The Arizona copper camp., 1916-01-21
MISSOURI MULE IS
A FINE ANIMAL

uIllOH. more anu liner dulIIldlS df0
raised in this section of the state than
anywhere else on earth, and East ST.
Louis is the greatest mule market in
the world.
Tennessee ranks second in the pro-
duction of mules, but the volunteer
state does not raise two-thirds the
mules Missouri does.
The southern planter depends almost
altogether on Missouri for his mules.
Roughly speaking, mules are divided
into two classes, the cotton and the
sugar mule. The latter is the better
grade, the huge, well-built animals
which are used on the sugar planta-
tions of the far south, while the cot
ton mules are smaller and more adapt
ed for use in the cotton fields.
In the agricultural districts of the
south, outside the cotton and sugar
sections, the sugar mule is used.
Thousands Sent to the Boer War
In the Boer war thousands of mules
were purchased in Missouri and adjoin-
ing states for the use of the English
army in South Africa. But the mule
is temperarnentally opposed to war,
and they were not a success. 1t has
been said that the real trouble was
that the English did not export south
ern colored men to handle the mules
in warfare.
Whatever the cause, the mules alb
solutely refused to go to war. Ard
the most obstinate creature on earth
and the hardest to move when he de-
cides he doesn't want to be moved is
the mule. The sound of cannonading
will cause mule to stop dead in his
tracks, then turn hurriedly, kick up
his heels and start in the opposite di-
rection. Nothing will stop mule once
he gets started. He will nonchalantly
kick himself free of his harness. plLng
gayly through barbed- wire obstruction
and do whatever else he pleases once
he makes up his mind
A Civil war veteran, southerner,
once told of losing his cavalry mount
in the fighting around Chattanooga
Later he obtained a mule for mount,
and the mule got her baptism of fire
in the fighting at Chickamauga
She was a peaceful mule, and moth
ing louder than the sounds of the farm
had ever assailed her ears until that
day at Chickamauga.
Our company was ordered to charge
through wood. There had been con-
siderable firing all morning, but old
Lucy, beyond pricking up her ears,
paid no attention to it. However, when
we got in the woods the firing was
closer, and she didn't appear to like
it. Then some shells began dropping
about us. And she wheeled about and
started for the rear.
'Tll never forget that couldn't turn
her head toward the front and 1
couldn't stop her. 1 did make her
pause once or twice, and all the time
the bullets and shells were falling
about us, men and horses were drop
ping and everyone was yelling with
laughter as they passed. 1 jerked a
branch from a young oak tree and
beat her, but that had no effect on
her.
"She started on a gallop in the op-
posite direction, and I couldn't stop
her for about half mile. Then the
stop was only momentarily, for she
merely paused long enough to pitch me
over her head and then she went on.
1 never saw her again. I don't know
what became of her. / only know
that, smarting with humiliation, /
made my way back through the woods
and finally rejoined my company. AS
long as the war lasted, and after, when
I'd meet any of my old companions
was reminded of Lucy"
The story illustrates the character
of the mule. Like certain recently
retired statesman, the mule is for
peace at any price, and the mule is
strong enough to get it.
What Is Country Without Mule?
What is country life without a
mule? Nothing.
What is country colored man
without mule? There isn't such a
thing.
Sometimes the affection between an
aged colored man and his equally aged
mule is really touching.
An aged colored preacher rode about
the country on a white mule. The re-
port was current, and the preacher
confirmed it, that the mule had been a
gift Of the master of the colored man
at the close of the war forty years be-
FORE The master told the former slave
he was free, and for his faithful serv-
ice in guarding the family of his mas
ter during the war he received the
mule. For forty years they had been
companions. The old man riding
along the road often would be OBJ
served talking to the mule, and it was