The Mine Owner and the Jackass
by Ambrose Bierce · from Fantastic Fables
Adapted Version
One sunny morning. Mr. Rich went to a meeting. His name was Mr. Rich. He owned a big mine. He had many shiny rocks. Mr. Rich traveled a long way. He went to a special meeting. Many important people went there. They talked about mines. Mr. Rich liked these meetings. He felt very important.
A friendly Donkey stopped Mr. Rich. The Donkey spoke to him. "Things are not fair for donkeys," he said. "People do not let us go to meetings. This is not right. We work hard. We carry heavy things. We help people every day. We need a voice. I want you to help us. Please speak for donkeys. Speak for me at your meeting. You can tell them our thoughts. Please tell them about donkeys."
Mr. Rich smiled a big smile. He put his hands up. He put them next to his head. They looked like donkey ears. He thought they were both very clever. "I can help you," Mr. Rich said. "We are alike in some ways. Yes, we are alike. We are both smart. What do you want, Donkey? Tell me your big idea. What do you want me to say?"
The Donkey looked very serious. "Oh, I want nothing for me," he said. "I want nothing for myself. I only care about our country. I care about all the people. I want good for everyone. I care about our important freedoms. Our fathers fought for them. We must keep them safe. This is very important."
Then the Donkey shared his big idea. ""Rules people must help us," he said. "They must keep the price of donkeys high. Yes, a high price for donkeys. This will make our country strong. It will make us all strong. Our country will be free. This is my big idea. This helps everyone."
People say big words, but want for themselves.
Original Story
The Mine Owner and the Jackass
While the Owner of a Silver Mine was on his way to attend a convention of his species he was accosted by a Jackass, who said:
“By an unjust discrimination against quadrupeds I am made ineligible to a seat in your convention; so I am compelled to seek representation through you.”
“It will give me great pleasure, sir,” said the Owner of a Silver Mine, “to serve one so closely allied to me in—in—well, you know,” he added, with a significant gesture of his two hands upward from the sides of his head. “What do you want?”
“Oh, nothing—nothing at all for myself individually,” replied the Donkey; “but his country’s welfare should be a patriot’s supreme care. If Americans are to retain the sacred liberties for which their fathers strove, Congress must declare our independence of European dictation by maintaining the price of mules.”
Story DNA
Moral
Those who claim to act for the public good often do so to serve their own private interests.
Plot Summary
A mine owner on his way to a convention is stopped by a jackass who, feeling unrepresented, asks the owner to advocate for him. The owner, recognizing their shared nature, agrees. The jackass then delivers a 'patriotic' speech about national welfare, culminating in a demand for Congress to maintain the price of mules, revealing his true, self-serving agenda.
Themes
Emotional Arc
cynicism confirmed
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Ambrose Bierce was known for his cynical and satirical view of politics and human nature, often reflecting post-Civil War American society and its Gilded Age corruption.
Plot Beats (5)
- A mine owner is traveling to a convention.
- He is approached by a jackass who feels discriminated against and wants representation.
- The mine owner, with a gesture indicating donkey ears, acknowledges their shared nature and asks what the jackass wants.
- The jackass professes to care only for the country's welfare and sacred liberties.
- The jackass then reveals his true demand: Congress must maintain the price of mules to ensure American independence from European dictation.
Characters
The Owner of a Silver Mine ★ protagonist
A man of average height with a somewhat portly build, indicating a life of comfort rather than manual labor. His hands are likely soft, uncalloused, and well-manicured. He carries himself with an air of self-importance.
Attire: A dark, well-tailored suit of the late 19th or early 20th century, likely made of wool or broadcloth, with a crisp white shirt and a silk tie. Perhaps a waistcoat and a gold watch chain visible across his belly. His shoes would be polished leather, and he might wear a bowler hat when outdoors.
Wants: To attend a convention of his 'species' (fellow mine owners), implying a desire for status, networking, and maintaining his wealth and influence.
Flaw: His arrogance and tendency to underestimate others, particularly those he considers beneath him. His sarcasm can also be a weakness, revealing his true, less charitable nature.
He does not undergo a significant arc in this short fable; he remains a static character, embodying the cynical businessman.
Sarcastic, self-important, opportunistic, condescending, and somewhat cynical. He enjoys making subtle jabs at others while maintaining a veneer of politeness.
Image Prompt & Upload
A portly adult man of average height, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a round, ruddy face with small, shrewd eyes and a neatly trimmed mustache. His thinning brown hair is combed over. He wears a dark, well-tailored wool suit, a crisp white shirt, a silk tie, and a waistcoat with a gold watch chain across his belly. His posture is confident and slightly pompous, with his hands making an upward gesture from the sides of his head, mimicking ears. He has a cynical, amused expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Jackass ◆ supporting
A sturdy, grey-brown donkey of typical size, with a shaggy coat and long ears. Its build is robust, suggesting a life of labor, but it carries itself with an unexpected air of earnestness.
Attire: None, as it is an animal, but its natural coat is its 'attire'.
Wants: To advocate for the 'welfare of his country' by influencing policy to maintain the price of mules, believing this is crucial for 'sacred liberties'. This is a satirical representation of a lobbyist.
Flaw: Its naivety in believing a human mine owner would genuinely represent its interests, and its somewhat absurd interpretation of 'patriotism' and 'liberty'.
Does not undergo a significant arc; it serves as a satirical device to highlight the mine owner's character and the nature of political lobbying.
Earnest, patriotic (in its own way), somewhat naive, and persistent. It believes deeply in its cause and approaches the human with a serious request.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sturdy adult donkey, grey-brown in color with a shaggy coat, standing firmly on all fours, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. It has a long, earnest face with large, dark eyes and a grey muzzle. Its long ears are slightly perked and expressive. Its mane and tail are coarse and dark. It holds its head high with a serious, almost oratorical expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Road to the Convention
A dusty, unpaved road, likely winding through a rugged, arid landscape typical of silver mining regions in the American West, possibly with distant mountains or hills. The sun would be bright and the air dry.
Mood: Open, slightly desolate, functional
The Mine Owner is accosted by the Jackass, initiating their conversation about political representation and mule prices.
Image Prompt & Upload
A wide, unpaved dirt road stretches into the distance, flanked by low, sun-baked hills covered in sparse sagebrush and dry grasses. The ground is cracked and dusty, with small pebbles scattered across the surface. Overhead, a vast, cloudless blue sky dominates, casting sharp shadows from unseen elements. The air shimmers with heat, suggesting a dry, arid climate. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
