Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1915-03-06
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON, D. {.
By U. s. Press Association,
Bond Bldg, Warrington, d. G.
THE AMERICAN MULE Is A GAL
LIANT ANIMAL IN WAR


tends around the world. Among many
nationalities the mule is a better
known symbol of the great Republic
of the World than the eagle. The mule
or at least one of the parents Of the
mule, is the accepted symbol Of one
of the large American political part
les. The male Is a better known beast
of war than the lion, the dragon or
the dog of war. lie has won bis spurs
and his oats on fields of glory which
Ia rhetorical way of speaking of
plain battlefelds-all over the world.
Whereas the camel and the elephant
have been yalient soldiers, their mill
tary activities and martial enterprises
have been restricted within sundry
chimes. Not so with the mule He
has gone wherever duty called him,
and his delicate hoof prints have
marked the sands of time and the
roads and the fields of the earth, lie
has been a comrade of the horse in
the campaigns that have shaped the
course of the world and the affairs of
men.
The soldiers of many armies have
dotted their helmets or the campaign
hats In recognition of the services Of
the mule, and no doubt he has wig
gled his expressive ears and switched
his meager tail in acknowledgement
of the salute. The greatest soldiers
who have marshalled American ar
mics have been friends of the mule
They have banked on him in their
grand tactics and their strategy. The
horse has cut more dashing capers
and strucl. more heroic pastures on
the battlefield. but the practical and
reliable mule has brought up the hay
and oats, without which those horses
could not have supported their pat
rlotism, and he has brought up the
ammunition, without which guns and
rifles would have teen cold and dumb.
Armies would have biyouacked with
out supper and have taken up the
march without breakfast but for the
loyalty. obedience and steadfastness
of the mule.
And the mule has not only been a
magnificent national asset and reH-
anee In war, but glorious and faith
full ally in peace. Where is the horse
that knows more about blowing corn,
cotton and tobacco, who has done
more of it than the mule2
4 good many harsh things have
been said about the mules prodigal
use of his hind feet. But the mule is
no hypoerite. When he is irritated
he expresses his opinions with his
most mobile and foreeful features.
lie has In marked degree a spirit of
resolution mot revolution and indie
pendence. Seldom is he fawning
applicant for favors. Few men speak
Of him gently and kindly. A beauti-
full woman with white kid gloves will
go out of her way to rub the velvet
nose and stroke the silky name frank
metaphor) of thirty-dollar horse,
but would pick up her skirts and
flounee herself away if an honest
three-hundreddollar mule came near.
However. in this war the mule is
being called upon to render military
service. And he is rendering it More
Of him viii go to the front as weeks
wear on. aud no American fears that
the mule will not prove staunch aud
brave TO those in whose cause he en-
lists
The mule In the United States has
grown in number, Notwithstanding
the automobile Ia 1880 the number
of mules in the United States was
$780, 1871; in 1880 ]. 729 500: in 1000. >
os6. OPT; in 1910. 4. 2oo, T6a. aud in 1914.
4.449. 900. According to the census of
1900 the value of American mules re-
siding in the United States was 1920
SOL 1888.
1t may be that some Americans
have made such poor use of the school
facilities open to them that they do
not know what a mule is. Some folk
cali him a hybrid, which is not to De
COMPOUNDED with high bred. The male
resents this name and prefers to he
called plain mule The finest kind Of
mule had iackass, which. BY the
way. Is 8 very wise and sagacious am
NAL, for a father. and his mother.
who loved him fondly, was mare.
Another kind Of mule is called a jim.
ny" Mules are patient. sure footed
strong and vigorous. and retain their
faculties TO q greater age than horses
generally do.
TRAVEL Books BY CNCLR SAM.
Since the government decided TO
charge 3 nominal sum covering the
cost of its Commerce Reports and