The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-05
HORSE THAT WRITES.
He Can Also Read and Spell Some
Names and Count.

Names and Count.
New York Sun.
Jim Key an educated horse widely known
in the South, gave his first exhibition in
this city to a specially invited audience in
| Fields stables at 156 East Twenty-fifth
/ street Yesterday Such a performance as
this animal goes through has not been
equaled by any horse heretofore seen in
this vicinity. Apparently Jim is able to
read, write after a fashion, distinguish
numbers letters and playing cards, and
reckon the value of coins of different de-
nominations. His performance was man
Key, an elderly negro.
The spectators on entering the stable,
saw a rather handsome chestnut horse,
sixteen hands high, with three white feet
CASUALLY reckoned a bad marking), and a
white star on the. forehead, Over the in
closure in which he stood hung festoons
made up of more than 1000 rabbits feet,
DR.. Keys special mascot Upon having his
bride removed Jim walked out and sur
veyed the spectators calmly with his Won
derfully soft and brilliant eyes. His owner
patted him on the neck and said:
Show the gentlemen how you open
The horse walked over into a corner,
where a box with hinge cover was fast
ened to the wall This cover he pushed up
with his nose, and reaching in brought out
a large bell, which he rang, walking around
the Enclosure.
presently Now ring for your dinner"
Back went the big bell into the box and
out came little little one held firmly IN Jim
while standing still, until his master stop
ped him Under the horses chest was
strapped g. cash box with a slit in it, and
from the box strap attached to a gong
ran up between his forelegs ending in a
stiff thong, which he could reach by bend
ing his head.
7That cash box made a good living for
Jim and me for time" said DR.. Key. AT
the fairs where we have shown we didn t
charge any admission, but folks gave jim
If they demanded change he would give
It to them correctly. Now, Jim, are you
listening?"
Up went the animals ears.
Now, If anyone should give you nickel
would you ring it up?"
"All right; Wen try you. II some of these
gentlemen will lay coins on the rail there"
Several nickels, two dimes, a quarter and
cent were laid on the rail. At a word
Jim picked up one of the dimes, which he
dropped into his masters hand and it was
from the fiat rail with his prehensile upper
lip. DR.. Key dropped the dime in the box,
''Ring up that dime, Jim
Reaching down for the thong, Jim tugged
twice at it and the bell rang twice.
That's all right. Now get me a quarter. y
In a similar way the animal selected
quarter, and when 1t was deposited rang
five times, once for each cents. Next he
was ordered to get penny and brought 1T
Now, register that !" directed his master
Jim shook his head with emphasis and
What You Won't register that?" cried
DR.. Key.
A still more emphatic shake Of the head
Whats the matter Ain Amt IT money!"
Yes, nodded Jim.tl seu eng ftr a.
"Oh, 1t amt enough then. Is that it?"
Yes, the horse repeated.
All right. Go get another dime, then,
and take it over to the cash drawer"
Picking up another dime Jim walked with
1t to cash box, licked open the drawer with
that wonderful lip of his, dropped the coin
ito the dime department, closed the drawer
and was turning away, when his master
stopped him, saying:
Hold on. Haven't you forgotten some
thing?'
Back went the horse, seized a halter strap
on the top of the box and rang up two fares.
Next he got dollar out of the same cash
box, by request, and gave it to his owner.
Then he was asked to show what he knew
about the alphabet. Around the wire net
ting which formed the Enclosure We're stuck
the letters of the alphabet, not arranged in
order, figures, names and playing cards.
What's the first letter you learned, Jim?'
asked DIR. Key.
Without hesitation the horse picked out
the letter A. Next he got b from another
part of the netting and following that up
tn 9 hen b at pefed @ 81 ad pS
ing cards and spelled out mis- own name
Jim Key" letter by letter; also the name M
Word S Mcnley se one Of the spectators asked
him to get that, and he got it.
Did you ever see this man Mckinley"
asked DR.. Key.
yes" nodded the horse.
did you vote for hin?
no" said Jim, as emphatically as a
What! you're a Democrat?" and the
spectators laughed at the horses acquies-
cence.
Picking out the days of the week from
placards on the wall was easy Next he
counted seven days by striking the floor
with his hoof. On one wall was a fake
kA1A I'm ont n n IN q n
appeared to listen. Taking the receiver
DIR. Key spoke into it, saying:
Now, jim I'm going to put silver dol
lar into bucket of water, and 1 want you
to pick out that dollar without drinking
SAil right nodded the horse and the
bucket having been brought and the dollar
dropped into 1t. he put his head in, fun
bled around for a time, and presently
emerged with the coin between his teeth.
A few more tricks. such as hiding a
hand organ and picking out hail from
numbered letter boxes, were successfully
performed. and then, with wet sponge
In the absence Of chalk, the horse wrote
on blackboard what bore some resem-
bance to his own first name.
That's enough Jim, for to-day" said his
master. You've done very. well, and there's
a gentleman here thinks he would like to
buy you. Show. him your gait.
Down went the handsome head, and the
horse, apparently hopelessly lame, hobbled
about like the worst skate that ever went
to the boneyard
at any price said DIR. Key.
Instantly jim was all right again It is a
fact that Jim is going to be bought. how
ever A. r. Rogers, of No. rs Maiden lane
who lives in Orange, is the intending pur-
chaser, and It is said that the price is $4,000;
Jim Key is a horse Of good blood. as well
Hambetonian and his dam an Arabian He
is eight years old and has been in training
for seven years. DR.. Key owned his moth
err, who was also an educated animal and
simulated various diseases to HELM the doc
tor out in his business as veterinary and
patent medicine vender DIR. Key says that
Inc iral1- hN Kindness