CHAPTER X 



THE LENGTH OF ANIMAL LIFE 



JULES and Claire could not get over the aston- 

 ishment caused by their uncle's story of the 

 old trees to which centuries are less than years are 

 to us. Emile, with his usual restlessness, led the 

 conversation to another subject : 



"And animals, Uncle, " asked he, "how long do 

 they live?" 



"Domestic animals," was the reply, "seldom at- 

 tain the age that nature allows them. We grudge 

 them their nourishment, overtire them, and do not 

 irive them proper shelter. And then, we take from 

 them their milk, fleece, hide, flesh, in fact everything. 

 I low can you ever grow old when the butcher is wait- 

 ing for you at the stable door with his knife ? Use- 

 less to speak of these poor victims of our need: to 

 iiive us long life, they do not live out their time. 

 Supposing that an animal is well treated, that it suf- 

 fers neither hunger nor cold, that it lives in peace 

 without excessive fatigue, without fear of knacker or 

 huteher; under these good conditions, how many 

 years will it live? 



"I. rt as begin with the ox Here is a robust one, 

 I hope. What chest and shoulders! And then that 

 big si | nan- forehead, with its vigorous horns around 

 which the strap of the yoke goes; those eyes shining 



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