The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-06-13
CURIOUS ANTIPATHIEs In HORSES.

drops of Brandy" If any one began
to whistle or hum this air, Jack would
instantly show fight by laying his ears
back, grinding his teeth, biting and
kicking, but always recovering his
good temper when the music ceased.
No other melody or music of any kind
ever affected him. you might white or
sing as long as you liked, provided you
did not attempt the Objectionable Irish
air. One of the doctors nephews and
Jack were great friends. The lad could
do almost anything with him; but if he
presumed to whistle the Objectionable
melody of Erin, Jack would show his
displeasure by instantly pulling of the
lads cap and biting it savagely, but
never attempting the smallest personal
injury to the boy himself, and always
exhibiting his love when the sounds
ceased; thus saving, as plainly as a
horse could say: I'VE are great friends,
and love you very much; pray, don't
make that odious noise, to which / en-
terrain a very strong objection"
Jack had another and very peculiar
antipathy- never would permit any
thing bulky to be carried by his rider
This came out for the first time one day
when the doctor was going on visit, and,
having to sleep at his friends, intended
to take a small handbag with him. On
the groom handing this up to the doc
| tor, after he was mounted, Jack-who
had been an attentive observer of the
whole proceeding by craning his head
round at once exhibited his strong dis
pleasure by rearing, kicking, buck
jumping and jibing utterly unlike
his usual steady-going ways, that the
doctor at once OWNED the cause, and
threw the bag down, when Jack became
perfectly quiet and docile; but INSTANTLY
however, re-enacting the same scene,
when the groom once more offered the
bag to the doctor. Tho experiment was
repeated several times, and always with
the same singular result; and at length
the attempt was given up, when Jack
trotted of on his journey, showing the
best of tempers throughout, Why he
should have exhibited this extraordinary
dislike to carvings small handbag,
which was neither large in size nor
heavy in weight, it is impossible even to
guess.
On another occasion the groom, wish
ing to bring home with him a small
sack containing some household requi-
! site, thought to lay it across the front OF
his saddle; but Jack was. 100 quick and
too sharp for him. Instantly rearing,
and then kicking violently, he threw
the groom off on one side and the OBJ
| iectionable burden on the other. After
this, no further attempts were made tC
rutile the customary serenity Of Jack 5
rather peculiar temper.
The same gentleman also possessed
beautiful bay mare called Jenny, re
markable for her sweet temper anC
pretty loving ways. She was great
favorite with the DOCTORS daughters
and would 'shake hands when asked
and kiss them in the most engaging
| manner, with a sort of Il nibbling mo-
ton of her black lips up and down the
face. She would follow any one She
liked about the fields, answer 10 hel
name like a doc, and would Away,
salute any Of her favorites on seeing
them with that pretty low hummer
lily SOuub 50 tOlnlItOI VIII pei uOISGS
but never heard from those subject Il
ill-treatment. But with all theses graces
the pretty and interesting Jenny haC
several peculiar antipathies, one o
} which was a marked dislike to the sing
ing voice of one particular person, .
lady, a relative of the DOCTORS. Thi:
lady often went to the stable to fee(
Jenny with lettuces or apples, and the,
were always the best of friends; but 81
sure as she began to sing anything
Jenny instantly forgot her good man
t ners, lost all propriety, and exhibited
the usual signs of strong equine dis
pleasure, although she never took tn
smallest notice of the singing or whis
thing Of any other person, treating
apparently with Indifference. One day
as the doctor was driving this lady out
! he suggested by way of experiment
{ that she should begin to sing. In
moment. Jenny's ears We're dow
flat, and great kick was de
e livered with hearty goodwill o.
, to the front Of the carriage; and NOR
would doubtless have followed, ha'
not the lady prudentiy stopped short il
her vocal efforts; when Jenny was her
self again, and resumed her usual goo
behavior.
Another and very remarkable pecu
larity of Jennys was her unaG6euni
able antipathy to the doctor 5 wife.
II that lady approached her, she woul,
, grind her teeth sayagely, and try TO bit
= her in the most spiteful manner VIVA
e is perhaps even more singular, sh
would never, if possible, let the lad
get into the carriage, il she knew il
Jenny would turn her head, and keep
lookout behind her, in the drollest man
ner possible; and the moment she caugh
sight OF the lady approaching the cal
rage for the purpose of getting II
:" Jenny would Immediately cOmmenc
Il her troublesome tantTums OF biting ant
kicking So strongly did she object I
drawing her mistress, that more thai
once she damaged the carriage with he
powerful heels. so that the doctor wa
obliged to request his wife to approac
the carriage from behind, whilst
groom held Jenny's head, to preyer
her looking round. Even this was nc
always SUFFICIENT IOE Ii LIle lauN Ialhc
n or laughed, Jenny would actually Tt
o cognize her voice, and the usu;
= "scene" would be forthwith enacted
Now, the most singular part of tn
story is, that this lady was, like all HI
f family. a genuine lover of all animal
especially horses. She was very fon
t. of Jenny, and had tried in every way
- make friends with her. and therefor
5. her dislike to her mistress was all Il
more unaccountable, as there was not
shadow of cause for it. We can all I'll
derstand dislike on the part of any an
NAL where there has been any sort
e ill-usage; but it is wholly inexplicab
Of when nothing but love and kindness HI
&c &c been invariably practiced towards tn
u animal.
T. Jennie / am afraid was a great pc
9 and like all pets, was full of fads al
ID fancies. One of these was certainly P
as culiar. Not far from the doctors res
dence there was a peculiar gate openir