Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-25
REASON IN ANIMALS.
a THEORY THAT IT COULD BE Sue
cESSFuLLY CULTIVATED.
Truly Wonderful Examples In the Dog
FamiIy-One Taught by the Kindergar-
ten Method-A Black and Tan That Dis
uIsyed Human Intelligence.

ten Method-A Black and Tan That Dis
played Human Intelligence.
ssInstead Of trying to learn the speech OF
animals, !" said gentleman interested in
science recently, "there may come time
when what we now consider dumb brutes
may be endowed through the efforts of
man with an intelligence approximating
the human intellect. In other words, the
higher order Of animals may be taught to
reason and demonstrate their power OF
thought In way that would indeed De
marvellous considered in the light OF the
laws Of nature as we now have them re-
vealed to us. But wo are forced TO belleVe
from the worlds experience In the past
that all things are possible, ana tnae we
have not by any means attained the Climax
of the knowledge which We are to obtain
in this life. In regard to the education OF
animals am not speaking from theory,
for have but recently had examples OF
the great development of animal lntelh-
oencc which, as starter in new line or
scientific teaching, Is extraordinary. But
recently there was exhibited at one or the
theaters Of the city dog whose exhibit
ton was so remarkable that every person
attributed it to trick. A wink OF the eye
or some movement Of the hand by the
owner signi1ed to the dog when he came
opposite the correct card. Now, this dog,
the owner told me, really did not reason.
His power was developed by the KINDER
parten system of instruction and was dis
covered by small child, who for amuse-
ment was accustomed to have her constant
playfellow pick out numbers and cards
while she was at her kindergarten lesson
The dog was with the child continually
and soon showed signs Of reasoning and
evidenced an intelligence which would
seem unusual in a brute The dog had
had the advantage of all the kindergarten
instruction given the small child and
strangely had made use of it.
st had learned by observation just as a
child does in the kindergarten. 1t is moth
ing surprising either when you observe
how rapidly the mind of child develops
under such teaching. Why, there are
many instances of child being deaf and
dumb or not knowing the English Ian
guage, yet making almost as fast progress
in the kindergarten as the child more Tor
tunate. TO person not knowing that
children have reasoning powers an until
tored deaf and dumb child would scarcely
show more intelligence than dog. SC
why should we assert that dog has no
intelligence that can be developed simply
because we do not know anything about
1t? Who knows what results could be Oh
tanned in the education of dogs If the sys-
tematic teaching that is bestowed upon
children was given to the CANNES! Wheth-
er the dog which was exhibited here was
really educated as the man claimed or not
is immaterial. But that such possibility
exists was proved to me by personal ex-
perience had with dog in the east re-
Gently was in small town in Jersey,
and in walking down tho street ono lay
I saw an elderly man carrying small
black and tan dog wrapped in sort OF fl
blanket which had been made especially
for it. / approached the man and ven
tured that he must think great deal OF
tho dog from tho care he took of IL. 4
great deal, said tho old fellow. Why, ifhe
was my son could not think more of
him. He has actually a human intelli-
gence.' l told him l had heard of such
cases before, but had always attributed
the show of intelligence to we'll devised
trick well, continued the old man, my
friend, can prove to you that this dog
really does reason. He will do anything
you tell him to, discriminate between OBJ
jects and men, and, in fact, show an in
telligenco which will surprise you BY
this time three or four men passing by,
hearing the conversation, became interest
cd and stopped The owner of the dog
then took a little square piece of black
flannel from his pocket and spread it upon
tho pavement. He then placed the dog
upon it and asked me to tell him to pick out
any one in the crowd by the description
should give of him. / then spoke to the
dog, Pick out the man who has the red
mustache and red necktie and wearing the
light checked trousers
II referred to man in the rear of the
crowd. The little dog sat up, and raising
his ears looked all about the crowd Then,
as soon as he spiod the man, he ran to him
and jumped up, putting his fore paws On
tho man S legs. l tried this several times
on different people, and never once did the
dog make mistake. Then the dog was
asked his age, and by number of barks
told it. He then did some addition and
subtraction. / then told the man that /
thought there was some trick about It, so
he said he would convince me fully thas
the dog realIS reasoned. Now, said he,
tell him to go to any object you may see
within two blocks of here and tell him to
point it out by placing his feet upon it
when he finds it. will go into this store,
out of his sight, SO that there will be no
chance of my giving signal. After the
man had retired / noticed a bicycle lean
ing against post about block and a
half up the road. turned to the dog and
said slowly, GO find bicycle up the road.
and when you come to it put your hind
feet on the back wheel The dog started
on lazy walk, looking all about him in
the direction of the bicycle, and when he
saw 1t no broke into little trot. He then
set his foot on the hind wheel and stood
in this position looking toward us until
shout of appreciation told him he was cor
rect, when he got down and ran toward
us as fast as no could. When he reached
us, he jumped up and down, seeming
pleased with his accomplishment. OF
course there was no room left for me to
doubt had to believe that If ever was
to believe anything. After this the dog
pointed out an open carriage from num-
Der of vehicles; also drug store and
grocery from block of miscellaneous
stores. His scope of tricks, If they could
be SO called, seemed unlimited. He was