The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-12-01
The Horse an Intellectual Being.

The Horse an Intellectual Being.
DIR. G. Ii. Sutherland, of DeKalb, n.
T., sebt US letter few days since, in
which, among other things, be alluded to
the Importance of treating horses a. "in
teIlectual beings" and of trying the ef-
feet of constant kind ness" in training
them, the result of which he believed
would be the attainment on the part of
the horse to ian elevated position in the
scale of Intelligence, pot only distinguish.
ing themselves among their kind, but ac-
tually outstripping many Of their owners,
as far as the nobler attributes are con.
cerDed." With this high appreciation of
the capacity of the horse, the doctor. e &c
years ago, cane into possession of fine
3 year old colt, aud be concluded to try
the power of kindness in the endeavor to
deselope his mind. The result is given
in the st. Lawrence Republican, in which
paper a correspondent writes:
During my wanderings short time
since, | chaDced to stop at Hermon.-
Hearing of Doctor Sutherland's learned
colt, | had the curiosity to 60 and see
him, and found bim prodigy in learning,
besides being quite curiosity. The doc
tor calls him the white Pilgrim" His
color is light nankeen, white name and
tail, and white eyes. He is splendid
little horse. The doctor tells me that be
had owned him only six months--rode or
drove him almost every day, (as his rid
ing is considerable y but still during that
brief time be broke him to the saddle
and harness, and taught him the differ.
ent feats | saw him perform, such as
standing upon bis hind feet, jumping the
whip, kneeling down. lying down. sitting
up, and walking on three legs. He will
unbuckle a common saddle girtb, and
take off bis Own saddle; be will step up to
his own master, make very low bow,
shake hands. take Ills coat, cap and mitteDs
off, and lay them away. and when told +,
bring them all back to him again. With
cards he will tell his age, the days 10 the
week, months in the year, &c. With the
alphabet he will ,pelI any simple word
put to him. Spread out a number of
playing cards and be will fetch the one
called for. He will play good game at
0n SIedge, and beat you as often as you
can bin, and tell your fortune, if request
ed. He will waltz around his yard with
quite as much ease and grace as some of
our country gentlemen. and pass around
hat for a contribution at the close of
performance. He is rare specimen of
horse flesh. and bis equal, l think. for
beauty, activity and intelligence. could
not be found, considering the labor per-
formed by hia, and the short time be
has been under discipline; and the doctor
certainly deserves the credit for being q
great Horse Man.
The Doctor, in the conclusion of his
letter. says, that until this season be new
er before undertook to train horse for
trottiDg, but that be now has three year
old mare be calls CRAZY Jane" out OF
Tom Jeferson's Black Hawk, her dam
sired by George Parish's imported St.
Lawrence. With very little training she
will make her mile in less than $50, over
rather poor track. Now, says the doc
tor, "if trotting is science that horse
can acquire by careful training, (like
playing old sledge,) Grassy Jane will yet,
il nothing befals her, be one among ma
nv to demonstrate the fact that the horse
has an intellect, or reasoning powers. e.
quail if not superior to many of their
brute owners, and that it can be devel
oped and cultivated With as much cer-
tainty and profit as the minds of our
children"
We look forward to the result of the
doctors experiments with great deal of
interest; how much kindness will do to
develope speed 10 horses is'yet to be as
certained .-Erening Post.