My wife’s uncle Gene was a Christian man who loved his family. He also loved his rural upbringing, but his career placed him near the big city. Before he retired, however, he purchased a piece of property in the country, and this is where he spent his retirement years. He enjoyed operating his tractor and reminiscing of days gone by.
I always enjoyed visiting with Uncle Gene at Thanksgiving and on Mother’s Day, when the main family gatherings took place. I bird hunted with him on occasion, but our main interaction was at the family get-togethers.
My wife’s mother, Kathryn, and her four sisters, Martha, June, Helen and Jimmy, were all very close and as they retired, they started getting together every week to play cards. When they got older their daughters and nieces had the task of transporting them to the card game. Since Uncle Gene lived out in the country, he was tasked with bringing his wife Jimmy to the very serious card sessions. I am sure that he took his assignment cheerfully, but one day out of boredom he came to visit me at the Extension office. We had a long chat and I showed him the Community Garden. We also visited the Military Museum and took a walk through the park. Not long after his visit, Uncle Gene passed away.
This past Mother’s Day, Uncle Gene’s daughter Gena gave me an article from the Smithsonian dated November 1983 entitled Return of the Mule. She said that Uncle Gene kept the article all these years, as he was fond of mules. As I read the article it brought back memories of a time when mules were common, and while I am no mule expert, I have had some interaction with them.
We lived in Virginia until I was about eight years old, at a time when tractors were replacing the mules, but there were still plenty around. Farmers would bring their mules to town and for a small fee they would plow garden plots for the city dwellers. We lived on a dead-end dirt road next to a farm with several mules. Our driveway went right beside the pasture where Dolly and Molly stayed. I would take them a carrot or apple almost every day. In fact, Dolly is the reason that I was never a famous photographer. I took my Momma’s box camera to take a picture of Dolly. For those who don’t remember, these old cameras had film and the film had to be developed. Dolly was in her stall and when I took the picture she ducked behind the door and when the film was developed, all I got was a crooked picture of a stall. So, in the only picture I ever took of a mule, the mule appears to be missing. I am the only one who knows she was there.
Before we start talking muleology I want to credit Peter Chew and his article in the “Smithsonian” in November 1983.
In his article Mr. Chew starts off by saying “Long bad-mouthed for cussedness, mules are in fact tough, smart, strong and making a fast comeback because they are fun.” Summarizing Mr. Chew: The mule is the sterile, hybrid offspring of a Donkey or Jackass and a female horse. The disposition of the mule is related to that of the mare and breeders are careful to select mares with gentle dispositions. A male or horse mule is also sterile, but still must be gelded for he has the instincts and drive of a stallion.
Mules are very intelligent, if a mule gets into the corn crib it will eat until it is satisfied and then stop, unlike horses that will eat until they founder. When a pack mule is loaded with too much weight, it will buck the load off or refuse to move. When mules are used for racing, they will run the track at full speed, but when they reach the homestretch, some will stop. They have run as far as they intend to and that’s that. Mules are also notorious for learning to open gates.
George Washington recognized their value and imported some top breeding stock. He said in the early 1780’s that the American farmer needed an excellent race of mules and he set about establishing one. When Washington died in 1799 there were nearly sixty mules grazing at Mount Vernon. He had indeed the beginnings of an excellent race of mules. The world’s best, in fact.
According to John C. (Tennessee) Miller, a prominent breeder, “Mules is born in a man and you ain’t gonna get it out of him.” I think that describes Uncle Gene’s fondness for mules. They were in his blood.
Frank Hancock has worked as a Farm Manager, Vocational Agriculture Teacher and Vice President at Snapper. He retired as a University of Georgia Agricultural Extension Agent in Henry County. He is a also a member of the Heritage Writers Group.
