The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-04-02
THE MULE GETTING HIS DUE.
Growing Recognition OF Ills Sterling
Qualities.
New ork Sun.

Never before in his history was the
great American mule better apprccia-
ted for his sterling mulish qualities
than he is now. The demand for him
is steadily on the increase; the prices
paid for him are excellent.
More than $4,000 mules have gone
to south Africa since the Boer war be-
gan and mules are still going there by
the ship load. The prices paid blythe
British government range from S110
to S175 mule. In other words the
mule has already brought to his ma
tive land since the South African
war began between $500, ,050 and
s13,3O0,000.
And the war mule is not the only
one of his kind to go to South Africa.
There is growing demand for the
American mule there to be used in the
labors Of peace. The +. B. Bishop s
Sons Company Of Jersey City have
shipped more than six hundred mules
from Brooklyn to South Africa since
Jan. last and has orders for several
hundred morc-aIl to be used in the
ordinary business OF life and not for
war.
Then there are the regular ship
nents to the West IDdics OF more
than five thousands mules year to be
used on the sugar plantations. All
told it is estimated that there are not
more than 1000, 900 mules left now in
all the United States and with the de-
mand for them still on the incrca Sc
the chances Of even higher prices for
the sagacious animal are exceedingly
promising.
"rhe mule is u splendid fellow"
said . member of the Jersey City con-
cern, "and he has been grossly SLAM
dered both by ridicule and direct accu-
sations.
My father began shipping mulcs 10
the West Indies as far back as 1885,
and from father to son we have been
in the business ever since. In 1856
we moved our headquarters from New
Haven to Jersey City ard have been
right where we are ever since.
II have been in the business all
my life and 7 think I may venture 10
say that l know something about the
mule. And Ircpeat that he is as Fl ne
fellow as ever stood on four legs. He
knows more than the horse, he will DO
more hard work than the horse, he
costs less to keep than the horse and
he is as gentle and friendly as the
horse if you know how to handle
him.
'The mule is born slave, patient,
accomplishing, all-enduring, provided
he is kindly treated. He resents ILL
treatment. It is that which develops
his stubborness. And he can be sot
in his ways if he once makes up his
mind that he is not getting fair
deal.
"An Irishman cannot handle a
mule because an Irishman goes at him
with q club-wants to kick and pound
him into his work. That won't do.
The darkey is the ideal master of the
mule. There seems to be an instinc-
tive bond of sympathy between the
darkey and the mule. They under
stand each other.
"The darkey coaxes and cajoles him
and with that kind of treatment you
can do anything with mule. Now
here is photograph that will give you
an idea of how true that is. You will
see that it represents mule standing
in stable patiently and being shod
without even go much as halter on
; him. That scene was up in Peekskill
and that mule was such devil that
he would tear everything to pieces
whenever an attempt was made to put
shoes on him.
"He simply couldn't be shod. The
blacksmith wasn't living who could do
it. And what was the reason? Sim
ply because when he was taken to be
shod for the first time the fool of q
blacksmith tried to overcome his nat
ural timidity by pounding him with a
hammer.
"'He is mule reasoned the hu-