The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-10-13
A CURIOUS INTIMACY.
A Man Who Sleeps In His Stable and
Claims to Understand Horse Talk.
San Francisco News Letter.

San Francisco News Letter.
There is a retired trainer, named Long,
residing on a small farm in Alameda
county, who lives for nothing else but
the pleasure of being near horses. He
eats his meals in the stable, oftentimes
passes the night in the stall with favor
ite pony, and among the equine pets is
mare who whinnies in answer every
time he speaks to her. Gus informant
relates that the most perfect understand
ing exist between Mr.. Long and at least
three out of FIVE horses in the stable.
Two are recent additions, but even in
their case the same affinity is seen in a
lesser degree.
The training of horses, their obedi-
ence, docility, and tricks in circus, are
no novelty; all of us have seen horse
fire pistol, stand on two legs, waltz, lie
down with its trainer, and perform
hundred acts of ssgacity, but these are
simply the result of patient training
and systematic correction. What Mr..
Long claims is far more astounding.
He asserts that, from n lifelong init
macy with horses, he understands their
speech; he goes further, and declares
that their nasal. cultural, explodent
and unobstructed sounds have a differ
ent meaning, are used by the coalition
of the brain and vocal organs, and that
not only do his favorite horses under
| stand him, but that every sound they
utter are perfectly plain to him. When
arguing with him that though he might
comprehend the meaning of the sounds
emanating from the vocal chords of q
horse, yet it was patent impossibility
for horse to understand the English
language, he replied: Living, eating,
and sleeping with my horses has given
me the knowledge l possess, and the
same intimacy has acquired for my
horses the power I claim for them"
Here, turning to slender, lightbuilt
gray pony, he said. "Billy, we are talk
ing of you, if you understand what am
saying, turn your head round on the of
side" The pony did go, and then re-
sumed its feed.
"Billy," he continued, "tell me your
age, how long you have lived here, and
on which side of you is your friend
Vesta?" The pony whinnied for about
two minutes consecutively, and then
being loose in its stall, walked into the
adjoining one occupied by the mar.
Vesta. Now" he continued, "do yor
and Billy walk down to the trough ant
drink while l make up your beds.
Vesta and Billy walked quietly ont ant
proceeded straight to the trough.
While they were out, Mr.. Long turn
ed the straw over carefully with a fork
and carried on an animated converse
: tion with roam gelding about fftee
hands high, Vesta's neighbor on the 9th
8 er side. The name of the horse was Poley
: and after talking to him some minute
about some fault he had committed tn
> day before, he ordered Mr.. Policy to Ii
down and not to get up before Vesta an
Billy had returned. Our informant sa
but little in this to prove Mr.. Long
claims, as many horse will lie down
1t the word of command; but when, will
1t out a further word Policy arose ar
O walked out to the water trough after tt
J. return of the other two horses, the su
AZ ject became as difficult of solution as b
n. fore.