Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-05-03

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brute creation. II all these marks OF intelligence
reierrabc process OF thought raoeination, then
know upon what principle they to be accounted fo
they are certainly, In our os'naon lofty remove abov
instinct.
CAN HORST REASON
NV purpose discuss the question Mt the head
this article but submit facts for the speculation
those who may be curious in such matters As you
ware, horse. called JOhR that for several ha
not only amused but asonshcd the public, by his varou
feats VI intelligence and sagRcity.
Every body knows johns and II he SEEM he often is
in buggy, aud no one in II, walking oitng galopns
through the most crowded STREETS threading his way among
carriages and drays citizen offers stop HIM; but If
stranger attempt IT, he only laugh, and asket
| how long he has been IN the city.
II is proper should that for the last years
with the exception of the past and present winters have
resided about two and half miles from the city. gene.
rally come every day, about IL - o'clock.
frequently drive aud back, without touching the
rein. II come down ST. Frances he stop
the Waveey. without any thing being said him. and
get he will galop, and stop
at the CoJinthan Ii come down Dauphn street. he will
90 directly To the posofce where he will stop until get
out when he will wheel the street, and remain there,
his opinion, reasonable At he water, he will
go To pump, and from another, until he finds
Trend 10 pump II for him, when he will return.
John is also great favore. The "ireedom OF the city,
long SINCE presented him buggy. lie Is there
tore not confined particular street. but where he
likes, m pursuit OF me or his own amusement He will
sometimes 60 Water street, and then 10 Commerce,
where with excellent and judgement he will sample
bales IT hay the side walk: but. unlike the
plcrs, he known I'LL bag and carry off his
back lie not only knows me from Others, bat can dis
ungGsh my voice rom all Others may be easily Pred.
Hundreds u persons pass him daily, without attracting
from hum any partcularrnoucc II l come toward HIM
when his head Is turned trom me, and happen 10 be talking
at the me although from his ght check Vin the
may be ditiicn and perhaps painful he viii turn hs
head round, resting aains his side; with his which
then exhibits peculiar tremuous motion; fixed me all
pass. he then desirS home, be viii raise hfs
head, point his and after STRIPPING ioy and
keeping me IN view Although spirited ANIMAL nothing
"irghens him from hs prspncy; IN fact he "darcs do all
that may become a"-horse, Il fact quite notorious
that he will ~ about the city pursuit ct It equally
that experiments have been made induce HIM TO leave
by turning him up the leading the county, but
after turning block he would nyariabe back
There many instances OF gentlemen having driven him
TO their residences IN different parts OF the city, and turned
HIM loose TO come back and informed that bets
have been pOcketed such performances. had stand.
ing bet for years, that would send him the market,
the post office any house point that might be de-
signatcd and that he would safely with the buggy
No doubted he would do il. But few months since,
sent him from house the country the Spring
I'M road and up that road distance o mile, 10 the house
OF friend although he had been there for than
have often him errands similar charac-
have only 90 with him and show him place, and
he never iorgets IL lie Is perfectly undet command of
voice speak him would servant: and that he
derstands many things say him. proved by the fact
that he obeys me- In harness out Of he follows me
about like dog lie stands IN fear Of me, and has no
cause; for although may sometimes SeOld him. have
struck him. as believe in the years and half have
owned him. He therefore does nothing from fear but eve
rything from kindness.
Ii Is getting quite late-iwo three o'clock-l must
have gone up the He up Royal street, and
stopping short time at the Literary Depot and several other
places, he goes the Wavery. There going
farther in this direction for he knows seldom 20 above
that point He becomes uneasy; back and down
the street far a the house lie again. much
excited his thrown back his neck ached ms nusr
iaened aud starts into fast As he passes the Man
sion House, he Is IN round gaOp wildly throwing his head
from side OF the the other. he he
will stop up me. ] get into the carriage, and
f.urh the rom no kos
up the first street leading TO our home.
