UNSCIENTIFIC SHOEING OF MULES. 183 



rate bodies ; clear-headed individuals have to be 

 depended upon for putting the thing to the test. 

 Board meetings are amongst the slowest and most 

 obtuse of all institutions ; they always demand pre- 

 cedents, and when they receive them, they shake 

 their heads, and do as they meant to do. However, 

 some of them have rushed into mules, and it would 

 look as if they now had to rush about for more 

 stable accommodation, more helpers, and more far- 

 riers. The farriers will be striking against them 

 soon for more wages and less work — everything is 

 worth what it will fetch in the market ; and they 

 are creating a demand for farriers by multiplying 

 the number of their animals — but is this making 

 things good for trade ? The farriers probably think 

 it is, but then they are interested parties ; how 

 about the shareholders ? This is not only a question 

 of humanity, which we will put first (for the sake 

 of form for such people), but also of largely vested 

 interests. We will ask again, what is the reason for 

 such extensive shoeing? We have seen that the 

 mules have no load to keep back ; does it help them 

 to pull, or prevent them from slipping when so 

 doing ? Let anyone take the trouble to go and 

 look at them. If he should happen to be a share- 

 holder, all the better, and he will be persuaded that 

 their hardest task is to gain a foothold for a start. 

 They run only on flat ground, or ground with 

 scarcely appreciable ascents ; but see how they strain 

 every muscle, and how they make the sparks fly out 

 of the stones. Of course, the larger the surface of 



