The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-01
HOW ANIMALS TALK.
A Farmers Claim That All Animals Can
he Taught to Understand Language.

A Farmers Claim That All Animals Can
BE Taught to Understand Language.
IF you talk with the creatures in
your back yard, they soon get not only
to understand your general meaning,
but to reply with notifications of sound
that are meant for you in particular.
One or two hens in flock will show
particular aptitude in telling you what
they think. Some horses have, or can
have. an octave of sounds. and express
very nice gradatiOns of dislike or pleas
ure, even up to defined laughter. Other
animals laugh. notably BIRDS, with
articulate sounds. Some wears since L
owned a horse with which | undertook
to drive to a neighboring town over the
hills in winter. 4 spot of hidden ice
suddenly tripped her. and for a time it
was impossible for her to get up. But.
by efforts that entirely exhausted me, L
finally got her on foot again. She never
forgot it. My approach to the stable
was invariably welcomed by cordial
would put her head aiiectionately on
my shoulder or under my arm. On
another occasion a pet Morgan called
me while | was engaged fifty rods from
the barn, with loud and persistent calls,
that | instantly understood meant
trouble. Going hastily 10 the stables |
found the cows had broken down 4
door and were capable of doing mis-
chef. As soon as | approached the
horse gave 4 satisfied whinny. followed
bv long sigh of relief, and went to
eating quietly.
But for real vocaiiZatiOn the fowls
surpa>s both animals ana birds. ! have
had one rooster that had a remarkable
siblv hear him without doing as he
would when Cough laughs-laugh with
him. Now. q dog has dillU-ed laugh
all over, but especially concentrates a
chuckle in his tai The dogs tail is
the most cultured tail among animals.
1t not only laughs, but it talks. The
tail of cow has no more sense than an
oN-gad, and horses tail is not much
wiser. They even lash flies in loose
way that shows they don't know. eX-
cept in a general way. where the fly is.
1t was necessary that men should lose
such a brainiess appendage. As the
brain Increases the tad decreases, and
laughing and talking 90 over to the
brain
In studying animal language we
must study not only their power OF
adaptability to us. but our power of
adaptation to them. That is. having
ourselves evolved our language from
| the sign and emotional stage, there
still is in us a capacity for going back
to those creatures that have not vet
come up to an intelligent language;
we can put forth an effort to meet
/ them half way Prof. Bartholomew.
with his trained horses. talks with them
in equine language. 1t needs to drop
words and throw expressions into terms.
In that way and for that reason sing ne
brings us nearer to the most of our
friends than articulation. Yet if we con-
stantly talk to animals as if they under
stood us, we shall find ourselves invol-
UNFAIRLY modifying orr sounds. and shall
be sur-~ ised to find how much they evil
IDENTITY comprehend orr meaning.
The relations which we assume to
animals rapidly mobiles their articula-
ton. 1t is not the parrot only that learns
to talk from human intercourse, but all
animals and birds as we'll. You have
only to test this in your own ward Or on
your farm. | have horse that. when
purchased. knew human beings from
some unpleasant side. and was accus-
toned to put on terrible pretences OF de-
vouring stall BOYS. They had probably
deserved to be eaten. She never vocal
lied except snort Of anger, and de-
clined any familiarity. She is now capa-
bic of expressing herself in way that
would satisfy Dean Swift. There is a
consciousness in every motion that she
/ is convers:ng with me, and she has quito
. vocal range of affection and inquiry"
! boston Budgef.