Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-04-30
MUSIC AFFECTS ANIMALS.
INSTANCES OF THE FORMERS POW
Err OVER THE LATTER.
How Harmonious Sounds Make an
Impression Upon Dogs, Rats, Tur-
ties, Fish and Snakes.

the prolonged and peculiar howl ut
tered by some dogs at the sound of
music is evidence that it distresses
them. 'Don't you believe it. Their
souls are lifted up by it. That is their
way of expressing Joy. I don't think
music ever worried any dog. y"
care there not some breeds more
liable to be influenced than others?"
was asked by News reporter.
Breeding has nothing to do with
it," was the reply. "You find some
people who don't care straw for
music. And again there are Others
who, without understanding note,
are passionately fond of it. It's just
so with dogs. 1t depends on the indi-
yidual character of the animal.
els it not fact that dogs of high
nervous Development are most apt to
be affected?"
"You can't lay down any rule as to
that. In my opinion it isn't at all a
| question of nerves. There are ner-
vous people who are quite indifferent
to music, and there are phlegmatic
people who will go ont of their way to
hear it. You see compare dogs with
men, and draw my conclusion from
the comparison, because [ have made
a long study of dogs and find that
dogs are more like n human being than
are any other animals.
''Look at that big white bulldog
yonder," continued Mr.. Mulvey.
''Ihat's Prince, who made such rack
ct at tho bench show that they had to
chain him up in the cellar. His grand
father killed nearly hundred dogs,
and Prince is like his grandfather, yet
if You pipe for him you'd find that
he'd just as lief dance as fight"
Mr.. Montgomery, an amateur nat
uralist on West Fourty seventh street,
confirmed Mr.. DIulyey's statement
that dogs are generally fond of music.
81 have known even fishes to mani
fest a very positive qualification at
musical sounds, he said also. ''You
have heard the story of the carp in the
waters Mt Fontainebleau that respond
ed regularly to the tinkllng of bell.
1t is undoubtedly true story. In my
aquarium there is n gold fish which
have had for several yea IS. 1t knows
me as well as my dog. When whistle
to it it comes to the surface and feeds
out of my hand. Adjoining the room
in which the aquarium stands is n
piano. Let any one play on it and
this gold fish will dart about in the
livelIest possible fashion"
"You think it has sense of har-
mony them"
81 know it has. That is shown by
the fact that mere humping on the
piano, without producing any tune,
does not affect it. 1t will lie as still as
if the instrument were silent. The
other fish do not seem to have an ear
for music.
'But speaking of dogs, there is a
cocker spaniel in Philadelphia, who
beats the record for musical proclivi-
ties" the speaker continued. Gle
belongs to surgeon at one of the
hospitals. Not only is he quick to
recognize melody, but his master has
actually taught him to turn tune. 1t
sounds like fairy story, know, but
it is an authentic fact. He lifts his
chin, presses his ears close to his
head, like dog in the act of bowling,
and gives vent to n cry that has both
measure and melody"
The following incident occurred at
the Brooklyn Academy of Music: 1t
was during a performance by the late
Hans Won Bulow, the famous pianist.
He was playing one of Schubert's
compositions soft, pensive strain,
which he rendered with exquisite feel
ing and delicacy. Presently two rats
peeped from behind the scenes and
cautiously approached the piano. In
minute or 50 they were fol
lowed by three or four more. Finally
they all esconced themselves under
the instrument and sat there upon
their launches, listently intently, un.
doubtelly charmed by the strains.
The player was unconscious of the
strange audience which his perform
ance attracted, but the extraordinary
spectacle was witness by nearly every
body in the house.
Some years ago." Mr.. Montgomery
said further, 81 had pet crow which
was rs intelligent and mischievous a.
pet crows usually are. [ give it as {
present to the little daughter of {
friend of mine. This friend was a tine
performer on the flute, and he Otter
employed his talent TO beguile an ole
rat that frequented his back yard. II,
used to amuse callers by taking dowr
his flute and giving them proofs of it,
power over the susceptible rodent. Or
one occasion, while the rat was sitting
listening to this performance, the pei
crow happened to be perched at al
open window on the second story. L
was not n crow that cared for that sor
of thing Indeed, L never heard of ,
crow that did. Suddenly, while tn,
flute was emitting its most dulcet
notes, there was Tapping of wings
and the bird descended like boil
from its perch. Whether the rat wa.
too spellbound to be on guard against
surprise, or the attac! was too sudder
go be avoided, l don't know. Certain
it is, however, that the crow struck i
IN 4ba baak of the neck with its heal