INTRODUCTION 



THE burro is a native of Spain, and was first introduced into Western America at 

 the time of the conquest, something over three centuries ago. He brought his 

 name with him, and was soon thoroughly at home in his adopted country, and became 

 a useful member of every community. 



He has developed mines, built railroads, made towns, and been the vehicle to 

 success of thousands of pioneers. He can go where the horse cannot, can eat what a 

 mule will not, and when there is nothing to eat, he goes hungry without complaint. 

 His philosophy is beautiful -if he cannot get alfalfa he eats straw, if the rope is stronger 

 than his strength he resigns himself to the halter, and accepts the inevitable. 



True, he seems opposed to progress, especially the kind involving personal effort 

 on his part, and at times no amount of beating seems to move him to advance, but a 

 lump of sugar, or a cabbage leaf, will sometimes act as a wonderful stimulant. 



The children all love him. The little Indian plays round his heels without con- 

 cern, the tiny Mexican wreathes his neck with yucca bloom, while the eastern child 

 visitor proudly mounts upon his back and belabors him into a gentle walk, which is 

 afterwards described as a "burro ride." The mountaineer's baby shares his meal with 

 baby burro, and they sleep together under the pines. 



His patient, cheerful, little figure has become so strongly identified with the west 

 and southwest that the portraits here given cannot fail to awaken some pleasant thought 

 in the minds of those who look upon them. 



