The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-04
FACTS ABOUT THE DONKEY.
The Despiscd Beast of Burden Not
Wholly Uninteresting.

Il
In the care OF donkeys in our climate il
is common mistake to suppose that they
| are not sensitive to cold. A donkey on
| the contrary. cannot begin TO stand the
| degree of cold which is comfortably sup
| ported by the horse. In other respects
| he is "a far easier animal TO care for than
| the horse. AS a beast of burden his en-
durance is greater; he may be fed coarse
heritage and will thrive upon it. His
| coat needs regular brushing. but not that
particular grooming without which the
, horse cannot be kept in health. In Eng
land, the costermonger's donkey is SO
invaluable 10 his master that he 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 popu-
lar name by which he is known to En-
glish-spealing people. In the treatment
of the donkey the essential thing TO re-
member is to house him warmly in win
ter, being careful never to expose him to
snow or to extreme cold.
The staple food for the ass in summer
is grass. but if hard work and long daily
journeys are required of him he must have
oats and beans in moderate quantities. His
staple winter feed is good hay. with roots.
Turnips and carrots are excellent roots of
which the animal never tires. Still another
mistaken idea is that donkeys like thistles.
As a matter of fact, the donkey will cat
thistles If nothing more appetizing be Of
fered him: he is not dainty in his tastes
but will eat almost anything. very like the
goat. The thistle as delicacy, however,
is really enjoyed only by the camel
As q 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 nat
ural outcome of generations of harsh and
inconsiderate treatment. His mouth is
so callous 10 the bit that il is n temptation
TO Ignorant boyhood to consider the poor
creature incapable OF feeling pain. His |
thick hide and rough coat fortunately pro-
tect the body from the torturing sting OF |
flies
The donkey is not excitable, but his emo |
tons are strong enough 10 make him de- |
Notedly fond OF a master who will pet and |
care for him. When he is trained by kind |
ness he will learn to follow like a dog. |
Because Of the ass even temper the Egyp- |
tians much prefer the ass to the horse, ex-
oept. we are told on occasions of parade"
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-endur-
ing camel is not employed. A wealthy |
Copt will give as much as G200 for a white
ass of good stature and easy PAGES.
Even at the present day the native Egyp-
tian likes to ride the quiet ass, which
neither rears, plunges. nor SHES and keeps
a steady pace, fast enough under tropical /
sun
But Mr.. 6. Sidney, an English writer of |
on. the equine species, does not
fancy the donkey as a mount for boy TO
study Workmanship. The donkey. he de-
clares has not riding shoulders and does
not afford proper seat for saddle. The
riders OF donkey races sit on the hind
quarters. Anatomically considered, the ass
IS essentially beast fer the pack saddle"
Its csllous mouth will lead the equestrian |
INTO bad habits. IL he has later Ito deal
With the exquisitely tender mouths 81
horses. All donkey riders not packed In |
oriental saddles must hold on by the
1ridle. habit fatal 10 good horseman-
hip"
On the other hand. Mr. Sidney speaks
of what may be done with |
ionkeys in harness. good donkey is
invaluable for family use wen he is har-
tossed 10 cart of appropriate size. As a
rumble servant of all work he is not ex-
'ensire 10 purchase or TO feed"
With well-trained donkey cart load
u children is safe from the danger OF
those sudden ebullitions of excitement
which sometimes bring the soberest ponies
o grief" Mr.. Sidney goes on 10 say TINT
he London costermonger hawkers of fruit.
sf and vegetables are by no means un-
lind in the treatment OF their donkeys
The mace at which the costers' asses |
ravel, the distance they complete in a
fNl, lxnl. l
lever 'so-carts.' and the sleek appearance
IS the animals prove that In the main
hey are well treated-o:ten better treat
d Than the eosters' wiyes-and they must |
'e well fed. The owner OF very fast
donkey on the Brighton road In answer ,
o an enquiry as TO how be fed him, re-
Iiied: Like a race boss"