The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-15
A 0 R THAT CAN E A
HE CAN ALSO WRITE HIS NAME
WITH A WET SPONGE


|
selects spscined Coins from n Number and
RinEs Them Up with = GonE According to
Observation-Disclosures tho Alphabet, and
Can spell "Mckinieyr ana other Names.
Jim Key, an educated horse widely known In
the South. gave his FIRST exhibition In this city
to q specially invited audience in Fields stables
at 1855 East Twenty.ntth street, yesterday. Such
q performance as this animal goes through has
not been equalled by any horse heretofore seen
In this vicinity. Apparently Jim is able to read.
write after a fashion, distinguish numbers, let
tors, and playing cards, and reckon the value OF
coins Of different denominations. His perform.
ance was managed by his present owner. DR..
William Key, an elderly negro.
Tho spectators, on entering the stable, saw a
rather handsome chestnut horse, 10 hands high.
with three white feet usually rcckoncd n bad
markingl, and a white star on the forehead.
Over the iDclosure in which no stood hung a
festoon made up OF more than 5000 rabbits
feet, DIR. 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 school,
JIM"
Tho horse walked over into q corner, where q
box with a hinge cover was fastened 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.
That's enough of that" said DR.. Key pres
ontly. Now ring for your dinner
Back went the big hell into the box and out
came n little one, held firmly in Jim's strong
lips. This time he rang vigorously, while sand
Ing still, until his master stopped him. Under
the horses chest was strapped n cash box with
n ALT In IN. and from the hoy IA strupn ttapbnA IN
a gong ran up between his forclcgs, ending in a
stiff thong, which he could reach by bending his
head.
THAT cash box made q good living for Jim
and mo for a time" said DR.. Key. AT the fairs
where we have shown we didn't charge any ad.
mission, but folks gave Jim money and h. rang
1t up on the gong. II they demanded change he
would give it to them correctly. Now, Jim, are
you listeningf'
Up went the animals ears.
Now. IL any one should give you q nickel,
would you ring it upf'
The horse nodded in affirmation.
"All right; we'll try you, II some Of these gen.
tlemen will lay coins on tho rail there"
Several nickels. two dimes. a quarter, and a
cent were laid out on tho rail. At a word Jim
picked up one Of the dimes. which he dropped
into his masters hand. and it was wonderful TO
sec how he could lift the coin from the fiat rail
WIN MS pftncnSlle upper llp. Ut. Key DROPPED
the dime in the box, saying.
Ring up that dine, jim"
Reaching down for the thong. Jim tugged
twice ut 1t and the bell rang twice.
That's all right. Now get me a quarter"
In a similar way the animal selected the
quarter, and when it was deposited rang five
times. once for each five cents. Next he was
ordered to get a penny. and brought it to his
Now register that directed his master.
Jim shook his head with emphasis and snorted
WHAT You won't register that r. cried DR..
Key.
A still more emphatic shake of the head was
WHAT'S the metterl Amt it money ="
Yes" nodded jim.
Oh, II ain enough. then. Is that III
Yes the horse repeated:
trlAii right, Go get 4no,her dime then, and
Picking up another dime, Jim walked with IL
TO a cash box, licked open the drawer with that
wonderful lip OF his. dropped the coin into the
dime department, closed the drawer. and WAS
turning away, when his master stopped him,
"Hold on. Haven't you forgotten something D.
Back went the horse, seized "a halter strap Oh
the top OF The box. anu RAM up two fares. Next
guest, and gave il TO ms owner. Then he was
asked 10 show what he knew about the alphabet.
Around The wire netting which formed the in.
closure were stuck the letters OF The alphab bet
not arranged in order. figures. names. and play
What's the first letter you learned, Jimr
asked DR.. Key.
Without hesitation the horse picked out the
! -. A>cANu c kOl ID uIDlucE part OF
the netting. and followed that up with F and l.
at the suggestion or the spec tltors. Then he
ptH"hha bis own nf name am" " Jim INK KY. S%" Ietie rf By Slp eiter;
also the name John Seeing a placard De, r-
ing the word Mckinley. one Of the spectators
asked him to get that, ami he got it.,
"Dd you ever see this man Mckinley ."
asked DR.. Key.
ID you vote for him T.
No" said Jim, as emphatically as a shaken
What you're a Democrat T. and the specta.
tors laughed at the borso's Acquires, euce..
Picking ont the days OF no week from placards
days by striking the floor with his hoof. On one
wall was a fake telephone: jim went TO this.
ceiver, Or. Key spoke into it, saying:
o jim I'm going TO put u silver dollar
into a bucket OF water. and ! want you to pick
out that dollar without drinking the water"
bamyAinn right" NODDED the horse. and the bucket
into it. he put his head in. fumOled around Tor a
time, and presently emerged with the coin be-
tween his teeth.
A few more, tricks. such as grinding a hand
organ and picking out mail from numbered let.
ter boxes. were successfully performed. and
the horse wrote on a blackboard what bore some
resemblance to his own first name.
That's enough. jim, for to-day" said his
master. You've done very wei. and there's a
gentleman here thinks he would like 10 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 10 the bone
You're no good. He wouldn't take you at
any price. said DIR. Key.
Instantly Jim was all right again. 1t is a fact
that I'M Is going TO be bought, however. A. II.
Rogers OF 70 Maiden lane. who lives in Orange.
is the intending purchaser, and 1t is said that
the price Is Sl0.o0n. Jim Key is q horse OF good
blood. rs well as of great intelligence, his sire
having been a iianblctonian and his dam an
Arabian. lie is eight years old and has been in
training for seven years. DIR. Key owned his
mother, who WAS also an educated animal and
simulated various diseases to help the doctor
out in his business IA veterinary and patent
medicine yender. DR.. Key says that Jim was
trained mainly by kindness.
EIMBLE MOEEY IN WALL STREET