The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-10-06

the wrong way, dropped it. picked it I'm
wrong end first, was scolded at, then
took it by the handle, gave it vgon
Gus shake, and after letting it fall Sew
eral times, set it on the table. Moan
while platform was brought in SIM
porting tall post, at the top of which
higher than horse could reach, was
blackboard having chalked on it a sum
which was not added up correctly
Sprite, being requested to wipe it ont
took the sponge from the table
and planting her fore-feet on the Mat
form, stretched her head up, and hv
desperate passes succeeded in wininr
out part of the figures, and started t00
leave, but seeing that some remained
went back and erased them.
One day she went through process
which showed conclusively that horses
can reason. She dropped the sponce
the first thing, and it fell down behind
the platform out of her sight She oot
down, and looked abous in the saw
dust for it, the audience curiousIv
watching to see what she would do neyf
She was evidently much perplexed
She knew perfectly well that her dutv
would not be fulfilled until she had
rubbed the figures out, and the spopce
was not to be found. Mr.. Bartholomew
said nothing, gave her no look or hint
or sign to help her out of her predca-
ment, but sat in his chair and waited
at last, she deliberately stepped on the
platform again, stretched her head nm
and deliberately wiped the figures out
with hon. month ut al, h.
applauded as if they would bring the
roof down. That was something cieaxlv
not in the programme, but bit of in
dependent reasoning. Yet, having
done so much, she knew that something
was not right About that
sponge-what had become of it? 1t
was her business to lay it on the table
when she was through using it. She
hesitated, looked this way and that.
started to go, came back, dreadfuly
puzzled and uncertain, suddenly spied
it, set her teeth in it. put it on the
table, and went to her place, with a
clear conscience, no doubt, and the
people cheered more wildly than before.
This was to me one of the most inter-
esting things witnessed; and connect
ing it with some facts Mr. Bartholomew
communicated, it was doubly so.
He said that it was his practice not to
interfere or help; the horse knew lust
what she was to do, and he preferred to
wait and let her think it out for herself
The other horses all knew, too, if there
was any failure or mistake, and the
offender was closely watched by them,
and in some way reproved by them if
they could get the opportunity and at
times this little by-play became very
amusing.
After this was most exquisite dancing
by Bucephalus and by Caesar, whose
steppings were in perfect rhythm to the
music. Then the latter turned in q
circle to the right or the left and
walked around defining the figure eight,
Just as any one in the audience chose to
request; and Abdallah came in with q
string of bells around her, and paced,
cantered, galloped, trotted, marched
or walked as the word was given. The
horses were generally expected to come
to the footlights and bow to the audi
ence at the close of any feat; occasion
ally one would forget to do this, and
then some of his comrades would
shoulder or buffet linn, or Mr. Bartbolo-
NEW would give a reminder: THAT is
not ali, is itp' and back would come
the delinquent and bow and bow twenty
times as fast as he could, as if there
could not be enough of it. At the close
of one scene all the horses came up to
the front in a line, and leaning over the
rope which was stretched there to keep
them from coming down on the peoples
heads, would bow, and bow again, and
it was wonderfully pretty sight to see.
-AmandG B. Harris, IN Vide ADake.