged
to- Have Curative Prop
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her fathers financial downfall n resi-
dent of London, accidentally hit upon
q charity which may become as profita-
BILE as trust. Her ladyship is one of the
clique led by Mrs. Ernest Hart, the orig
inator of the Irish village. She is con-
stantly at work upon some new charity
which always aims to benefit the col
leens of her native country.
London is full of Irish girls, pretty,
red-cheelled young women, full of en-
ergy, strong as men and ready to work
hard at anything. They shame the
white-faced lackadaisical London work
ing girl, who is well known to be the
tlredest creature under the sun.
The colleen chafes under shop work.
She wants to do something that requires
muscle and common sense. She is too
clever and too healthy to be tied down to
mechanical work, and after year in
London she grows sad-mouthed and
pale, longing ever for the opportunity
that so seldom comes to working women
in England.
This spring, when London began to
fill up with visitors and doctors calls
became frequent to the overtaXed sight
seers, her ladyship suddenly conceived
the idea of a donkey farm. Here is
chance for my colleens," said she.
The idea came into her head at 4 Wal
dorf Astor dinner. The conversation
touched upon pulmonary troubles and
the danger of London dampness to con-
sumptives. Then Mr.. Astor, who does
not hesitate to mention his wife fire.
quently and at length, spoke of the
donkey dairy which he maintained at
Cliveden during the last year of Mrs.
Astor's life and the immeasurab bic bene
fits resulting therefrom, concluding
with: "And Tate says it undoubtedly
prolonged her life through another sum-
mer"
That was enough for Lady Cardigan.
BY next day her wits had planned
out pretty farm not an hours ride
from the heart of London, where she
could send her tired working girls to
rest, and where they could earn a liv-
ing at the same time by tending to the
donkeys and supplying London with the
milk. They could have their vacation
without being either drug upon them
selves or victims of charity, for her
ladyship is too thrifty to see the bene-
fits in pauperizing healthy souls.
To-day prescription for an invalid
of wealth is: "a pint of donkey milk
twice day" The COSTS guinea pint,
so it can be seen that the curative fluid
is not for poor persons, but only those
who can pay for it.
The first very distinguished person
age to patronize the farm was II. r. II.
Albert Edward. DR.. Edward Giles, one
of the princes travelling attendants, rec
commended it to cure the prince quickly
the first day of the arrival in London for
the season. There was an audience with
the lord mayor, family dinner always
n formal affair when three heirs to the
throne are to be present. and the prince
was to coach later in the day. AS an eX-
pertinent the physician ordered donkey
milk for him, and, after drinking it,
his highness declared himself wonder
fully refreshed. Lady Cardigan, hear
ing of it, asked permission to mention
the fact to her friends; and soon the
farm became known as ''The Prince Of
Wales Donkey Farm" 1t is well pat
ronized by very high class of persons,
~. = no
ders must be left far ahead. One donkey
a day is reserved for emergency or
ders."
Those who have cared for COW dairy
Fan form no estimate of the small
amount of work needed for dairy Of
donIeys The animals are much harder
than cattle, and need less attention.
The pasturage is much more easily pro-
yidcd for. Cows need certain length Of
grass before their lips will allow them
to crop the heritage. But donkeys are
go thin-lipped that they can live and
gather food where COWS would starve.
They are more easily pastured also.
Owners of cattle must be careful
about turning their animals out upon
side hills, or where there are slippery
declines. All bad places require fenc-
ing in, on account of the awkwardness
of the beasts. This, in England, where
there is so little spare land, is an I'M
difficulty, often requiring
even large land owners like the
earls of Essex and Rosebery to fence
in their blooded beasts and feed them
with cut fodder, like horses. But the lit
tie donkey is sure-footed, and can scale
the steepest cliff for q juicy weed that
grows above him.
The only real work comes at milking
time, but this the colleen bawn willing
ly performs, making a merry job Of it.
Americans in London are charged one
dollar pint for the milk, but they
expect to pay a little higher foT
the privilege of being in Len
don jubilee year; ard for the
butter they pay ten dollars a pound. 1t
is such great delicacy that the only
ones who can buy it are those with
more money than they can spend other
wise.
London's suburbs are now filled with
small enterprises, money-making and
philanthropic, and London physicians
are showing how accommodating they
can be. "The patronage of the cele-
brated DR.. Thingumbub" being readily
obtained for anything that pleases and
does not do any harm. The princess of
Wales is lending her name to all sorts of
things, too, and it will be I diamond
jubilee for more people than the queen.
Chicago Inter Ocean.
PETTY ECONOMY.