The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-09
CONCERNING THE DONKEY.

In the care OF donkeys In our climate
e is a common mistake to suppose
that they are not sensitive to cold. A
donkey on the contrary, cannot begin
TO stand the degree or cold Whch Is
comfortably supported by the horse In
other respects, he is "a far easier amman
TO care for than the horse. As peast
Of burden, his endurance is greater; ne
may be fed coarse herbage and VIII
thrive upon II. HIS coat needs regular
brushing. but not that particular
grooming without which the horse can
not be kept in health In England, the
costermongers donkey is 50 Invaluable
10 his master that he is known as the
poor mans horse" while in FRANCE the
baudet and in Spain the barrco-a
larger heavier type OF ass which is
used for mule breeding--is OF equal I'M
portance. The term donkey refers 10
the ordinary dun color OF the ass coat,
and has come 10 be the popular name
by which he is known 10 English speak
ing people. In the treatment Oh the
donkey the essential thing TO remember
is TO house him warmly In winter, De
ing careful never 10 expose hlm 10
snow or TO extreme cold, says Our AMI
NAL Friends.
The staple food for the ass in sum-
mer is grass, but IL hard work ana
long daily journeys are required OF him
he must have oats and beans in mod
crate quantities His staple winter feed
is good hay, with roots. Turnips ana
carrots are excellent roots, OF whicn
the animal never tires. Still another
mistaken idea is that dOnkeys like THIS
ties. AS a matter OF fact, the donkey
will eat thistles- IL nothing more
appedzing be offered him. he Is not
dainty in his tastes, but Will eat aimost
anything, very like the goat. The uhis-
tie as delicacy however, is really en-
joyed only by the camel.
AS a pet the donkey is most inof-
fensive little animal, which may be cared
for by any fairly intelligent man or
boy, instead of an experienced groom.
His only vice is that OF obstinacy,
which is the natural outcome or gem
erations of harsh and inconsiderate
treatment His mouth is so callous TO
the bit that il is a temptation to ignor-
ant boyhood TO consider the poor crea-
ture incapable of feeling pain. HIS
thick hide and rough coat fortunately
protect the body from the torturing
sting of fires.
The donkey is not excitable, but his
emotions are strong enough TO make
him devotedly fond OF a master who
will pet and care for him. When he
is trained by kindness he win learn to
follow like dog. Because OF the ass
even temper the Egyptians much pre-
fer the ass to the horse, except. we
are told. on occasions of parade" The
horse Is chiefly valued i'm the East as
"a charger for war purposes" the ass
is the back for daily use where the
much enduring camel il not employed.
A wealthy Copt VIII give as much as
two hundred pounds for n white ass
Of good stature and easy PAGES.
Even at the present day the native
Egyptian likes to ride the quiet ass,
~. a. L.. H.
and keeps a steady pace, fast enough
under a tropical sun.
But Mr.. s. Sidney. an English writer
OF authority on the equine species, does
not fancy the donkey as a mount for a
boy TO study horsemanship. The
donkey. he declares. has not riding
shoulders and does not afford a proper
seat for a saddle. The riders Of don
key races sit on the hind quarters. An
at6mdcally considered the ass Is essen
TALLY beast for the pack saddle" Its
caIlous mouth will lead the equestrian
into bad habits II he has later Ito
deal with the exquisitely tender mouths
OF horses All donkey riders not packeu
In Oriental saddles must hold on by the
bride habit fatal TO good horseman-
ship"
on the other hand Mr.. Sidney speaks
enthusiastically Of what may be done
with donkevs I'm harness. A good don
key is Invaluable for family use when
he Is harnessed go n cart Of appropriate
size AS humble servant OF all work
he ~ not expensive to purchase or 20
feed" with n we'll trained donkey
cart load OF children Is safe from the
danger ~ "those sudden ebullitions of
excitement which sometimes bring the
sobarest ponies 10 grief" MIR. Sidney
goes on 20 saw that the London cceter-
monger hawkers OF fruit. FISH ami veg
etables are by no means unkird in the
treatment 81 their donkeys. The pace
~ which the costers' asses travel. the
distance they cpmpiete Nv n dtv With
q we'll balanced toad on their clever o.
carts AMI the sleeh appearance OF the
animals prove fhat IN the mair the"
are we'll trcated--ofteu bettcr treated
than the COS. ers' wives--and they mus'
DO we'll fed Tho owner " n verv fast
dcnkev on Tho brighton road IN an.
ever fo an '~~rirv as 10 how he fed
him. replied: Like a racehoss.