The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-01-15
CONCERNING THE DONKEY.

He Has Some Characteristics That Are
@ Not Wholly Uninteresting.
In the care Of donkeys in our climate
1t Is common mistake to suppose that
| they are not sensitive to cold A dom
key, on the contrary, cannot begins to
stand the degree Of cold which is COM
fortably supported by the horse In
other respects he is a far easier animal
to care for than the horse. AS beast
| of burden his endurance 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 cam
not be kept in health. In England the
costermonger's donkey is so invaluable
to 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 impor-
lance. The term donkey refers to
the ordinary dun color of the ass coat,
and has come to be the popular name
by which he is known to English speak
ing people. In the treatment of the
donkey the essential thing to remember
" to house him warmly in winter be-
ing careful never to expose him to snow
or to extreme cold
The staple food for the ass in sum-
mer 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 car
rots are ecellent roots, of which the an
imal never tires. Still another mistaken
idea is that donkeys like thistles. AS
matter of fact the donkey will eat this
ties il nothing more appetizing be of
fere6 him; he is not dainty in his tastes,
but will eat almost anything, very like
the goat. The thistle as a delicacy,
however, is really enjoyed only by the
camel.
Asa pet the donkey is most inoffen-
sjve 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 outgrowth of generations Of
harsh and inconsiderate treatment His
mouth is so callous to the bit that it is
a temptation to ignorant boyhQod to
consider the poor creature incapable of
feeling pain. His thick hide and rough
coat fortunately protect the body from
the torturing sting of flies.
The donkey is not eXcitable, but his
emotions are strong enough to make
him devotedly fond of master who
will pet and care for him. When he is
trained by kindness he will learn to fol-
low like a dog. Because of the ass
even temper the Egyptians much prefer
the ass to the horse, except 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-endurng
camel is not employed. A wealthy Copt |
will give as much as two hundred
pounds for a white ass of good stature
and easy passes. Even at the pres
emit day the native Egyptian likes to
ride the quiet ass, which neither rears,
olunges nor SHES, and keeps a steady |
pace, fast enough under a tropical SUM-"
But Mr.. S. Sidney, an English writer !
If authority on the equine species, does
lot fancy the donkey as mount for
BOY to study Workmanship. The dom
Key, he declares, has not "riding Shout
lers and does not afford 81 proper seat
or a saddle. The riders Of donkey
aces sit on the hind quarters. Ana
omically considered, the ass is essen
tally a beast for the pack saddle" It's
allous mouth will lead the equestrian
INTO bad habits, If he has later Ito deal
With the exquisitely tender mouths of
lorses. All donkey riders not packed in
oriental saddles must hold on by the
hoh foto oil IN cr0O hnrSQn1Qn.
hip"
On the other hand, Mr. Sidney speaks
of what may be done
With donkeys in harness. A good dom
,ey is Invaluable for family use when
e is harnessed to a cart of appropriate
lie. AS a humble servant of all work
e is not expensive to purchase or to
eed' With a well-trained donkey a
n