BALAAM'S ASS 95 



to have spoken he showed a perception and a wisdom far 

 superior to those of his rider ? 



For temperate, sound, logical reproof of crass stupidity, 

 Balaam's ass is a model to all men. 



"Am I not thine ass ?" What more was there to say ? 

 What'more succinct, direct, appeal to common sense could 

 the wisest of wiseacres have made ? 



No matter, then, what the original of these endless para- 

 doxes may be, no matter whether we have any foundation 

 but our own ignorance for the accusations we lay against 

 the ass, two things are certain. 



First — That the mere fact of having as it were a bench 

 mark of stupidity by which to measure the fiood tide of our 

 irritation, and give us the right to call a man an ass, is a 

 benefit to the whole human race ; a benefit for which we 

 should be grateful. The more so because — 



Second — It is equally certain that though the fellow 

 mortal who continues cheerfully to give us this right may 

 be an ass, he has never, so far as history records his career, 

 been a silly ass. 



