The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-07

He Has Some CHARACTERISTICS That
Are Not wholly Uninteresting.
From Our Animal Friends.

From Our Animal Friends.
In the case Of dohkeys in our climate it
is a common mistake 70 suppose that they
are not sensitive to cold. donkey, on the
contrary cannot begin to stand the degree
Of cold which is comfortably supported by
the horse. In other respects he is a far
easier animal to care for than the horse.
As a beast OF burden his endurance is
greater; he may be fed coarse heritage and
win thrive upon it, His coat needs regular
brushing. but not that particular grooming
without which the horse cannot be kept in
health. In England the costermOnger'
donkey is 80 invaluable 10 his master that
ne Is known as ''the poor mans horse
while in France the baudet and in Spain
the barrico-a larger, heavier type Of ass
which is used for mule breeding-is of
equal importance. The term donkey
refers TO the ordinary dun color of the
ass coat, and has come to be the popular
name by which he 6 known to English
speaking people. In the trea tment of the
donkey the essential thing to RENE mber ~
10 house him warmly in winter, being
careful never 10 expose him 10 snow or TO
extreme cold.
The staple food for the ass in summer is
grass. but II hard work and long daily
journeys are required of him he must
nave oats and beans in moderate quanti-
ties His staple winter feed is good hay,
with roots. Turnips and carrots are ex-
cellent roots, OF which the animal never
tires. Sun another mis- AIKEN idea is that
dOnkeys like thistles. As a matter of
fact. the donkey viii eat thistles If noth-
ing more appetizing he offered him. he is
only dainty in his tastes, but will eat al
most anything, very like The goat. The
thistle as a dehcacy. however. is really
enjoyed only by the camel
As a pet, the donkey is a most inoffen-
sive little animal. which may be cared for
by any fairly intelligent man or boy in
stead Of an experienced groom. His only
vice is that of Obstinacy, which is the
natural outcome of genera tons of harsh
and inconsiderafe treatment. His mouth
is so callous to the Bit thai it is a tempta-
ton to ignorant bOyhood to consider the
poor erea ture incapable of feeling pain.
His thick hide and rough coat fortunate
ly protect Inc body from the torturing
sting of flies
The donkey is not excitable, but his emo
tons are strong enough to make him de-
votedly fond of a master who will pet and
care for him. When he is trained by kind
ness he viii learn 10 follow like dog.
Because OF the ass even temper the Egyp
tians much prefer the ass to the horse.
except, We are told on occasions of pa
Eade3' The horse is chiefly valued in the
East as "a charger for war purposes; the
ass Is the hack for daily use where the
much-endufing camel is not employed. A
wealthy Copt viii give as much as $3.50
for a white ass of good stature and easy
PAGES. Even al the present day the
natfve Egyptian likes to ride the quiet
ass. which neither rears plunges nor SHES,
and Keeps steady pace, fast enough un-
der tropical sun
But Mr. S. Sidney, an English writer of
~ l.g.. ~fN~~
fancy the donkey a mount for boy to
study horsemanship. The donkey he de-
clares. has not riding shoulders and does
not afford a proper seat for a saddle. The
riders of donkey races sit on the hind
quarters. Anatomically considered the
ass is essentially a beast for the pack sad
die" It's callous mouth will lead the
equestrian into bad habits, if he has later
ITO deal with The eSquisitely tender mouths
of horses. All donkey riders not packed in
Oriental saddles must hold on by the bri-
die, habit fatal to good horsemanshiD. ="
on the other hand, Mr. Sidney speaks
enthusiastically of what may be done with
donkeys in harness. A good donkey is in
valuable for family use when he is har-
messed to a cart of appropriate size AS a
humble servant of all work he is not ex-
pensive 10 purchase OF 10 feed" With a
well-traiTted donkey a carload of children
IS sale from the danger of those sudden
epuIHloHS OF excitement which sometimes
bring the soberest ponies to grief" Mr.
Sidney goes on 20 say that the London cos
termonser hawkers of fruit, fish and vege-
tables are by no means unkind in the
treatment of their donkeys The pace at
which he costers asses travel. the dis
tances they complete in day with we'll
balanced load on their clever 'go-carts.
and the sleek appearance of the animals
prove that in the main they are well treat
ed-often better treated than The costers'
Wlves-and they must be well fed. The
owner of very fast donkey on She Bright
ON road, i'm answer 20 an inquiry as TO now
he fed him, replied: Like a race boss +"