Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-04-21
IN Authentic AnecdOte of an AutOmaton

\ correspondent of the London cpecta
dt0r tells the following interesting ca
tory. and improves the opportunity I,
ldlculc lluNleys notion that animals ar,
pnlv automlta:
Some time ago = machine of the eat
,pecleS was received into our house under
distressing circumstances and adopted by
pur household. We have all rendered our
selves ridiculous in scientific eyes bv be
coming much attached TO this rescued
foundllng. and he has assumed. under the
name OF Bruln. position Of importance
which becomes his size. intelligence, and
estimate OF his own merits. Under the
second OF these heads could furnish YOU
with several Interesting particulars.
content myself, however with one. whicl,
relates to our machine of the eat species.
tnd TO another machine called Il gas stove.
| We had one of the latt r. articles put up i'm
| study beyond the dining-room ut the be-
ginning OF winter. and Bruin speedily Sc
Iected 1t as his own particular fireplace
IN preference to the dining-r CRATE
no doubt because it was l'sS frequcnted
and the heat was more uniform. When
| the severe cold set in. it struck Brnin :
master that it would he comfortable for
him to have the stove to sleep by. and
might tend to modify his crr;lic habits
Accordingly the stove was left aiirht Cat
half >trcngth,) and Bruin signilicd hi, ap-
probation by curling himself up in front
Of 1t early in the evening and sleeping
>oundly until he WAS reused under protest.
and yawning widely, to Il late breakfast
Turing all the nights and mornings which
have since elapsed
On Thursday night-Christma eve
h s master left home. and it occurred to me
to test Bruins intelligence concerning that
event. | left the stove unlightrd AMI
VT lie h S proceedings WI, n the hour at
'hicil hr usually retires to rest arrived.
he mrrched into the room with the air of
importlnt business to be immediately at
tended to which strongly characterized
lln. looked At the blank copprry space
uttered an angry cry. AMI ran out of the
room to the coat-tnd umbrella stand in
the hall. He sn; ffel at :. couple of water
proofs AMI an int-rloping eh toh cls but
detected the absence of the familiar great
o It and sturdy umbrella which he ,sso-
clate> with his mn>ter. Then he rushed
up stairs. evidecily with a strong sense of
injury upon him; and | followed. To find
him crying ut the door of his masters bed
room, which | opened for him. He
Jumped on the bed. >niff-d about the pill
lows. jumped down again. once more cried
:tnyrlv. AMI ran down stairs. followed
and took my seat in The dining room. pre-
tending not To notice him. He >at for two
or three minutes in front of tie stove. then
came into the dining-room and put his
paws upon nv knees. and gnzcd into my
face with a @a>p-not Il cry, but mode of
speech which this machine has made US
understand l pretended to be puzzled.
He scratched my gown and gaspcd again
- You are thirsty. Bruin. | remarked
:" What do vou want? am 10 Get up am l.
and you will show me-" | Suilel the ac-
ton to the word. and he proceeded me to
the study, stepped inside the fender, put
up his paws on the front of the stove, and
turned his head toward me over his
shoulder with Il look of content that hld
been clever enough to interpret his mean
ing, which gave me very sincere satisfac
ton.
AS know that YOU. sir. are an advocate
for the study of animals otherwise than by
the torture of them. | venture to send Won
this anccdote of an autom iton who really
seems. to my ignorant mind. 10 have some
thing like what We fancy we mean by
consciousness.