The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1910-04-14

! think all kinds OF learning ought 70
be a pleasure. and began 20 teach
my little mules by playing with them.
They soon grew 10 like our little
games as much as I did and I was
simply astonished at how they
learned"
why" said the visitor who for the
FIRST time was visiting the mule school.
that Is Froebers system"
Whose system? Froebel? Who
was he? An animal trainer? Never
heard Of him. No: I don't know any.
thing about systems or anything Ike
that. all I know is what ! studied out
from nature. l believe every animal
thinks. and the hrst thing I do after
! have got him 70 love and trust me,
Is TO awaken his intelligence. ! be.
ieve IN letting men, children and ami.
mails do their own thinking ! never
use a whip IN training my animals. and
Z never scold or shout az them. ! tell
them what l want. talk 20 them. show
them, pet them. and when they make
even an attempt 20 do what ! tell
them. I praise and reward them lib
orally. The FIRST time your horse or
mule puts out his nose 10 your hand
or raises his foot az your command Is
IKE the FIRST time your baby picks out
the crooked S or the round Oft is
the A. p. c Of his education.
when { have shown my pupil how
20 DO a thing once o. twice appeal TO
his reason. : give him time and let
him work the thing "a IN his
mind Often / have left the corral
after a lesson. and when ] returned
would and the mules trying TO do by
themselves the thing ! had been teach.
Ing them. You would be surprised
how quickly they get the idea One
o. the very FIRST things a man who
works with animals should hnd out Is
that every animal has It's own individ-
uality. its own ideas thoughts. plans
and feelings, and that these should be
counted upon and respected
when a man is trimming a mule he
ought TO study It's character and dis.
position. An horaes--or mules-can't
be taught alike, any more than all
children. Some animals need nor
patience. more care. moro time % mas
ter their lessons than others Some.
Ike pm children. are backward ana
dindont. and these have 20 DO chocrcd.
encouraged, pettcd, praised and re
wardcd moro than others am \
great believer IN rewards. anyway. and
always have nay pockets fuIl ~ applcs
and sugar for my pets They soon
learn 20 know q, too; why. / have a
little mule ONT thorc-but ~perhapB-
With a modest smile. perhaps You
would Ike 20 see my mule SCHOOL,"
when the visitor had given an en-.
thuFiasiic assent. she was led 20 a BIG
green pasture where, scattered over
lte yClvoty cNpanso. 20 or so mules
were grazing quietly
Tho professor of this novel school
ufcd no boil 20 call his pupils 90 their
duties walking up 20 the bars he
called musically "Oiyn. oiya, oiya.
and before the echoes oi his voice had
died out on the sunny morning air the
mules were Enlloping toward him from
every part ~ the field, kicking up
their heels and braying joytully as
they came
Now line up there, boys" he said.
speaking Ia a low. pleasant, converse,
tional tone. "and show the lady what
tlne scholars you are"
The rough, shaggy. long cared
creatures crowded up 20 the bars rub
bling their heads against the "protos.
sor's" shoulder. nipping az hts ears,
nuEEling his neck, and showing. as
plainly as dumb creatures could. how
much they loved him,
They were wonderfully intelligent
those pleheisn aud unlovely Ittlo
mules. marvelously Intelligent at their
clever and amusing tricks. their intri.
cate maneuvers, the varied aud sur.
prising knowledge they displayed.
They marched and countermarched;
drilled az skillhally as a troop OF sol
diers; counted and spelled. waltEed
and polkaed; teotored on a plank.
sat up like dogs on their hindQuar.
ters. and answered questions by nod,
ding and shaking their funny, shaggy
hQadR. ch0WOd gum I'm initiation nj tina