The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-17
MULE IS A MOST
CURIOUS ANIMAL
Is Not a Natural But Artificial
Creature
A GREAT M0UNTAINEER
Is a Philosopher and Always Cool, But
He Is Not Devoid of Weak
nesses-compared to
the Horse.
A GREAT NOUN TANNER

IHG 0VTSCs
The most mysterious and the most mis-
understood animal in existence is the
mule.
The mule is not natural. but artificial.
The zoo knows him not; neither, presum-
ably, did the ark He was not included
in the scheme of creation, but is the
invention of man. He is a mystery,
standing midway between the horse and
the ass. each of which has its own tribal
characteristics. But the mule, instead
of inheriting his traits from either or
both of his parents, blossoms out as an
individuality by himself.
Where does he get these traits from
Why Is he so magnificent mountaineer?
Whence came his intelligence and COM
mon sense? Why does he combine with
these two qualities his lack of nerves?
Why, again, when he has his mother S
coat, does half the attention produce an
equal result? What makes him particular
as to his drink?
How shall we account for his mental
traits which those that we know describe
as docile. friendly and intelligent? A
more WllIlDB BEAST ueNtI tAl5lEbt bIlu II
he has equals he has few If any superiors
in the matters of endurance and good
humored philosophy The mountains Of
Baluchistan are particularly unpleasant
as ground for marching over; the going
is mainly over loose stones; there is no
shade, practically no water, and one
makes ones path as one goes along.
During maneuvers some years ago a
party OF English soldiers started one
morning before dawn and marched under
such conditions, up and down. down and
up. till about 800 The force thus pushed
ahead was small when 1t started; 1t was
smaller still when 1t came into action.
But the guns were there. One mule only
fell out. The mules Of a mountain bat
terry are provided with reliefs, but on this
occasion there was no time to get the
relief line up and change the loads.
The mule that dropped out marched on
hour after hour, mile after mile, showing
mo slack, offering no complaint and
finally tainted away with the load on
it's back-fell down in a swoon like a
girl.
Horse Must Be Persuaded.
The horse will gallop his heart out;
he is uplifted by excitement. He may
die between the shafts, but will he go on
to such pitch without an occasional
persuader?
1t Is as a mountaineer that the mule
shines, but merely to mention his sure
footedness Is to go not nearly far enough.
A mountain battery was taken out for a
big climb, and some of the problems the
mules solved on that occasion We're Of
nature to make the hair stand on end.
Tt was like climbing a tree. The load
carried Is great, ranging from 260 to 800
pounds.
The philosphic cooiness with which q
mule will stand, with all his four feet
close together, perched on a pinnacle.
and thence determining the next down
ward step, is a study of cheerfulness and
sound sense under difficulties not easily
paralleled. He never seems to want to
turn back. He does not get frightened at
prospective perils. He knows exactly
brings his mind to bear on each emerg-
ency as it comes up. 1t is at such times
that one begins to see that the mule Is
only beast of burden but a strange and
! fascinating mystery
1t must not be supposed however, that
the mule is devoid of animal weaknesses
Far from 1t. He is extremely susceptible
to cold and want Of work. and, like a
fresh horse, under these bracing inhu-
ences will betray a spirit of irresponsible
prankishness that is deplorable. In such
a mood he loves to wait till the load
is on his back, and then, before It can
be strapped on, with one hilarious up-
lifting of his hinder parts, to send half q
gun or a steel carriage hurting over
his head But one must distinguish be-
tween kicking of this nature and vicious
kicking, His action Is merely that of a
fresh hunter on cold morning. At such
a time. on the fiat one is likely to see
something that is worth watching-bat.
! terry maneuVers at a walk
This, to the bursting mule. is apt to be
monotonous. Presently the battery comes
to a ditch. The mule has to jump, and
the driver must give him the length OF
his leading rein. That is all he wants
Over he goes, and with the impetus thus
acquired makes one glorious dash for
! freedom. Now the mule has no mouth
and to pull him up once he has n start
sabout as easy as to stop a runaway
motor by hauling at the lamps. AS the
mule gathers speed he Is propelled over
! the terrain with the prodigious strides OF
! the ostrich. His great boots twinkle
and his flying feet scarce touch the
ground. But the space annihilating pow
ers of the human leg have limits, and too
often that limit is reached. The moment
comes when something must GO" With
a gesture of despalrlng protest the driv-
ers end of the rein is cast wildly away
as though to the winds, and the mule
passes VIGOROUSLY on to freedom
1t Is to the mules credit that having
blown off steam, he was pleased to re-
turn graciously to his place in the pro-
cesson and resume his duties with the
demure aspect of one in whose mouth
butter would not melt.
Apart from his conduct as a laborer,
the mule has certain physical and mental
traits which are both curious and valu-
able. In the first place, he works up to a
comparatively old age. The one Of whom
| honorable mention has been made was
| fifteen years old, while baggage mule
at the advanced age of twelve years UNI
derwent an operation that would have
been attempted on only a young horse
This mule was perfectly well in a short
| time.
Has Valuable Traits.
| Again, the mule has not the nerves
which in the horse have led to the say
ing that he is a fool When he is be-
ing entrained he may play the idiot out
side purely from levlty. but once he Is
in he shows no signs Of alarm. A horse
may go in quietly and get wildly upset
| when he finds himself in unfamiliar sur
roundings.
This collectedness Is not mated to slow
ness or stupidity. The mule is surpris-
ingly wise. and II the following anecdote
| - W 10 dctC'NSh-uuu IL COiftCS itVHi Oil
untainted source-he Is capable of rapid
thought and prompt action in emergency
This was in Burmah, and when the
mules were returning from water, the
situation became complicated by the sud
| den arrival of a mad dog The difficulty,
however, was Immediately adjusted A
mule volunteered for the post of honor.
Moving out, the intrepid creature went
for that mad dog, rose in the air, came
q hn1U and Etannad fha nfa
out of it.