Morning journal and courier., 1884-07-21

!
 Curious Antiquities in Horses. 1 Chambers Journal1
 My late father-in-law, a physician in ex- l tens1ve practice, once possessed a horse named Jack, which was celebrated for his
 many peculiarities and his great sagaeity l One of his antiquities was @ decided hatred
 to one particular melody, the well known l Irish air, Drops of Brandy" If anyone be- | gan to whistle or hum this air Jack would in 1 stantly 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 of music of 1 any kind ever affected him; you might whistle or sing as long as you liked, provided you did not attempt the objectionable Irish 1 air. One of the doctors nephews and Jack { were great friends. The lad could do almost I anything with him; but if he presumed to { whistle the objectionable melody of Erin, ! Jack would show his displeasure by instantly ' pulling off the lads cap and biting it savage 1 ly, but never attempting the smallest person. \ al injury to the boy himself and always ex- \ hibiting his love when the sounds ceased ! thus saying, as plainly as horse could say 'We are great friends, and I love you very | much, but pray don't make that odious noise ! to which I entertain 6 very strong objection" :" Jack had another and very peculiar antipa- | thy-he never would permit anything 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 small handbag \ with him. On the groom handing this up to | the doctor, after he was mounted, Jack ! who had been attentive observer of the ! whole proceeding by craning his head around at once exhibited his strong displeasure by ! rearing, kicking, buck-jumping, and jibing- ! so utterly unlike his usual steady-going ways AI,oI AIo l l1a4D o4 ,,,I ! and threw the bag down, when Jack became perfectly quiet and docile; but instantly how ever, re-enacting the same scene when the | groom once more offered the bag to the doe | tor. The experiment was repeated several | times, and always with the same singular re- | suit; and at length the attempt was given up, | when Jack trotted off on his journey, show | ing the best of temper throughout. Why he should have exhibited this extraordinary dis like to carrying a small handbag, which was neither large in size nor heavy in weight, it was impossible even to guess.
 On another occasion the groom, wishing to bring homo with him a small sack contain ing some household requisite, thought to lay it across the front of his saddle; but Jack was too quick and too sharp for him. Instantly rearing, and then kicking violently he thre+g the groom off on one side and the objections ble burden on the other. After this no furth- CT attempts were made to r1ffie the customa- " serenity of Jacks rather peculiar temper The same gentleman also possessed beauti- ful bay mare called Jenny remarkable for her sweet temper and pretty loving ways She great favorite with the doctors daughters, and would ''shabe hands" when asked, and kiss them in the most engaging manner, with sort of nibblinR motion of her black lips up and down tho face. She would follow anyone she liked about tho felds, answer to her nane like dog, and would al- ways salute any of her favorites on seeing at sound 80 common with pet horses, but never heard from those subject to ill-treatment. But with all these graces, the pretty and in teresting Jenny had several peculiar antpa- thies, in one of which she too somewhat re sembled dog Wag, and that was marked
 dislike to the singing voice of one particular person, A lady, n relative of the doctors.
 This lady went often to the stable to feed Jenny with lettuces or apples, and they were
 always the best of friends; but so sure as she
 began to sing anything, Jenny instantly for
 got her good manners, lost all propriety, and
 exhibited the usual signs of strong equine dis
 pleasure, although she never took the smallest
 notice of the singing whistling of any other person, treating 1t apparently with indiffer- ence One day, as the doctor driving this lady out, he suggested, by way of expert ment, that she should begin to sing. In a
 moment Jennys ears were down flat, and
 great kick was delivered with hearty good
 will on to the front of the carriage; and more
 would doubtless have followed, had not the
 lady prudently stopped short in her vocal
 efforts; when Jenny was herself again, and
 resumed her usual good behavior.
 Another and very remarkable peculiarity
 of Jenny's was her unaccountable Gntipathy
 to the doctors wife. If that lady approached
 her, she would grind her teeth savagely and try to bite her in the most spiteful manner
 What is perhaps even more singular, she would never if possible, let the lady get into Sha T turn her head and keep lookout behind her, in the drollest manner possible; and the mo ment she caught sight of the lady approach ing the carriage for the purpose of getting in, Jenny would immediately commence her troublesome tantrums of biting and kicking So strongly did she object to drawing her mistress, that more than once she damaged the carriage with her powerful heels, so that the doctor was obliged to request his wife to approach the carriage from behind while a 1 groom held Jenny's head, to prevent her l looking around. Even this was not always sufficient; for if the lady talked or laughed, l Jenny would actually recognize her voice, and ! the usual ''scene'' would be forthwith enacted. i Now, the most singular part of this story is, that this lady was, like all her family, gen uine lover of all animals, especially horses. l She was very fond of Jenny, and had tried in every way to make friends with her, and therefore her dislike to her mistress was all l the more unaccountable, as there was not shadow of cause for it. We all under stand dislike on the part of any animal where | there has been any sort of ill-usage; but it is wholly inexplicable when nothing but love and kindness has been invariably practised towards that animal.
 Jenny, I am afraid, was great pet, and ike all pets, was full of fads and fancies. l One of these was certainly peculiar. Not far from the doctors residence there was @ par -icular gate opening into field. As soon as Jenny came near this gate she would com nence her tantrums, rearing, kicking, plung- ng, jibing, and altogether declining to pass ! t; and it was not until after the exercise of a great amount of patience and perseverance, l 0y repeatedly leading her-after much oppo- ,ition-up to the gate and making her see it md smell it-thereby proving to her that 1t 1 would do her no harm-that at length she 1 / vas brought to pass it quietly and without lotice. What could have occasioned this trange Gntipathy to one particular gate it is to guess, for, until she came into he doctors possession, she had never been in = hat part of the county, and therefore could lave had no unpleasant recollections of this 1 rate in any way. It is, however, possible hat the gate in question might have strongly some other gato elsewhere with 0 which were associated disagreeable memories; or I well remember that some years ago, 1 | ften rode fine young mare which had only ecently come from Newmarket, where she 1 lad been trained. At first, she could never
 
 great deal of shying, jibing and rearing, o nd other signs of resistance and displeasure. g md this was subsequently, explained by the act that the place where she was trained nd exercised at Newmarket was long road Tith range of posts and rails, closely re embling Rotton Row; and doubtless the 1are was under the impression that this was ither the same place, or that she was about 9 be subjected to the severe training 7hich she had undergone at Newmarket; ence her determined opposition
 One more trait of Jenny's odd antiquities 1ust be mentioned before l conclude, and hat was her fixed aversion to men of the 7orking peasant class, She would never let uch a man hold her by the bridle, or even pproach her, without trying to bite him, and srking her head away with every sign Of nger and aversion while he stood near. ut she never exhibited any feelings of dis Ike to well-dressed, clean, comfortable look 1g persons, who might have done almost nything with her, and with whom she would shake hands" or kiss in the gentlest possible lanner Of truth, Jenny was certainly nidue in her odd fancies and peculiar be.