The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-05-13
THE MULE Is NOT A FOOL
IN MORE THAN ONE WAY HE is
WISER THAN THE HORSE.
Have Not tho Knack or Doing Parlor
Tricks. But Have Their share OF Use
full. Everyday wisdorn-Did You Ever
SEQ "A Dead MULE

Patience. calmness. attending to his
own business. frugality and faithful
ness. have earned for the mule the rep
utation OF stupidity. He has become
marked MS the Ounce and blockhead
among animals. SO long ha. the mule
rested under this charge of mental dull
ness that his long ears have become n
mark OF lack of Intelligence. Unjust
comparison with his near relative has
made horse n term OF compli-
ment to men. And il seems that all
the time the mule has been suffering
under undeserved reproach. for the
man who knows the beast OF sharp an
giles and exaggerated curves values him
above the horse in practical intelli-
gence, and believes that patince. lack
of nerves and the faculty of attend
Ing to business have been misunder-
stood for absence of sense.
Animal trainers take not to mules.
and the horse shows know them not.
for they are always beasts of burden
and do their playing among themselves
after working hours. They may not
have the knack of doing parlor tricks.
but they have their share of useful.
everyday wisdom. Everyone knows
that horses can hardly be forced out
OF burning stable. Terror-stricken.
they tremble with every nerve bred
into them and wait for the flames
Seven or eight years ago Sparks Bros
horse and mule barn burned near the
stock yards. Robert Booth. OF Sparks
Bros. says some OF the horses were
6rn grUpI n IL 90
tear themselves loose and run back 10
burning barn. Wherever there was an
avenue of escape for the mules they
came out without help or urging. Two
of the long-eared animals showed hotel
experience. jumping through windows
four feet above the ground.
(which showed the horse sense?" Mr.
Booth asked. The mule can be relied
on to keep his head under circum-
stances in which horse OF any grade
would practically commit suicide from
excitement"
The mule shows his sense even when
he grows wicked. Let n pair of horses
run away. and there is a good bill for
repairs or for Il new wagon awaiting
the owner. He is even thankful II
not called on to pay for other vehicles
wrecked in collisions with his own,
and Is happy to find that his horses
have escaped with a few cuts. When
mules run away. the mule men say,
they keep the road and simply run
till they get tired. The man in the
wagon who knows will sit quietly and
let them do the driving They avoid
inlp vrnnh nOlnS lr,,r -;,
dows like the pest and can turn cor
ners in better curves and with more
safety to what they're dragging than the
man who's riding so fast Calm minds
are not usually quick. and by the time
the pair are growing tired of their
sprint, they decide that the runaway
is over. Nobody hurt. no blacksmiths
bills. They used horse sense" A
horse seldom forgets n runaway: the
mule, apparently, never remembers il.
y mule will wait six years to get
good square kick nj man. That. the
mule men say. is another foundation
less tradition OF the unlearned. They
declare most solemnly that there is
less danger of sudden death from IL
mule than from n horse. AS for kick
ing in harness. Il practice not uncom-
mon among horses of even the best
breeding. the mule does not know the
feeling of hoof against the dashboard.
True. even the friends Of the long
cared do not waste much time i'm cur
rying the hind legs. but that. they say.
is because the mule needs compare
lively little of the comb and brush.
His coat is shorter, coarser. and not so
full as that of the horse. and he is by
nature cleaner. Mules like to wallow.
but not in mud. as do the horses.
In the sale barns ut the stock yards
the managers of the mules are filled
with food. and the animals eat what
they want and quit The hay and grain
might he mountain high and they
would not be tempted. The horses
are given no more than they are sup
posed TO need. for they haven't the tenn
perance of their hard working broth
ers. With no limit TO the food before
them they might eat to the laundering
point and then not eat again for two
weeks. Many horses are injured for
ever by laundering. a mule eats much
less than horse of equal strength
and wastes nothing.
Before crossing strange bridge the
average mule will look it over as if
estimating It's strength and then walk
over cautiously. Nor can il be forced
into stream without careful recon
noiSsance. If he decides that he can't
swim it he refuses 10 bulge until main
force Is used. Hc is using discretion
and is cursed for his "mulishness."
The mule is always a useful citizen.
After neglected youth he begins 10
work, and that's his life story He will
Go rs much work az thirty as nc did
the first year he wore harness Then
some morning he may he found i'm his
stall dead. He is seldom an invalid
Work to the last day ana no doctor
bill. is his law. The pension system
under which many an old horse is
spending his idle days i'm clover field
Is unknown TO the mule The only say
Ing Of any popularity TO contain good
word for tie mule lis. Did you ever
see dead mulcf' SO ono except tho
mule dealers can say ne has. ana the
traders won't admit &c. That little ques
ton speaks cloqucntly for the maligned
animals life tendency A pair Of mules
are supposed to- Outlivc two pain OF