Morning journal and courier., 1885-07-06
PROFESSOR BINGS DOC HOMER.
His Extraordinary Attention to Good and Bad Playing and False Notes.

His Extraordinary Attention to Good
 and Bad Playing and False Notes.
 From the New York Mail and Express
 reporter learning of Homer's rare abili- ty called upon friend of MT. Bings, MT. Thomas Himmel, the other day, and was told of many wonderful tests to which the dog has been put to test his ear for music, and he has never failed yet.
 'I was party of one," said MT. Himmel to the writer, sswho had no faith in the al legged wonderful ear of the dog, and to back up my assertion that it was all sham I of- fered to bed ore hundred dollars and quiet supper for small number of friends that l would play upon several musical instruments and that the dog would fail to detect certain discordant notes. To my surprise the pro- lessor covered my bet and an evening was appointed to test the sagacity of Homer So that there could be no mistake, three profes- sors of music were selected to act as judges. The most important point of all was to get some musical instrument that Bings did not play on or have in the house and that I could manipulate. I struck upon tin whistle and found upon inquiry that Bings did not have one, so that the dog could not be used to it. The evening came and we were on hand at Bings' house. He wanted to exhibit the
 
 sustained by the judges on the ground that if Homer had any music in his composition his ears might be sharpened by hearing his | master play.
 Without word of warning I played Climbing Up the Golden Stairs correctly. whereupon the dog got at my feet and wagged his narrative with apparent emphat- ic delight I followed with the Last Rose of Summer and purposely used fiat for sharp. To my utter astonishment the dog did growl. 1 repeated 1t a number Of times, when Homer appeared to be getting with the same effect. Then we all took hand in. The piano, the cornet, a concer tina and fiutina were all played upon in turn, and give you my word of honor that every time mistake, even of the most trivial character, was made 1t was at once detected by Homer. The supper was prepared and during the meal the question was discussed from every standpoint as to how the dog acquired such keen ear for music After supper, of course, we had plenty to drink. The professor so delighted with his success that he inbibed pretty freely.
 ''Now my time to find out some thing. I got Bings into very talkative mood and encouraged him. At first every attempt to find out how he had educated his dog failed, but finally his tongue began to wag and he gave the secret away. Ho- mer is nearly ten years old During that time his master has been praeticing on all kinds of instruments While learning he would of course find himself run up and down the scale, make muddle of the piece. The faithful dog lay at his feet. Every time he made discordant note and got mad with himself he gave Homer kick which sent him off bowling with pain This sort of chastisement was so frequent in the early days of Bings' musi- cal lessons that the dog actually became acquainted with the discordant notes, and no matter where or when he hears them he growls or yelps as he did when his master kicked him. This is the professors own story and bears every semblance of the truth upon it. He has won several wagers like mine already"