The Donkey
After the Cow, the Horse, and the Dog, the Donkey is perhaps the most useful of the animals that serve man, and which we call the “domestic” animals. It is also about the worst treated. Whether it is in London, Cairo, Baghdad, or Bombay that we see the Donkey working, it always seems to be doing a great deal of work for very little food and very many blows. The Donkey is remarkably strong and can carry a very heavy load for a long distance and will eat almost anything. The Indian donkey is very small, and one often sees it loaded with a burden which looks heavy enough to break its back. In spite of its great usefulness and its patient hard work, the Donkey seems to be despised and illiterate in most countries, and a stupid foolish person is sometimes called a “donkey” or an “ass”. This is quite unfair to the Donkey for it has as much intelligence as the Horse, Cow, Sheep, Camel, and most other animals. In Persia and Arabia, however, it is better treated and held in more regard. It is also much larger and finer, perhaps on account of its being better fed and cared for. Governors of cities and other great men in those countries are quite content to ride on asses.
