, 1877-01-28

! Sympathetic power OF entering into the feelings
| OF the animal. This is m element which science
ducticns mar not fall as far short Of the truth -
| vivid imagination may go beyond it. To me-
it is very clear that there Is at least rudimen.
| tary moral sense in animals. I have had tWc
satisfactory inasnuch as they include change
OF conduct which can be explained only BY as
| Stunning an erer-present memory OF the fault
committed. II this be not
! LOWER FORM OF CONSCIENCE
IN its nature its practical result is certainly the
very same. Were we to judge strange man BY
| his artioDs, his speech being wholly uniutel-
ligib1e to 1ls, ne should give him the credit oi
positive conscience IN like circumstances. Why
| should we withhold it from an animal.
| Let the reader decide for himself! have a
horse who is now not less than II years old,
and 1t is possible that he is year or two older;
Tor thirty EIGHT years ago he was broken to use
He is at present on the retired list, only occas.
ionallV being called upon to lend help
but his intellect is as fresh and as full Of CT,
pedients as ever. No horse ever knew better
how to save himself, to spare effort and prolong
his powers; no one was ever so cunning to slip
his halter, open the feed-box, and supply the
knew as well as any scientist" ( have seen
him through crack in board shanty used
while the stable was building, lift aud lay aside
with his teeth six boxes which were piled atop
OIL orc an0Lnef, unLM
HE FOUND THE OATS At THE BOTTOM.
Then, when my head appeared at the window,
he instantly gave up his 1cisurely, luxurious
munching Of the grain, opened his jaws to
their fullest extant, thrust his muzzle
deep into the box, aud gravcly walked back
to his stall with at least aQuurt Of oats in his
mouth. This horse had playful habit of snap
ping at my arm when be was harnessed for u
drive. 4 always talk to horse before starting,
as matter Of common politcness.) OF course
1neger finched, and his teeth often grazcd my
sleeve as he struck them together. One day,
more than dozen years ago, he was in rather
reckless spirits and snapped little too vigor-
ously, catching my arm actual1y in his jaws. 1
scarcely felt the bite, but was very much sur
prised The horse, however, showed such un-
mistakahle signs of regret and distress that
simply said, Never do that again!" And he
never did! From that moment. he gave up
the habit OF years; he laid back his ears, OF
fcigned anger in other ways, but he
NEVER AGAIN MADE BELIEVE TO BITE.
This, certainly, goes far beyond the temporary
sorrow for al unintentional injury which may
be referred to an animals affection. What else
Is conscience than knowledge Of wrong made
permanent by memory which forbids the rep
etition OF the wrong?
The other instance was furnished by crea-
turc which is populariy supposed to be as stupid
as it is spienlid,-a peacock! This, beng q
lony-liycd bird, and therefore lowered with
richer experience than other domestic fowls,
never heard Of the peacock being cited
as an example OF either Intelligence or moral
sense The bird is vain, it is true; but if vanity
indicates lack Of intelligence, what will become
OF men and women! I have often watched
'.John" {the name We gaye him and which he
guinea-fowl, who were SO proyolsingly indifferent
to the raycd splendor that he invariably ended
by driving them angrily away. On the other
hand, can ever forget the
SIMPLE, USTIRrSG ATTACHMENT
Of the gorgeous creatures The table at which
wrote stood near a bay-window. so that
had the true left-hand sfde-lght, with
window at my back AS soon a5 I took my
place there after breakfast, the peacock flew
upon the window-sill, and, whenever failed to
notice him, tho sharp taps Of his bill upon the
glass reminded me of his presence Then
turned, and, as in duty bound, said, Good
morning, John!" after which he continued to
sit there, silent and content, for, two or
ordinarily shy fowl but John was bold enough
to cat out Of our hands, AS oftcn as spring
came, however, it was impossible to prevent his
deprcdatfons in the garden. He had q morbid
taste for young cabbage and lettuce-plants. es-
set out, and he would sometimes
pick a whole bed to pieces
while the gardeners back was turned.
For awhile, amused mrseli by testing his pow
crs Of Discrimination. waited behind a clump
Of bushes until be was fairly on his way to the |
garden, making long, swift strides, with de-
pressed neck and tail, and then I suddenly !
stepped forth. In the twinkling OF an eye john |
stood upright, walked leisurely in the opposite |
animation Of some trihlng object. His air and |
manner, to the tips OF his feathers, expressed |
the
coMPLETEsT IGNORANCE OF GARDEN.
dc would spread his tail, call to the other fowls
peer under the hedge, and In similar ways at
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