San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-09-16
A HORSES INTELLIGENCE.

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From Science.
Can q horse reason, or does he act
solely from instinct? Many believe
that he has reason and intelligence
others attribute all his acts to instinct
AS help to elucidate this question, ]
wish to present the readers Of Science
the following statement of facts,
based on long and close observation.
have a horse, now 10 years old, that
1 have owned thirteen years. l
have used him all this time almos
every day, haTnessed to a buggy, in
going back and forth to my office.
He is very gentle, good natured all d
kind, and has never shown any vices.
Soon after commenced using him, l
noticed that on sundays, whenever
drove him down town, he strongly
insisted, by pulling on the lines, on
going to the church where L had
been In the habit of attending.
l watched this disposition CONSTANT
ly after that, and on every Sun
day since, when driven out, he has
continued to do the same thing. and,
If left to his own will, invariably goes
to the church and stops. / thought it
possible that he was guided by the
ringing of the church. bells and tested
him by driving him down town at all
hours OF the day, before and after the
ringing of the bells, but the result
was the same. He invariably insisted
on going to church on that day, no
matter now often | drove him down
town. My office is one block west
and one north of the church, and
halt mile west of my residence. In
going to church l usually turn
south one block east of the
office, but some times go around
by the office, where 1 usually
drive him every morning and after
noon. 10 going to my office he never
offers to 60 the church except on Sun
day. but on that day he invariably
begins to turn south to the street
leading to the church, from so to 100
feet before reaching the crossing, and,
il not checked, turns into the street
and hurries to the church. He has
kept this 10 for at least twelve years
He never does this on any other day
than Sunday. In bad weather or in
good weather it is the same, although
at the office much OF the time he has
stable protection il bad weather. On
week days he often insists on going to
the stable in bad weather; but on
Sunday, even when | compel him to
go by way OF the stable. he pulls over
to the opposite side of the street, and
hurries on 10 the church, ifpermitted,
though he may have to stand out in
the cold, rain, or snow.
Sometimes, from one cause or an
9th or, he has not been taken away
from home from one to four weeks,
and supposed that he would lose
tae run o. time, or at least show SINE
hesitation and upcertainty;hut not so.
On the first Sunday after [ drove him
out, h , insisted, as before. on going
to church. He never offers to go
there any other day of the week.
though the church bells are ruDg and
numerou services are held nearly
every day.
Ii on Sunday I go to the postoffice,
which is on the northwestern corner
OF the street crossing, where we
usually turn south to the church, in
stead of going from there direct to the
Office as on other days, he turns to
the south aud goes TO the church. He
never willingly goes to the postoffice
on Sunday, but always stops there on
week days of his own accord, If per
mitted. Many times have taken 9th
er streets on Sunday and apprt ach ed
the church from other directions; but
In all cases, when left free, he invari-
bly, takes the first street leading to the
church. / have experiments with
him very largely in this respect, with
view to learning how he keeps the
run of time, but am unable to salts
factorily account for it. | have also
observed and experimental with him
In q great many ether ways, and
have taught him to know the mean
ing of my words.
What motive does this horse have
for going to church every Sunday,
even at sacrifice sometimes? 1t 10
not for rest, 1t is not shelter, it is net
feed. it is not company, it is not to
crafty any merely physical want, tor
all these things he has elsewhere
every day. 1t is not purely an in
tellectual or moral want that he
seems to crafty? He stands near the
church door, bears much OF the exer-
cises, especially the singing, and will
remain almost without motion.
whether tired or not, till the services
are over, and am ready TO go home.
But it cannot be for the mere speak
ing and singing that he hears there,
for he often hears speaking, singing,
concerts, the Salvation Army and
music of various kinds while he
stands tied at the Office on the public
square, but none OF these take the
place OF his church-g going.
These facts have given as tending
to illustrate and explain animal in
telligence. have given only such as
| have verified many times.
TiR REDDTNn