Here Is narrow lano leading the gate: and TO make
clean turn through IT, II is necessary keep the right,
near the fence John knows 1t, and stops at the proper
point open the gate, and pass through. lie wheels
short round describing quartT circle and all is night
before him; the gate narrow there being but five
inches spare between the the wheel and the post. John
knows ~ and IN than five hundred passing
through that gate. tie has touched the post than
three or four times; but when he happens do So he Will
Immediately back sheer of OF his accord, and pass
through, failing IN his second attempt There
instances OF his having locked his wheels with other
carriages. when endeayorng To get good shade and dis
engaging himself similar manner which have been
tcc by Gen. r. ID. w. and Others But for the oddity
it, Icertainy should either rein or Bride In going
To the city, back but especially night would
HIM sooner than proiessed watchman Not the slightest
injury has occurred the carriage by any fault his
But he has also mode ui communicating his wishes and
wants by signs looks and actions, which perfectly
pehensble 10y 1t expressed the planesI language
spoken by man. lie not only a language express
his ideas emotions &c but lac has clearly nuented that Ian
guage himself think shat prove. 4 portion of the
year. the stable being left open for that purpose John al
lowed TO come To the hous. and kitchen when he likes.
About twelve O'clock onelght night heard heavy knock
ing the kitchen door. The knocking continued long
and so loud, that got up and the window when
found was John creating the disturbance His hind feet
the ground, and ms upper STEP
Lifting his foot he would strike the point Of his hoo against
the door, ten or fifteen times, repeating every few min.
utes. From many other teats Ut his sagacity, well
convinced vi his object called the servant and char
ged him with neglectng feed the horse; but he stouy
denied the charge. IL Is certain did believe him.
But the same thing happened several times afterwards, and
had as oen called up the servant, who still asserted the
horse had been fed.
One day happened hear the old negro talking 10 the
servants in the kitchen, laughing heartily and repeating
John won't lie, and master knows ia laugh. "IIe
believes Jon and won't believe me."AnOther laugh. 81
won't tell any lies about feeding John. IT, no use
They oil laugh, aud laugh! When be- wants water, he
will thh WELL and knock against the curb or the wa
te! tub IN the OF late years, the servant
gets up the earliest Knocking ha knows that no sleep
Is 10 be had on the premises until Johns demands
Piled with. often direct that he should not be fed ia the
morning, for e purpose Of inducing him 10 adopt some
other mode Of communicating his wishes. After exhaus.
ting ms patience IN his usual oiOrs he would the
house and walk 10y the door, stepping short and wheel
ing abruptly round.-Ater practising in this Tor
time, he would g.o Of the queercst squeas ever
heard, much resembling the yell uf o ChOctaw a. any
tding else, although be- can he likes squea n very good
English! In November last, the house servant came 10
me and said John would not let her 20 the kitchen We
went the gallery, and that John had planted his
hetls ufecuy 10 the Kitchen door, looking
agcy OdeIod hc r drive him away which she nttemp
ted TO do with stick. But no John would not move an
1 inch.
With hishead the ground his cars backed. stamp
ing violently, and shaking his head he babe defiance All
this knew merely for effect. ! knew he would not
have injured the least Of living things. then told the gr
to to the well and draw him water As soon as she star
ted in that direction lac threw of his theatrical character and
followed her looking pleased, and highly granfed at the
success Of his ingenious experiment. will relate one feat
o. inherent Character year or two ago, when came
to the city one morning. left John nj n shop In Church
street, TO be shod requesting the smith, after he had done So
10 put the horse IN the buggy and let him go practice
have pursued az that and other shops for several years An
hour OF two after Standing the do walk opposite
TO the Mansion house. when saw John coming down 60
yernmont street. and then mp Royal in fast oi stopping
within lew feet Of INC. lie commenced stamping W..
olenty with his fore foot which continued for minute or
I two.
Tho We,tward omnibus standing 80 or 30 feet
IN front Of him Walking up IT, be- put his foot on the
upper stop, and commenced biting After relieving him
sell Of the n.y. 'as suppose wa- he backed the buggy a.
his old position Although John kHen and had hs reason,
why he went 10 the omnibus yet IT proper the feaTaed
public should bcinormed that biz check would not al.