(_For Hone’s Every-Day Book._)
Poorly as the world may think of the intellectual abilities of asses,
there have been some very clever fellows among them. There have been
periods when, far from his name being synonymous with stupidity, and his
person made the subject of the derision, the contempt, and, what is
worse, the scourge of the vulgar--(for that is “the unkindest _cut_ of
all”)--he was “respected and beloved by all who had the pleasure of his
acquaintance!” Leo Africanus asserts, that asses may be taught to dance
to music, and it is surprising to see the accurate manner in which they
will keep time. In this, at least, they must be far superior to us, poor
human beings, if they can _keep time_, for “time stays for _no man_,” as
the proverb says. Though their vocal powers do not equal those of a
_Bra_-ham, yet we have had an undoubted proof of the sensitiveness of
their ear to the sweets of harmony; Gay also tells us--
“The ass learnt metaphors and tropes,
But most on music fixed his hopes.”--