The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-10-18
ANIMAL LOVERS OF MUSIC.
Eiephants, Cameis and Horses Charmed
by Meiodious Sounds


Eiephants. Cameis and Horses Charmed
by Meiodious Sounds.
Man is not alone in his appreciation
Of the charms of music. Animals
which come under its influence often
show their liking forit, though among
them, as among lords of creation,
there are evidently some to whom the
sweetest strains give no pleasurable
sensations. A visit to circus is al
most sure to show that the noblest of
all the inferior animals is not insen-
sible to the power of music, and is
able to discriminate between its rari-
ties; Horses there may be seen trotting
and galloping, advancing and retir-
ing in accordance with the strains of
the orchestra. and even dancing to
tunes. 1t is no uncommon thing to
come across horse which will strike
up kettledrum with its fore feet,
keeping in perfect time with the mu-
sic that is being played. Mr.. Ste
phen, in his Book of the Farm"
says:
There was a work horse OF my
own which, even at its corn, would
desist eating and listen attentively,
with pricked and moving ears and
steady eyes, the instant he heard the
note low q sounded, and would con-
tinue SO to listen as long as it was sus-
tanned, and another was similarly af-
'fected by a particularly high note.
The recognition of the sound of a
bugle by trooper and the excite
ment occasioned in the hunter when
RI osa fo lIov in
stances of the power of horses to dis
criminate between different sounds.
They never mistake one sound for an
other"
IE the latter part of the Seventeenth
century Lord Holland, who was noted
for his eccentricities, used to give his
horse weekly concert from covered
gallery erected in their stable for that
purpose. He commended that listening
to good lively music had the doubly
beneficial effects of improving their
coats and tempers; and his view of the
matter is borne out by witness of
one of these strange concerts, who re-
cords that the animals seemed to be
greatly delighted thercat."
Numerous experiments have shown
it to be fact that elephants are great
lovers of music. 1t seems to have been
pretty well established that simple
melodies afford these intelligent beasts
far more qualification than elaborate
harmonies. Natlralists. from Button
downward, have noted the elephants
partially for melodious sounds, and
the matter was thoroughly tested once
at the Jardin DIES Plantes ut Paris
Several prominent musicians interest
ed themselves in the experiment and
tried their fortunes in exciting the in
terest Of the huge pachyderms.
Kreutzer succeeded in apparently gain
ing their warm appreciation for some
simple tunes which he played upon
the violin, but when he won't on TO
givo his audience variations they were
at no pains to conceal the lack of III
terest that they felt in tho perform
ance. An elaborate piece Of music, III
which several instruments took part,
was just as badly received; but when
Duvcrnoy began to play upon the
horn it was evident that their sensi-
bilities were thoroughly aroused, aud
they made efforts to get Us near the per.
former as possible, showing their en-.
joyment of his skill in most unmis-
taxable fashion.
More than one traveller in the east
has noted among his impressions Of
that part of the world the surprise he
felt on witnessing the cheering effect
which music has upon camels. Dur
ing long and tedious marches the con-
ductors of caravans often comfort
these patient creatures by playing to
them, and tho sound Of music has
such good influence upon them that.
however weary they may be of their
heavy loads, they step out with re-
newed vigor, seeming literally re-
freshed by the melody. It has been
noticed that while lions appear to en-
Joy the high notes of pianoforte,
they are greatly disturbed by the low
ones. A lion will lie gently waving
its tail to and fro as long as the per-
former keeps his hands among the
treble notes, giving every indication
of pleasure at the sounds emitted from
the instrument, but directly base
chord is sounded its attitude changes
completely. 1t springs up from the
repose which it has maintained during
the playing of the higher notes, lashes
its tail furiously and, dashing about
its cage, gives utteranco to the deepest
yells 1t is supposed that the low
notes sound to this animal like the roar
of some rival with whom it wishes to
fight
The Arabs have poetic saying that
the song of the shepherd fattens the
sheep more than the richest pasture of
the plains, and no doubt the proverb
has foundation in fact. In the east
shepherds may often be observed sing
ing and piping to the flocks under
their charge with view to making
them contented and docile. The Rev.
j. G. Wood. whose death has left so
wide gap in the ranks of observers of
the animal world, tells of lamb
which delighted in music and showed
| a great deal Of discrimination regard
ing it. CHEEKY tunes, such as those
to which quadrilles and polzas are
danced, were this little animals fa-
vorites. Anything of solemn or
mournful tendency it plainly disliked.
We are told that ut had the deepest
detestation for the national anthem,
and would set up such a continuous
baa-baa as soon as its ears were struck