680 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA 



easily taught by kind management than by blows and rough usage. 

 Students of natural history inform us that the ass and mule are 

 like the elephant in their remembering and resenting an injury. 



Mules are so patient, and so much less nervous than are 

 horses, that they are generally used by planters, farmers, and 

 contractors and manufacturers, who commit their teams to hired 

 men. This class of teamsters and drivers are as a general thing 

 lacking in skill and kindness, hence their methods of handling 

 mules have given the impression that the mule is stubborn, 

 treacherous, and can only be controlled by severe bits and heavy 

 blows. On the other hand the testimony of owners, who treat 

 their mules as they do young horses, and teach them kindly 

 and by degrees how to work, and to know the meaning of the 

 word of command, is always to the effect that there is no more 

 faithful, reliable, and willing beast of burden than the mule. 



Hon. J. B. Smith, of Pennsylvania, says he had the pleasure 

 once of owning a pair of mules : " I bought them when they 

 were two years old, and made up my mind that they could be 

 broken the same as a horse, if treated in the same way. I got 

 a friend to assist, and we went to work and broke them the 

 same as colts, using them kindly ; and a better pair of mules 

 never were used. Any one could drive them. I could hitch 

 them to a buggy and they would go well ; all I would have to 

 say was 'go.' I believe the mule should have the same treat- 

 ment as the horse, and then he will have as kind a disposition. 

 If you whip and scold him every time he does any thing wrong, 

 and make a scape-goat of him generally, in course of time he 

 will not mind any body, not even yourself. But if you treat 

 him right, he will do right in return." Anothe'r gentleman, of 

 large experience with mules, says, " They have a very affectionate 

 disposition, but one peculiarity of theirs (and this same trait is 

 peculiar to the elephant) is that of remembering and resenting 

 an injury ; therefore, the more quietly we go about handling 

 and breaking them, the less trouble we will have with them, 

 and the less disposition they will ever possess to kick any one. 

 A showman once announced whilst performing his bear, that 

 he 'broke him with kindness,' adding, 'and a club.' The mule 



