The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-23
lrr.m Il -. - -

Fr5m the Kansas City STAR
An element d strength in a war between the
United states and Spain would be the superiority
Of the United states in the matter Of mules The
United States j. the greatest mule nation in the
world and Missouri is the bright particular
mule state in the Union.
Ii Is a remarkable fact that in this contest SPIN
IS also a mule country. The ceremonial team Of
the royal family Of spain is composed OF white
mules. But in this point Of comparison. as in
every other. the superiority Of the United States
is manifest As the United States has more
men and more guns. 80 it has more mules. Spain
has during the three years contest with the IN
SIrcentS been forced % draw her mule supply
from the United States principally from kanst-
CITY With war this supply viii be cut or,
ard the American mule. being no longer s'thiecr
to draft in a cause he must de~pisc, viii be used
in the service Of his own country.
The mule became prominent IN history at the
time Of our civil war. The l0ng-cared champion
seemed TO spring from the earth Many voi'in-
teers from certain sections OF the country who
had never before seen a pair Of mules harneSsed
lived TO see thousands u them hauling army wJg-
Ons. Transfers also seemed TO be created for
the occasion. While the art % driving mules
is a separate and distinct science thousands q
fully qualified drivers appeared. ready % Climb
into the saddles armed with the resonant ''bllcS-
snake and a full, free, rich and rolling vOcJb-
uary.
The mule, il is needless 10 say. has developed
in war the highest military qualitieS-enduTance
patience and courage. The war horse. eulogizcd
by job and many writers since, has never display
ed the practical traits Of the army mule, which
have never vet been preserved in blank verse or
flowing rhyme The mule is ever active, alert
and watchful. and his clarion voice 'TouSes the
soldier e'er the morning star Usually the mule
does not go where glory waits him Though Cen.
Fighting Phil kCarnev habitually rode a muel,
but is condemned to the heavy labor Of the
quartermaster's and cOmmissarys departments
Kut whatsoever lpf-fepd lot ether
in which he is placed ne does his duty He has
been accused Of a quick and even vIndictlve
temper. but in trying times il never allowed
to interfere with the performance Of ms public
duties
And it was in the darkest days and nights %
the war. as his soldier associates viii remem-
Der that the brightest qualities OF the mule Jp-
peaTed. In darkness and in storm, with mud to
the hubs. he leaned 10 the collar and "snaSed
the heavy vain. calm and lmperturbahie- al
though his director wrapped himself with curses
"a with a garment and rglc along enveloped
in a light blue halo of profanity. And when the
muddy march was over. the mule. who. FOR days
together. had dined and suppCd on Cndgates re-
leased from harness and his long vacant interior
decorated with a few quarts OF corn. ran and
raced. and sqUcaled and kicked and PLAYED with
his fellows il he sIw already banning the hort
zOn the rainbow OF peace
In warm and southern regions the services OF
the mule are Indispensable. While he can live
anywhere. he seems a sort of tropical beast. it "a
believed that his ample ears first unfoiGed IN the
Of the equator. and that palm Leaves AMI
similar vegetation stirred 10 bis first high and Vi
brant note In Cuba he has found in peace and
viii find in war a vide field OF exCrtion.
A great general had said that IAN army moves
on its belly" The army with the best sustained
cracker line" must eventually wear out its 1p-
ponent. and il Is the mule that slIstains the
Cracker line" To lightly change saying Of en-
V Il. Forrest. IL i the party THAT gets there
the fastest with the mostest mules on whose
banners viii be twined the iaurels OF victory.