It is a habit with mule drivers in the army, many of whom are men without feeling for a dumb animal, to whip mules just to hear their whips crack, and to let others hear with what dexterity they can do it.  It has a very bad effect on the animals, and some means should be applied to stop it.  Army teamsters and stable-men seem to regard it as a virtue to be cruel to animals.  They soon cultivate vicious habits, and a bad temper seems to grow up with their occupation.  It naturally follows, then, that in the treatment of their animals they do just what they ought not to do.  The Government has been a very severe sufferer by this; and I contend that during a war it is just as necessary to have experienced and well trained teamsters as it is to have hardened and well trained soldiers.

The mule is peculiar in his dislikes.  Many of them, when first harnessed, so dislike a blind bridle that they will not work in it.  When you find this, let him stand for say a day in the blinders, and then take them off, and in forty-nine cases out of fifty he will go at once.

It has been said that the mule never scares or runs away.  This is not true.  He is not so apt to get frightened and run away as the horse is.  But any one who has had long experience with them in the army knows that they will both get frightened and run away.  They do not, however, lose all their senses when they get frightened and run away, as the horse does.  Bring a mule back after he has run away, and in most cases he will not want to do it again.  A horse that has once run away, however, is never safe afterward.  Indeed, in all the tens of thousands of mules that I have handled, I never yet found an habitual runaway.  Their sluggish nature does not incline them to such tricks.  If a team attempts to run away, one or two of them will fall down before they have gone far, and this will stop the remainder.  Attempt to put one up to the same speed you would a horse, over a rough road, and you will have performed wonders if he does not fall and break your bones.

The mule, especially if large, cannot stand hard roads and pavements.  His limbs are too small for his body, and they generally give out.  You will notice that all good judges of road and trotting horses like to see a good strong bone in the leg.  This is actually necessary.  The mule, you will notice, is very deficient in leg, and generally have poor muscle.  And many of them are what is called cat-hammed.

Working Condition of Mules.—­Most persons, when they see a good, fat, slick mule, are apt to exclaim:  “What a fine mule there is!” He takes it for granted that because the animal is fat, tall, and heavy, he must be a good work animal.  This, however, is no criterion to judge by.  A mule, to be in good condition for work, should never be any fatter than what is known as good working condition.  One of fourteen and a half hands high, to be in good working condition, should not weigh over nine hundred and fifty pounds.