The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-19

THE MI LIE l-htIA l. = l Al -
The western Missouri court of an
meals. because a certain mule in Kan
sas city injured workman, has deliv-
cred a sweeping condemnation Of all
mules as if there were not mules and
mules It decides that the mule, not
this particular bule hut all mules is
domestic animal Of such troacherou5
and vicious nature that the courts may
take notice Of it, and that when a
workman is injured by mule its own
err cannot plead ignorance Of its nature
as 4 defense.
This is a surprisingly sweeping doci-
sion. II is probuhlc this particular
mule is vicinus-some mules are-hnt
because he is vicious it is as unjust to
decide that all these lnng-sufferl"E ana
patient and much put upon animals are
vicious as it would he to decide that all
horses are fractions and vicious be-
cause some particular hors" refuses tn
pull his load, probably for reasons en-
tirely satisfactory to himself. 1t IS
likely that if the court had taken eX-
merit testimony upon this point it would
have decided differently. Any old Mis-
souri, negro could have given the court
important information upon the subject,
for no one knows the peculiarities OF the
mule family better than an old negro,
and equally no one is so we'll acQuaint-
ed with cid negroes rs the mule.
T. 1NIc ~
decision is that it puts an unjust and
! unnecessary stigma upon the Whole
mule genus The mule may he mon
grel, but he is smarter than the rola-
| tives on either side of the family ana
by courage. endurance and defiant spirit
avenges the prosecutions which the in
! ferior and weaker spirited parents have
had to suffer for ages. The mule may
be obstinate but is only obstinate when
it knows it is right, and as it is right
nine times out Of ten, that is virtue
| for which the court should have given
credit. In fixing an official status it
also should have said that the mule
courage never waivers; that it has end
less capacities for work, and If it does
not always choose to exercise them II
has good reasons; and that it takes
punishment without a Whimper anc
conceals its feeling like a stole. The
court should have recognized the higf
place the mule holds in sacred history
It was the mule that walked away
leaving Absalom hanging between
heaven and earth, and wondered as il
went why the young man wore his hail
so long Ii was the mule that faithful
ly served King David's sons after they
had slntten AmnOn. 1t was the mule
that carried Solomon in all his glory
to his coronation as king Of Israel, ant
after he was crowned "aI the earth
brought the wise monarch more mules
Wisest of animals. 1t was the mui'
which was Ahabs chief concern Whel
he sent his men to get grass for it il
the famine. 1t was the mule which wa
to help bring the scattered tribes bacl
to Jerusalem, as Isaiah prOphnSied. II
peace the mule IS patient and lung-Suf
fering. In war it may not, like tn
hero, say aha" when the trumpe
soundeth," nor "snell the battle afa
off, the thunder of the captains, and tn
shouting" There is no need for it It
swallow the ground with tjerceness an
rage" for 1t knows that all the har
work Will fall to it. And thus it ha
been from the beginning, Chicag
Tribune.