The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-16
HAIL TO THE ARMY MULE
THE ONCE DERlDED ANIMAL IS NOW
KING OF BEASTS.

the Cuban CampaiSn-A NeceseisS no
Well as Luxury in War Time-His
Many Good Qualities.
The Government has cornered the
mule market, and the breeders of mules
in consequence are reaping harvest
During the late years of peace with the
incoming of steam and electric power,
and the fourishing of horse shows,
misfortune has multiplied upon mules,
and their determination has been
threatened. War has now, however,
proved the elixir of life to the mule
business, and that long suffering ami
NAL, 50 often jeered at for being with
out pride of ancestry or hope of pos
terity," has become the very corner
stone of the Cuban invasion.
The first mules brought in sold for
an average of $40 each. Now the same
grade of animal is held at about $l4O.
The Government agents in st. Louis
have paid out more than half million
dollars for mules, and they are still
buying. Those lately purchased aver
aged nearly 500 each.
From st. Louis the agents will 60
down to Atlanta, the second largest
mule market, and continue the pur-
chase of mules.
The mule will be as essential as the
regular army for the invasion of Cuba.
The mule is necessity as we'll rs q
luxury in war time. His advantages
over a horse are legion. He is tho
type of toughness. He will do more
work than horse and live on less. AS
a pack animal he is far superior. He
is like camel in his ability to go with
ont water.
The mule can live on dry leaves or
almost any kind Of provender and 40
good work. He will stand any kind
of quantity of abuse or hard usage and
never murmur. His is the patience OF
Job. He is somewhat stubborn and
hard headed, but the sense that is lit
orally beaten into him is as useful to him
and his employer as any other sense
He can trot in mud knee deep all day
without WEAKNESS, and he is far bet
ter swimmer than the horse.
In the lowlands, marshes and varied
streams of Cuba all these qualities
will prove his superior usefulness.
For surefootedness and climbing
ability the mules only superior is thu
mountain goat. It is fact wei
known that the mule in this countr.
, and all countries is par excellence tn
animal of the steep and narrow trail
To any traveller it would seem absurd
to attempt to use horse or any beas
, but mule to scale the Alps, cross tn
:. cliffs and crags of the Yosemite, o
, descend the perilous trail into tn
r canyon of the Colorado River.
: One can ride a we'll trained null
into a we'll or up tree. He is tn
, sine qua non for campaign throug
the mountains of Cuba. Old trooper
| tell me that as a war animal the mul
G has all these advantages and man
: others. Said an old veteran:
: "a mule can discover water tw
r miles off. And he will never fail t
G tell you about it. He will go, if ne'
+ essary, for days without water, but I
J. will let you know sure whenever /
!, comes within two miles of it. Il
= voice is not musical, but it is easy
= understand.
e "Again, his ears are not big fl
S nothing. He is as watchful as ca
d Any unusual sound will awake hi
:" He can tell the tread Of hostile foo
h steps or any movement OF the enen
at any hour Of the night, and he W
" never fail to let you know Of it.
k "The geese that saved ancient "a
1T thage are nothing in watchfulness
I the army mule. A mule will spe
l. out and tell you about q thousal
b. things that horse would let pass
Is without saying word. "
a AS a pack animal, when the ba
lie has to be used in lieu of vehicles, t
lg mule is the only animal. He "
d. carry everything you put on him:
i'd will travel with it forever. lie "
as never break down. Wading marsh.
ng swimming rivers, climbing mountal
X. it is all the same to him. lie i
tens on hardship.
. Mules are used nearly altogether
= armv posts. They carry the courie
= pull the ambulances, pillow the pc
"a to patches. A good mule team "
u pull an ambulance six miles an he
90 for twenty hours and never give f f,
pa pa sign of complaint. Any one OF tn
MY MY at the end of that journey of 100 mi
ing will promptly elevate to the ceiling
rom man who will try to tickle his foot
a. While mule can even stand c.
better than horse, his powers OF
DURANGO find best illustration in
climates. he is theproduct of Sou
AA ern countries. He is always imm1
IA against yellow fever or any contagl'
~ disease. The climate Of Cuba has
- terrors whatever for him. He is
"a swift as the horse in an artlll