106 
PASSIONAL ZOOLOGY, 
known maxims of the ass. By an inspection of the arsenal of the 
statu quo policy, it will be seen that the greater part of the de- 
fensive arms of this arsenal bear the mark of master Ass's cabinet. 
But let us not deceive ourselves. The ass, like the Auvergnat, is 
more knavish and more ignorant than foolish, and history has col- 
lected a number of his smart sayings, among others this, “ Our 
enemy is our master.” 
I know another which had some success in its time, and which 
does not descend less indirectly from the species on account of not 
having been uttered by an ass. There was a near-sighted critic, 
who strangely abused his near-sightedness to be laconic, who took 
great delight in this, and, like eunuchs, loved to revenge his im- 
potence on more complete men. 
Whether he was more near-sighted or more insolent, none could 
say. It is certain that the fellow one day insulted a great poet, 
and the latter, too sensitive to the offense, was about to cut his 
ears off, when a friend approached and said, Why so angry ? it 
is only the kick of a dead ass.” 
The ass and the peasant are too limited in their desires to be 
charitable, and the world can be saved only by charity. 
The pleasurable emotion which the ass seems to feel at the sight 
of a yawning chasm, too much resembles that cruel curiosity which 
causes the population of the country to throng around the scaffold 
on days of execution. 
The she-ass, whose nourishing milk reanimates the strength of 
those who are worn by the dissipations of cities, is the strong and 
laborious country woman, to whom the fashionable lady of the cap- 
ital is obliged to transfer the care of suckling her progeny — of re- 
generating by an infusion of generous blood its deteriorated system. 
The milch ass is emancipated from work, takes a good time, and 
promenades through the streets of Paris, like the vigorous countrv 
woman, whom rich families also admit to share their table, their 
luxury, and ease, so long as they have need of her. 
THE MULE. 
We have measured the distance which separates the horse from 
the ass, the gentleman from the laborer. It remains to speak of 
