The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-03-21

presume it is q very common observation |
of persons who own intelligent dogs that If |
they happen TO describe TO the visitor some |
fault for which the animal has been scolded |
or punished, in the iatter's presence, he will
exhibit an uneasy consciousness of what is |
said, even sometimes stink away. But the
extent to which horse also may be made to
understand speech Is not so generally
known. The simple fact that he likes to be
talked to makes him attentive TO the sounds,
and I am convinced that in great many
cases he has an impression of the meaning
have at present horse who served his
country during the war and came TO me
only after its close. His experience while
on scouting service made him very SUSPICIOUS
of any gray object. as soon discovered; he
would shy at fallen log in q thicket, a
glimpse of NOISY rock or laborer's coat
left in q fence corner. BY stopping him
whenever this happened. and telling him in
an assuring tone that there was nothing TO
fear, he was very soon completely cured OF
the habit. But he still lifts up his head,
and would, II he could, cry Hal hal" when
he hears the sound of the trumpet.
The affection and fidelity of the horse have
always been admitted. Ny first acquaint-
ance with these qualities was singular enough
to be related. When a boy of IA, / was
walking along lonely country road with
companion of the same age, and came upon
an old gray horse, standing in the middle OF
the track, over a man who was lying upon
his back. We fastened up to give assistance,
bat presently saw that the man, instead OF
being injured, was simply dead drunk. be
had tumbled off, on his way home from the
tavern, and a full bottle of whisky, iolted
out of his pocket in falling, lay by his eide,
The fore feet of the horse were firmly planted
on each side of his neck, and the hind feet
on each side of mis- legs. The position seemed
to us dangerous for the man. We took the
animal by the bride and attempted to draw
him away, but he resisted with all his
strength, snorting laying back his ears, and
giving every other sign of anger. 1t was APP
parent that he had carefully planted himself
so a. to completely protect his master against
any passing vehicle. We assisted the faith
ful creature in the only possible wsy-by
pouring the whisky in the husband left
him until help could be summoned. His
rot indicated not only affection, involving
sense OF duty, but also more than one process
OF reasoning.
The same horse once revealed to me the
latter quality in a surprising way. In tell
ing the story privately find that it is some
times iHcredulously received; yet l am sure
that no one Who cherishes the proper respect
for animals will refuse it credeDce. In the
company of friend l was driving along
country road in light, open buggy. paid
no attention to the horse, for he could turn,
back, or execute any other maneuvre in har
ness as we'll without as with u driver. Halt
ing at a house where my friend wished TO
call, waited for him outside. Presently
the horse looked back at me. twisting his
body between the thills in singular fash
lon. l perceived that he had some
communication to make. What is
the matter now, Benz" Thereupon by
twisting q little more, he managed
to hold up his right foot, and saw that the
snoe had been lost. That's right" said /,
"you shall have a new shoe as soon as We
| get to the village" He set down his foot
and for q moment seemed satisfied. Then
the same turning of the head and twisting
| of the body were repeated. ~ hat Benl Is
anything else the matter7" l asked. He
| now lifted his left hind foot, which was still
shod. l was quite at loss TO understand
him, and remained silent He looked back
| at me. out of the corner of his eye and evil
IDENTIFY saw that was puzzled, whereupon
| he set down his foot and seemed TO think.
| Almost Immediately he lifted il up again,
and shook il vigorously. The loose shoe
| rattled There was 8 positive process OF
reasoning in this acs and it is too simple
and clear to be interpreted IN any other
| way.
Three weeks after the great fire in Chica-
| 60 in 1871, 1 saw a parrot which had saved
itself from the general fate of al household
! treasures there. 1t had belonged TO my old
| friend, Mrs. Kirkland, and was do1bly
| cherished by her daughter. When il was
| evident that the house was doomed, and the
| red wall of fire, urged by the hurricane.
| was sweeping towards ii with terrific speed,
| Miss Kirkland saw that she could rescue
nothing except what she instantly took in
| her hands. There were two objects especial
! ly dear-the parrot and the old family
| Bible; but she was unable to carry mere
| than one of them. After q single moment
Of choice she seized the Bible, and was has
1 tening away, when the parrot cried out in
| loud and solemn voice, Good Lord, deliver
| usi" No human being, l think, would have
1 been deaf to such an appeal; the precious
| Bible was sacrificed and the parrot saved. The
| bird really possessed superior intelligence.
| 4 heard him say 'yes" or mo-" in answer TO
| QUESTIONS, the latter being varied, so as to
| admit, alternately, of both replies; and the
| tes of his knowledge was perfect In the
| home where he had found q refuge there
were many evening visitors, one of whom, q
gentleman, was rather noted for his
monopoly of the conversation. When the
parrot frst heard him, 1t listened in silence
| for some time: then to the amazement, per-
'haps the confusion, of all present 1t said,
] very sympatheticslly, you talk altogether
too much" The gentleman, at first some
! what embarrassed, presently resumed the in
| terrupted discourse. Thercupon the parrot
laid his head OF one side, gave an indescrib
ably comical and contemptuous III na-m!"
! and added. There he goes assiui" If there
| ever was an viscsre terrible it il the parrot;
! his instinct for discovering ways and means
4 Of annoyance is somewhat diabolical.
II the little brain of bird contains so
| 0auoh manifested to us simply because its
| tongue may be taught to utter articuiate
! sounds why have we not right to assume
| q much greater degree of intelligence to
aHimals TO whom articulation is iGapossible?
IL dogs or horses were capable of Initiating
! our speech. as well compromising IL,
/ ~ozld they not have a great deal more %
| say TO usf Articulation is mechanical.
not an intellectual, popularity; but in the
case OF the parrot, and notably the sxi.o. il
Is generally so employed as 20 prove very
much more than routine and coincidence. /