The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-08-19
"HORSE SENsEY AGAIN.

A spark sometimes starts q sweep.
ing cOnfiagratiOn. Some weeks age
We had a paragraph on the subject OF
"horse sense, " and by reason Of it our
contemporaries have been making
sport OF US for not knowing that mule
sense was the best kind Of sense. Our
able and worthy cO-wOrker, the Rich
mond News Leader puts ii this way
Some time ago we had some con-
uOversy with esteemed contemporaries
regarding the best kind Of sense there
Is. The News Leader took the position
that lead mule sense Is the safest and
most useful Of all, and u recollection
- that the Farmvill Herald differed
We now find in the Herald this strik-
ing confirmation Of our views on the
interesting and important subject:
We remarked in presence Of a friend
n other day something about horse
sense when he quickly said: THE
horse Is the biggest fool in the world
II he runs away he will just ~ soon
run into the fire or the water as on the
plain road, whereas the mule. no mat
Ter how frightened he becomes or how
last he may be running, will dodge
n smallest mud hole in the road ,
ihis was a new n on us, and we have
been wondering eyer since whether or
not others agree with this friend.
"A few days ago four mules hitched
10 a heavily loaded wagon came down
the steep hill on Ninth street TO Frank
IN. They were turned west into
FRANKLIN, where there is level ground
IheTe the Ofi-~wheeler-and q white
mule at that-nOt only refused to pull.
a planted his legs firmly at an angle
~ fOrty-hye, laid back his ears and mi
himself in an attitude OF invincible on
position 70 going further. The old ne.
gro who was driving considered the
mule a moment aud then dismounted
with a courteous wave Of his hand /
IA II apolOgizing for his mistake. and
walked back and unlocked the rear .
wheel, which he had forgotten TO do /
the grade changed. Then the
cam moved on, the white mule peace
lully tanning himself with his ears
ihst II an exact illustration of lead n
mule sense. The mule did not sec
Why he should do unnecessary work .
somebody else had made 4
mistake and entered his protest then a
'Hu there so strongly that there could h
ave Deeh no mistake about what ne =,
ueant. y
we commend our Farmville con.
lnporary to the study OF this admira q
he animal. He does not pretend In "
e beautiful or graceful, does no fancy ~
teps IN life and asks no applause II
sui he knows how to attend 10 his I'm
luess n does IL faithfully and at the t.
anne time has a clear understanding of
us own rights and capacities and does
."t perIalt the one 10 be infringed or a,
ne Other exceeded. He il not theo- =
etlcal and has little Imagination. but h'
- KNOWS the good places i'm the road bl
"d how to handle himself so a. IN ac-
lihpiish the largest results with the
.N7t eAertlOn on any kind OF grade X
10 no not know any better kind Of al
'l7e 1hsn That. The mule deals with
WIS exactly a. they are and i'm the ha
lost sensible and the straightest way.U
And our brother is strictly right in
Is conclusion that the mule knows T.
TO handle himself" the trouble VI
ing that he most generally handles WI
.mself in the wrong way and at the
rohg time. The animal that kicks AT le,
shadow and never allows a substance 10,
pass unlocked, is, in u opinion. a lin
'orn fool" Dodge a mud hole and
'"n a mar is against sanity and
uch more against good, every day XII
'orse sense" We never knew a jus
'u'hside Virginia farmer select
u'e a. hunting companion. nor a
hniander nor a cavalry man 20 into
ute mounted Oh a long-eared charp 'o'
saddle white Surry for the feldn I
VI reference to the kindly, chivalrous be