The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-06-23
(Washington POst.)

(WaShingtOn Post.)
The Quartermaster's Department
OF the Federal army in San Francisco
| was torn from center to circumference
the other day by the important
query as to whether or not govern
ment mules are liable to seasickness.
Telegraphic orders from Washing
ton to Immediately ship l2O mules
along with the re-enforcements for
Rear Admiral Dewey at Manila
knocked the precedents of the
Quartermaster's Office higher than
Gilderoy's kite. AS the mules were
required to take an ocean voyage
nearly halfway around the world,
the Quartermaster tried in a score of
ways to receive authentic informa-
tion as to the liability of the animals
to seasickness. 1t was reserved for
St. Louis horse and mule trader to
to come to the governments assist
ance with an assurance that mules
never become seasick, although
horses do, and consequently the
long-eared cargo is now afloat on the
heaving waters of the Pacific -
New Orleans Times-Democrat
When you want something
thoroughly reliable, in which de-
pendence can be placed in an emer-
gency, secure a mule and cease from
worry. Any one tolerably we'll ac-
quainted with the mule would have
been willing to make oath that sea-
sickness would not come near him.
There need not have been the slight
est hesitation in the matter mule
would no more beome seasick than
he would take yellow fever. He is a
real, genuine immune from outlying
| diseases.
A mule is liable to get sick in the
natural order of things. He may
have the ordinary troubles of the
horse kind. such as collie or founder,
although the latter is not common
with him, but he does not 90 out of
his way to scrape acquaintance with
unnecessary and undesirable Attic
tions. A change Of climate does not
make any difference in mules
feelings. Hot or cold, moist or dry,
it is all one to him. He journeys
from Kentucky. or Missouri. to Cali
fornia, and is just as comfortable on
the Pacific Slope, and as much at
home, as he was in his native State,
and there was no need for the slight
est apprehension concerning the
effects of an ocean voyage.
He jogs patiently along, attached
to street car, or trips gayly down
the street in front of light buggy.
with equal unconcern. When he is
given good feed he enjoys it greatly.
but if he is compelled to go supper
less, he never says word. He is
not given to making complaints. A
Louisiana drouth or Cuba wet
season look alike to him as far as
can be detected. No observations
will come from him in either case.
A sudden change, from browsing con-
tentedly in rich pasture to hard
work drawing army wagons, he ac-
cepts with social Indifference.
1t seems absured to question his
ability to stand sea voyage, OF
whatever length. OF course he can
stand it. No matter what the dis
tance he sails, no matter how high
the angry waves may toss their crests,
the vessel in which he is travelling
may roll and pitch, but the mule re-
mains serene through it all. He
takes his regular meals, when he can
get them, and steps off the boat at
the end of the journey cheerful.
pleasant, ready for business. Horses
may get seasick, elephants are said
to be affected in this way, but not
the mule. 1t takes a good deal more
than the slamming around of vessel
in rough sea to make a mule miss a
meal. He is as good in the Philip.
pines as in the United States, in the
Andes of South America as on the
plains of Texas Wherever you pu,
him he is ready for service. Nothing
can discourage him. We have heard
of only one serious objection, which
is, that he must be sworn at, and
vigorously, to get the best results
from him. Perhaps this is not true
but the charge has been made. Bar
ring this one defect, the mule is 8
success. and his freedom from sea
sickness, adds another triumph tt
to his already long list.