Mules appear fated to labor3 under an unfavorable and unenviable reputation. Not only has that rather objectionable quality of stubbornness been supposed to exist in their disposition4 to such an undue5 degree as to give rise to the saying, “as stubborn as a mule1,” but this general reputation for intelligence is by no means first rate. That the mule is by nature inclined to be rather stubborn is undoubtedly6 true, but it is very questionable7 whether the wonderful displays of this quality sometimes met with, are not actually as much due to the very measures adopted to overcome the fault as to the natural disposition of the animal. With proper treatment and a little judicious8 training the objectionable features in a mule’s disposition might be easily remedied.
A LAZY CURE FOR LAZINESS.
59There is a clever invention attributed to a certain lazy Hindoo, for overcoming the proverbial laziness of the mule. It appears that the man was employed to oversee12 a mule working one of those primitive13 mills in use to this day in India. The man seems to have been slightly inclined toward laziness himself, and was anxious to contrive14 some plan which would enable him to keep the mule in motion and monopolize15 all the indolence himself. This he at last accomplished16 with the aid of a clever device, shown in the accompanying illustration, which explains itself. We give it as a curiosity in the “art of training animals,” without vouching17 for its strict fidelity18 to the truth.
The following instructions are given by Mr. Riley, an experienced authority, for breaking mules:
“In breaking the mule, most persons are apt to get out of patience with him. I have got out of patience with him myself. But patience is the great essential in breaking; and in the use of it you will find that you get along much better. The mule is an unnatural19 animal, and hence more timid of man than the horse; and yet he is tractable20 and capable of being taught to understand what you want him to do. And when he understands what you want, and has gained your confidence, you will, if you treat him kindly21, have little trouble in making him perform his duty.
“In commencing to break the mule, take hold of him gently, talk to him kindly. Don’t spring at him, as if he were a tiger you were in dread22 of. Don’t yell at him; don’t jerk him; don’t strike him with a club, as is often done; don’t get excited at his jumping and kicking. Approach and handle him the same as you would an animal already broken, and through kindness you will, in less than a week, have your mule more tractable, better broken, and kinder than you would in a month, had you used the whip. Mules, with very few exceptions, are born kickers. Breed them as carefully as you will, the moment they are able to stand up, and you put your hand on them, they will kick. It is, indeed, their natural means of defense23, and they resort to it through the force of instinct. In commencing to break them, then, kicking is the first thing to guard against and overcome. The young mule kicks because he is afraid of a man. He has seen those entrusted24 with their care beat and abuse the older ones, and he very naturally fears the same treatment as soon as a man approaches him. Most persons entrusted with the care of these young and green mules have not had experience enough with them to know that this defect of kicking is soonest remedied by kind treatment. Careful study of the animal’s nature, and long experience with the animal have 60taught 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 him 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 MULES.
A “COMIC” MULE.
Chief among circus attractions, especially in the eyes of the boys, are the trick or “comic” mules. A couple of these animals are attached to nearly every troupe25, 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 concluded, 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 permitted to enter the ring. The ring-master leads the mule up to the boy as though to assist him in mounting. 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 has already seen a similar performance he will have anticipated 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 61to maintain his hold, and the mule’s to dislodge him. Running at full speed, the animal tries to throw his rider by stopping suddenly, and if successful in this attempt, the boy is either thrown head first among his companions, or, if he lands in the ring, is chased out by the mule.
It is rarely that any one succeeds in maintaining his hold for more than a few minutes, unless he is a capital rider, in which case he may be able to master the animal; should this result be at all likely, the ring-master will, on some pretext26, interfere27 and select some less expert rider from the audience. Finally an attaché of the circus, disguised as a countryman, volunteers to ride the mule, and after considerable caricature riding, and ridiculous posturing28, he concludes the performance.
Sometimes to enhance the interest in the affair a reward of five dollars is offered to any one who will ride the mule three times around the ring. This was usually done by Dan ——, a prominent circus manager. We were present on one occasion when a big burly “rough” entered the ring at Dan’s general invitation, to compete for the prize. The mule was particularly spunky but he was finally forced to succumb29, and notwithstanding all Dan’s attempts to balk30 the rider, the mule was ridden the requisite31 number of times around the ring. Lest any of our readers should be led to cherish the delusion32 that they might thus earn a reward for displaying their mule breaking abilities, we may mention that, in this case at least, the rider did not receive the money. The showman assured him that the offer was only in fun and declined to hand over the amount. The rough thereupon “pitched in” and administered a thrashing to the showman before he could be prevented. A general fight was only averted34 by the exertions35 of the police. We believe Dan, while he remained in that locality, did not repeat his offer.
Very little special instruction is required for “comic mules.” The kicking part of the performance may be taught according to the instructions given for teaching horses the same act. The mule is allowed with strangers to give full vent10 to all the natural viciousness of his nature, and is encouraged therein. Toward his trainer, and those connected with the establishment, such conduct is not allowed. He soon learns from experience that the worst conduct toward boys in the ring is meritorious36, and being annoyed by their persistent37 efforts to ride him, he resorts to every possible device, without requiring any instruction, to get rid of his tormentors.
Another humorous scene sometimes enacted38 by the mules is a prize fight, the principals being rigged up in costume and 62furnished with boxing gloves, while two small donkeys are made to seat themselves and hold sponges, as though personating the seconds. Sometimes this latter character is assumed by the clown and ring-master, though it makes little difference. The actions of the mules have a very slight resemblance to a combat and the costumes make them look funny and satisfy the audience. The training required is merely to make them stand erect39.
Mules, though possessing less intelligence than horses, may be taught many of the tricks which the latter perform, and the same instructions will suffice for training them.
