London to John O 1 Groat's. 



75 



level of the other animals of the pasture, stable, and 

 barn-yard. Up to the present time, every creature 

 that walks on four or two legs, either haired, wooled, 

 or feathered, with the single exception of the donkey, 

 has had the door of the Agricultural Exhibition thrown 

 wide open to it, to enter the lists for prizes or " honour- 

 able mention," and for general admiration. A pig, 

 whose legs and eyes have all been absorbed out of sight 

 by an immense obesity of fat, is often decked with 

 a ribbon, of the Order of the Grarter genus, as a reward 

 of merit, or of grace of form and proportions ! Turkeys, 

 geese, ducks, and hens of different breeds, strut or 

 waddle off with similar distinctions. As for blood- 

 horses, bulls, cows, and sheep, one not versed in such 

 matters might be tempted to think that men, especially 

 ths poorer sort, were made for beasts, and not beasts 

 for men. And yet, mirabile dictu ! at these great social 

 gatherings of man-and-animal kind, there has not been 

 even " a negro pew" for the donkey. A genuine raw 

 Guinea negro might have as well entered the Prince of 

 Wales' Ball in New York barefooted, and offered to 

 play a voluntary on his banjo for the dancers, as this 

 despised quadruped have hoped to obtain the entree to 

 these grand and fashionable assemblies of the shorter- 

 eared elite of society. 



But this prejudice against color and long ears is now 



