24 THOSE OTHER ANIMALS. 



louts seated behind a staggering little donkey, and urging 

 him on his way with oaths and blows, may be witnessed 

 any Sunday or Bank Holiday afternoon, upon every road 

 leading through the suburbs into the country, to the disgrace 

 alike of our civilisation and humanity. In Egypt and in 

 the East the donkey still holds something of his former 

 position in public esteem, and even a portly merchant, or 

 a grave functionary, has no idea that he is in any way 

 demeaning himself when, perched upon the top of an 

 enormous saddle, placed on the back of a donkey, he 

 proceeds about his business. Had the capacities of the ass 

 been equally recognised in the West, the cycle would never 

 have obtained such a height of popularity as it has done. 

 A well-made cycle will cost almost as many pounds as a 

 donkey will cost shillings. Its expenses of repair will equal 

 in cost the keep of the donkey, and, except as a means of 

 promoting perspiration and keeping down flesh, no human 

 being would compare the easy and gentle amble of the 

 donkey with the labour required for a cycle as an instrument 

 of progression. It is a pity that among the many good 

 works that have been effected by the influence of Royalty 

 that of raising the donkey in public esteem has hitherto had 

 no place. The appearance of the Princess of Wales in the 

 Park, in a light equipage drawn by two handsome donkeys, 

 would in a short time produce a moral revolution, and the 

 good little beasts would soon resume their proper place in 

 popular favour. 



