Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-08-12
An Educated Dog.


The London Speetator contains The FOL
lowing account Of the wonderful perform.
apces vi an educated dog:
(" Minos'' il q skye Of the long .haired,
silky kind, only that be turns his niue
feaif,ered forepaws out ia an odd way,
which reminds one OF the hands 81 cef-
tain lecturers when they are emphatic;
his large brown eyes are inquiring,. serl
Gus and closely attentive, his little black
nose fwitcbes with variety Of expires
sioBs very curious 10 observe, - The sey.
eraI problems Of his afithmetlcal examI
nation are presented 10 him. and 10 see
him lin his head with sharp air o. ques.
tioning. and slightly shake u when be has
been answered ~ hir satisfaction, u The
pretficet and anainfesi sight possible He
was aeposited ON large table by his mis-
trcss. and mildly regarded 50 many Of the
company ~ were within easy reach, but
ne betrnyed no vulgar curiosity, while he
waited until Nine. Uager's preparations
we're complete. She converted with him
cheerfIlly, ~ she arranged = number OF
cards bearing the numerals / 2, y and so
on. and several double figures With
gentle shake ut one paw, the little great
ure began bis exercises lie picked
out dozen cards In succession, named
by various persons among The audience,
tie number being distinctly repeated 70
him hy bis mistress, and then she asked
anyone present 10 name sum in addition
which q Mines" who had Jua brought
the card marked q In his mouth 70 her,
would work. A lady said Let him add
IL to IT," "Ajouie douze, Minos,
chcrcbe, apportep He gave his mistress
long look, twitcbcd his nose, ainblcd
gently over 10 the spread cards, without
displacing them, and presently returned,
carving in his mouth the card marked ~.
Several experiments Of the same Kind
were suggested, and in every instance
"Minoga made the calculation correctly,
Then came exercises In subtraction, dur.
ing which bis gravity, consideration and
frequent reference by questioning looks 70
Nine. Hagcr were very pretty 70 see lie
never once failei 10 bring her the correct
card, though some pu2zling numbers
were proposed 10 him (if, indeed, there be
any question 81 degree In 80 phenomenal
performance), and only once did he
give II up on which occasion he had
all the syinpathles Of the audience with
| him. This was when a gentleman request
| ed him 10 find " the half Of twenty. '
! (" Mines paused, looked al his mistress,
shook his right paw, twitched his right
ear, and walked straight across the tablcto
| n card with q upon Ii, aud laid II before
Nine Hager He was modestly conscious
Of Tie applause ELECTED by tliis brilliant
fixture, but not elated indeed, through.
out the entertainment, although quite
free from the oppressed and misanibropic
weariness characteristic Of almost all . per
| forming" animals, and particularly no.
| ticeable in bears, he had humorous air
| of restrained clcverncss, an We could an
| il We ,soui,r' expression, especially pleas.
ant al little confidential moments be-
tween his mistress and himself, when
| he niblled tiny shreds of pink s~ectmeat,
and was hold that he had been "pares-
seuz" Yesterday, but was "charmant on
the present occasion He would some.
times sit up with his funny fore paws
turned up In front OF him, and survey the
audience with bcnignant gaze, N Of a
dog who said Good people, you are
amused because you do not understand me
and my kind We know all about you,
but yon know little about US. You might
| learn d great deal from the mere fact that
a little creature like myself exists. He
conYcrsed with his mistress freely In short
barIss, In winks, In witches, perfectly 10
their mutual satisfaction, and was penitent
| Nv sensible that he had slightly committed
| himself by lying down before company, IN
an idle moment, during the substitution OF
| photographs for the numbered cards.
Nine. lager explained that NJ limos was
susceptible 10 the drowsy influence Of the
weather, and had been going out good
| Hal NJ mr. ha aHAltfnph "A
delightful briskness, and he entered into
the game OF picking out The photographs
which were named in succession with much
spirit, turning his soft, brown head about
| In eager expectation Of the next order, and
exchanging looks with his mistress which
people present said were quite human. "
Every one wanted 10 know show II was
donc'f Few were contsnted 10 receive
Nine. IIagcr's assurances that lhe feat
IL entirely one Of memory when " Minos"
picks out nm individual among the royal
and princeiy personagcs OF Europe the
even crosses the line In favor. Of the
Scvyid of Zanzibar) at the request Of any
member Of the audience. A favorite the
DRY was that Nine. Hager conveyed an
indication 10 him by changes OF voice In
repeating the name after the chance nom.
inator. But even II IL were so that would
be more surprising exercise OF memory,
because Il would require its employment
ON countless infections Of one voice, and
the connection of them with the pictures,
of which he IL said 10 recognize 400. He
picked out twenty-five without any difii.
Guilty, and when the titles Of the Queen
of England aud the Princess Of Wales
were changed 10 the august mamma"
and the august wife" OF the Prince Of
Wales lwho Ii u special patron Of
"Minos;' indeed he came 10 London AT
the express invitation Of His Royal High.
ness), he found the portraits just
as readily. The spectacle was n charm,
ing one, not only because Of the
extraordinary sagacity and memory Of the
little performer, but because Of something
exquisitely gentle, trustfnl and loving In
his look and movements which went To
peoples hearts. When he had found
every photograph that was asked for a
pack OF playingcards was produced, a
/ 10 ii. d.