GO 



THE AET OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 



taught me that, in breaking the mule, whipping and harsh 

 treatment almost invariably make him a worse kicker. They 

 certainly make him more timid and afraid of you. And just 

 as long as you fight a mule and keep \dm afraid of you, just 

 so long will you be in danger of his kicking you. You must 

 convince him through kindness that you are not going to hurt or 

 punish him. And the sooner you do this, the sooner you are 

 out of danger from his feet." 



PERFORMING MTJLES. 



Chief among circus attractions, especially in the eyes of the 

 l)oys, are the trick or " comic " mules. A couple of these 

 animals are attached to nearly every troupe, and quite a variety 

 of tricks are performed by them. The performance usually the 

 most eagerly looked forward to, is that reserved for the final 

 part of the exhibition. The regular performances being con- 

 cluded, one of the mules is retained in the ring and the ring- 

 master invites some boy present among the audience to come 

 forward and take a ride — ^if he can. There are generally plenty 

 of eager respondents to this invitation, one of whom is per- 

 mitted to enter the ring. The ring-master leads the mule up 

 to the boy as though to assist him in mountmg. If the boy is 

 " green '^ he will probably be somewhat astonished, as soon as 

 the mule is brought near him, at having the pit of his stomach 

 made a target for the reception of the said mule^s heels. If he 



COMIC MULE. 



has already seen a similar performance he will have antici- 

 pated this little episode, which can always be calculated upon 

 without fear of disappointment. After many struggles the boy 

 perhaps succeeds in mounting the mule and then an amusing 

 contest ensues between them— the boy's efforts being directed 