The sure-footedness of mules has enabled trainers to teach them, in several cases, a very effective and showy trick—that of walking over a number of empty bottles placed upright on a floor or platform. This feat9 is always highly successful wherever performed, and it is really an excellent one. The bottles used are large, stout41 porter bottles, which will readily sustain a great weight if placed directly on top. To teach the trick the bottles are at first secured in a platform composed of a double thickness of planks42, in the upper one of which holes are cut. In these holes the bottles are placed; the bottoms resting on the lower layer of planks, while the upper one holds them securely in place.
Before teaching this trick the animal is usually taught the ordinary pedestal trick, as explained in a preceding chapter, as a preparatory lesson. He will then more readily acquire the bottle feat. He is first made to place one fore33 foot on top of a bottle’s neck, then the other fore foot on another. Then the first foot is tapped with the whip to make him raise it and advance it to the succeeding bottle; as he does this his hind11 foot is struck gently to force him to place it on the vacated 63bottle. Six or eight bottles are sufficient to commence with, additions being made as the animal becomes proficient43. When the trick is learned it is unnecessary to secure the bottles in any way; if the mule places his foot squarely on the top, as he should be made to do, there is no danger of either breaking or upsetting them.
THE PORTER BOTTLE FEAT.
There is a trick related of a couple of English costermongers, or perambulating vegetable dealers44, which is amusing if not of practical value. These two worthies45 were in the habit of passing their donkey through a Devonshire toll46 gate, on their return trip, free of charge, by making him walk through on his hind legs, arm in arm with them, and taking advantage of the twilight47 to represent him as a friend slightly under the influence of liquor!
At the south, where mules are almost universally used for many purposes for which horses are used at the north, the negroes are in the habit of directing their movements in many cases entirely48 by the voice. The animals of that section being as a rule more gently treated, are of a better disposition than their northern brethren. The course of training practiced by their stable masters is by no means systematic49, but the animals manage by some means to learn to understand and obey the far from lucid50 commands. We have often been surprised to see how readily the mules would detect the meaning of what, to our ears, was entirely unintelligible51. Probably practice had taught them what was required just as the mules which convey travelers through the wild mountain passes of Spain are 64reported to stop immediately upon hearing the hail of any of the banditti who infest52 those regions—habitual experience of the customs of those gentry53 having taught them to come to a stand still.
There is an amusing, though, possibly, not strictly54 authentic55, story told in connection with the performance of the pantomime of Humpty Dumpty, some years ago, in this city. In this spectacle a small mule was made to appear quite comically by the dexterity56 of his heels. During the season the regular animal fell ill, and an amateur was substituted. When one of the characters touched the new mule to make him kick, he began in admirable style. He kicked off the fellow and kicked him twice before he touched the boards. Then he ran toward several of the other dramatis person?, and kicked them. Every movable object on the stage, animate57 or inanimate, he kicked off. Next he began on the scenery. He kicked down a whole forest, three good sized cottages, a picturesque58 cascade59, a granite60 prison, a robber’s cave, a royal palace, the Rialto and Vesuvius in eruption61, and was about to attack the grand transformation62 scene from Midsummer Night’s Dream, when a rope was thrown around his neck, and he was dragged off by the whole strength of the company, assisted by all the able bodied supernumeraries. The audience, many of whom supposed the obstreperous63 mule part of the performance, were delighted at his energy, and demanded with deafening64 plaudits, a repetition of the scene. The uproar65 was so great that the manager came out and said that an intermission of fifteen minutes would be given to enable some of the actors to recover the breath that the active mule had kicked out of them, and pledged his honor that the brute66 should never make another appearance on the Olympic stage. At this the audience roared louder than ever, and for nearly half an hour the performance was suspended by the universal guffaw67. Every night afterward68 while the piece ran, the kicking mule was called for, and the manager of the theater it is said, in consequence, had to insert an advertisement in the daily papers, stating that the animal was mysteriously knocked in the head the same night of his highly successful déb?t.
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1
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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undue
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| adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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questionable
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| adj.可疑的，有问题的 | |
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judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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oversee
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| vt.监督，管理 | |
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primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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monopolize
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| v.垄断，独占，专营 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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vouching
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| n.（复核付款凭单等）核单v.保证( vouch的现在分词 )；担保；确定；确定地说 | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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tractable
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| adj.易驾驭的；温顺的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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troupe
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| n.剧团，戏班；杂技团；马戏团 | |
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pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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posturing
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| 做出某种姿势( posture的现在分词 ) | |
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succumb
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| v.屈服，屈从；死 | |
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balk
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| n.大方木料；v.妨碍；不愿前进或从事某事 | |
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requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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delusion
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| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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meritorious
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| adj.值得赞赏的 | |
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persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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asinine
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| adj.愚蠢的 | |
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planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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proficient
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| adj.熟练的，精通的；n.能手，专家 | |
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dealers
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| n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者 | |
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45
worthies
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| 应得某事物( worthy的名词复数 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
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46
toll
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| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
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47
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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48
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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49
systematic
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| adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的 | |
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50
lucid
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| adj.明白易懂的，清晰的，头脑清楚的 | |
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51
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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52
infest
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| v.大批出没于；侵扰；寄生于 | |
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53
gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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54
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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authentic
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| a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的 | |
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56
dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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animate
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| v.赋于生命，鼓励；adj.有生命的，有生气的 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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cascade
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| n.小瀑布，喷流；层叠；vi.成瀑布落下 | |
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granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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eruption
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| n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作 | |
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transformation
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| n.变化；改造；转变 | |
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obstreperous
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| adj.喧闹的，不守秩序的 | |
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deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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guffaw
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| n.哄笑；突然的大笑 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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