Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-07-07
CAN A HORSE REASON?


city, of most interesting and cx,raorina.
~ character. Mr.. Lansdon, in Introducing
the communication to his readers, makes the
assurance that every fac, stated can be cor
robora,ed by hundreds of his most vrracions
fellow citizens. Those who hold in vrna-a-
tion the noble qualities of the horse, that sa-
gacious as well as scrviccablc animal, will
be certain to give the article careful peru
cal. The writer of this individual ANIMALS
history has scarcely told the bali Of the evil
denccs gives OF surprising powers of rtason-
ing TAR above most other animals of the brute
creation. If all these marks Of intelligence
are not reierable 10 "A process of thought, or
ratioci1ation, then VIC know not upon villa,
principle they are to be accounted for they
are certainly, in our estimation, lofty re-
move above instinct.
c. c. Langdon, Esq:-My purpose is
not TO discuss the question AZ the head ofthis
article, but to submit some facts for the spec
ulation of those who may be curious in such
aiattcrs. As you arc aware. own horse
called John, tina, for several years has no,
only amused, but astoni>lcd the public, by
his various frats of intelligence and sagaciiy.
Every body knows John, and if he is seen,
rs 'c often is, in buggy, and no one in il,
walking, troiling, or galloping. through the
most crowded streets, threading his way
among carriages and drays, no citizen Offers
10 stop him; but If IA stranger attempts il, he
only cxcics a laugh, and is asked how long
he has been in the city. | have Witnessed
some amusing scenes of this kind at the cx-
pcnse Of some ones good intentions.
!, is proper / should state. that for the las,
seven years, with the exception of the past
and present winters, have resided about
two and half miles from the city. gcucr-
ally come TO town every day about eleven o.
clock. liicqucn'ly drive to town and back
without touching the rein. If come down
ST. Francis street he is certain to stop at the
Waverly, without anything being said to him
and as soon as | get out, lie will star, in Il
irot or eallop, and stop at the Corin-
THAN. If come down Dauphin street,
he will go directly 10 the Post Office, where
he will stopt until get cut, when he will
wheel across the street, and remain there,
in his opimi0n, a reasonable time; if lie
wants water he will go to pump, and from
one to another, until he finds friend TO pump
it for him, when he will return.
John is also general iavorilc. The free
s!0m Of the city was long since presented to
him in buggy lie is therefore not con-
fined to any particular street, but goes where
lie likes, in pursuit of me or lis own amuse-
ment. lie will sometimes 90 to Water
street, and then to Commerce, where with
excellent taste and judgment he will sample
bales Of hay on the side walk but unlike
the cotton samplers, he was never known to
Gl bag and carry it off on his back. lie
not only knows me from others, hut can dis
tnguish my voice from all others, as may be
easily proved Hundreds Of persons may
pass lin daily without attracting from hini
any particular notice. II come towards
him when his head is turned from me, and
happen to be talking at the time, although
from his tight check ram the motion may be-
difficult, and perhaps painful, he will t"r,
his Lead round, resting it against his side,
with his eye, which then exhibits peculiar
trcmulous motion, fixed on me, until pass.
If he then desires TO 90 home, he will raise
his head, point his cars and start after me,
stepping loiiily and keeping me IN view.
Although aspri,cd animal, nothing fright
ened him from his proprir,y;' in fact, he
'dares do all that may become a'-horsc
II is "A fact quite notorious. that he will 90
about the CRY in pursuit of me; j, is equally
so, that experiments lave been made To in.
duce him to leave me, by turning him up tic
street leading 10 the country, but after turn.
ing block or two he would invariably come
back.-Tlere are many instance Of gentle.
men having driven him to their residence.
in different parts of the ci'v, and turned hin
loose to come back and | an, informed that
some bets have been pocketed on such per.
formances. had a standing bet for some
years, that wonld send him to the markc
or to the Post Office, or any house or pon
that might be designated, and tina, he would
return safely with the buggy. No one doubt,
ed that he would do il. But few months
since sent from my house across the coun
try to the Spring road, and up to that roat
distance of mile, TO the house Of friend
although he had not been there for NOR
than year. ! have often sen, him on or
rands of a similar character. ] have onl,
to 60 with him and show him place, and III
never forgets it. lie is perfect under com
nand of my voice. speak to him as
would to "a servant; and that he understand
many things that are said to him, is prove
by the fact thai he obeys me. In harness q
out oft, he follows'me about like dog. II
stands in no fear of me-, and has no caus,
for although ! may sometimes sc0M him,
have never struck him, as | believe, in ii,
seven years aud IA half have owned hin
lie therefore does nothing from fear, bu, c,
cry thing from kindness.
1T is getting quite la,e-,wo or three o
clock; | must have gone up the street. u
turns up Royal-strect. and stopping slo
time at the Literary Depot and several OF,
er places, he goes to the Waverley. The
is no use in going farther in this drec,io
for he knows seldom go above that poi,
lie becomes uneasy turns back and 90
down the street, as far as the Court Hon.
tie turns again much excited his ears a
thrown back, his neck arclied, his nosri
fattened, and starts into fast troll. As
passes the Mansion House, he is in rou
Rallop, wildly throwing his head from o
side of the street TO the other. If he Sc
me, he will stop, or come to me. &c, i,
the carriage, and without saying a word