Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-08-01
KNOWING HORSES.
Cases Whore Tho Noble Brute Shows
His Intelligence.

Cases Where Tho Noble Brute Shows
His Intelligence.
From:the Boston Herald.
In the business portions of our city there
are good many horses belonging to firms
or TO private individuals which stand " on
call" as II were, oftentimes for hours, In
front Of their owners place Of business.
These horses come 70 be we'll known
in their neighborhoods, and acquaintance
with them shows In them habits and
idiosyncrasies which are most interesting.
One of the equincs with an individuality
all his own Is gray horse belonging 10 a
frm in Winthrop Square. He stands
In front of his owners store APP
parently pondering upon the ups
and downs of life, the hat trade
and 40 .a. the weather, e" and Hesssiomsiy
tour round the square, atIording much
amusement, sometimes CONSERVATION, to
the people who are unacquainted with his
ways Of doing things. Should 1t occur to
him that he Is thirsty or that TO take a
drink would be diversion to the monot-
ony of his afternoon he walks over to the
drinking fountain In the square, politely
awaits his turn, quenches his thirst, turns
around and marches back, like Boz Peeps
sheep, so that his owner, having left him
facing in one direction, Is quite apt to find
him facing in another. The old gray horse is
an independent character, they will tell
you in Winthrop Square.
In the next store, still in Otis street, is a
firm whose head resides in the suburbs,
and who frequently drives back and forth
TO and from his residence, leaving his horse
at the door with weight attached to the
strap. The DOCTOR" as he is called, fre-
quently grows impatient, casts longing
looks around, and sometimes whinnies for
his master. The other day, having waited
overloDg, AS he undoubtedly thought, doc
tor reached down, picked up the strap, and
set off in brisk aud independent fashion
for home, leaving his master to follow on
foot or in horse car, AZ II, having waited
long enough, how other people got home
was no concern of his.
Down in Congress Square there stands
an old gray tow horse of an observing
mind and engaging manners who likes to
make acquaintance with passers by. 1t
has been the habit OF a gentleman who
comes in town every morning TO buy an
apple at a fruit stand and treat the old fel-
low, whose somewhat montonous life ap-
peals to him. The old tow horse has
grown to expect his apple, and he now
watches regularly for his friend. Upon
the few occasions when the apple has been
forgotten, or Intentionally omitted, the
horse has followed the man or has stepped
upon the sidewalk in front of him and
stopped his passage, as ifto say: "You can
not pass until you've paid your toll. " One
afternoon, not long since, "a man who has
| strong resemblance TO the tow horses
| friend was passing through Congress
| street, when, to his astonishment, he folt
| himself grabbed by the coat sleeve. Turn
| ing around his surprise was still greater
| when he found it was u horse who held
him prisoner. The tow boy who has
| charge OF the horse came to the rescue and
| cleared matters up by explaining that the
two men looked so much alike that he, Al
| well as the horse, was deceived. The fond
ness of horses for apples and liking for
bit of kindly attention may be further illus
trated by the story OF q horse in st. Johni
who would never stand still until hi
owner bethought himself TO bribe tho hors,
to do so by occasionally giving him az
| apple through his hours of weary waiting
This experiment proved a complete success
| The runaway was n runaway no longer
Could he have spoken, no doubt il woult
have been in the words of Solomon of old
"Ob, comfort me with apples" At al
events. like famous animal of anothe
species, no waited patiently about" til
the apples did appear.
great many horses are fed on the street
from "oat bags" drawn up over their nose
and wabbling about in manner whicl
must make 1t very uncomfortable to ea
ones dinner in that way. A bright hors
down in PIE alley" tho other day ha,
nearly reached the bottom of his bag. !
wabbed awfully, but the oats were swee
and he was hungry. In front of him stoo
wagon and the wagon had whee
Happy thought! He walked up to tn
wheel, rested his canvas bucket on tn
top of 1t and finished his dinner to the las
oat in a comfortable. leisurely fashion an
with twinkle in his eye. If that was nc
triumph of mind over matter, what is I?