The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-25
evening State So,lraaI.
WEDNESDAY EvEN'o. FEB. IS, 1874.
Animal Teaching.

AnBmhl reasoning. sH
Long years before the American Rarey's
name was heard as "horse- tamer,v Q
secret existed, as a family heirloom,
among q branch of the O'Sullivans in the
south of Ireland. This family was known
as "The Whisperers," and they possessed
the power of rendering as quiet as lamb
the most stubborn and urmanageable horse
that ever existed. Whether they did any
thing more to horse than breathe into his
nostrils we know not, but by doing this
and by kind soothing, and other ways
known to themselves, they effected their
purpose and retained their fame. Putting
the question of drugs or siimu-
lants, or other fascinating means
aside, and coming to the point
of pure and unauthorized domestication
and teaching, perhaps there was no person
in modern times achieved so much success
in animal teaching as S. Bissett. This man
was humble shoemaker. He was born
in Scotland, in 1921, but he afterwards re-
moved to London, where he married a
woman who brought him some property.
Then, turning to broker, he accumulated
money until the year 1869, when his atten-
ton was turned to the training of animals,
birds and fishes. He was led into this new
study on reading an account Of remarka-
BILE horse shown at fair at st. Germans.
Bissett bought horse and dog, and
succeeded beyond his expectations in
teaching them to perform various feats.
He next purchased two monkeys, which he
taught to dance and tumble on rope, and
one would hold candle in one paw and
turn the barrel organ with the other, while
his companion danced. He next taught
three cats to do great many wonderful
things, to set before music books, and to
squat notes pitched to different keys. He
advertised a scat opera" in the Hay
market, and successfully carried out his
programme, the cats accurately fulfilling all
their parts. He pocketed some thousands by
these performances. He next taught o.
leveret, and then several species of birds
to spell the name of any person in
the company, and to distinguish the
hour of the day or night. Six turkey
cocks were next rendered amena-
BILE to a country dance, and after six
months teaching, he trained turtle to
fetch and carry like dog, and having
chalked the floor and backened its claws,
he made it trace out the name of any given
person in the company. and Water.
AGAsSIZ' BELIEF II. THE MINOR
TALITY OF ANIMALS. 1t would be idle
to multiply instances Of the thorough hui
manity and geniality OF Agassiz. Every
body who knew him can tell hundreds Of
anecdotes illustrative OF his sympathy with
all forms of lfe,i whether in the jelly-fish,
the human child, the developing boy or
girl, the mature man or woman. Still his
conviction of the immateriality and per-
sonality OF mind was something wonderful
in so austere naturalist. We happened
once to please him by defining jelly-fish
as organized water. Now look at it
through the microscope" he said. "But,
Agassiz, the play organization is so won
derful thatit seems to me that nothing
but mind can account for it." "You
are right" was his answer sin some in
comprehensive way, God Almighty has
created these beings, and | cannot doubt
of their immortality any more than doubt
ofmy own" His fealty to the rights of
animals exceeded that of any great natu-
ralst who ever preceded him. Incom-
petent as we are to give him his due rank
among the great naturalists of the world,
we think he excelled every naturalist who
has gone before him in striking at the soul
and individuality ofall animals below man.
1t is impossible to convey in words the Pc
culiar feeling which Agassiz had on this
matter. Doubtless this large and genial
genius is now satisfied. We cannot pene-
trate beyond the vel. --Boston Globe.