The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-12
A WISE BIRD.

Geese and pigs are the easiest OF the SIndll
animals to teach. So good animal trainers
say. 1t sounds queer, for geese have the
reputation of being silly, and pigs of being
stupid, but they must be treated more re-
sIectfully if the mental ability to learn is
conceded to them.
A Mr.. Wilson of Troutman, Pa, recently
taught goose his letters, and describes how
he conducted the animals education:
Il was engineer in big natural gas plant
at the time, and busy all day about the
engines. So 1 only had the nights to edu-
cate my goose. The goose was given to me
by friend He was of the kind known as
Chinese. They are larger than common geese,
nearly as large as swans. The one he gave
me a young one, about eight or nine
months old.
Il carried my goose home and tied him
in the cellar Of the building where 1 worked.
Didn't give him anything to eat This was
part of his education.
THE next dayaI- bought a set of chdren's
toy blocks, with; the alphabet and numbers
upon them. L cut strips of betting about
three inches long and half an inch wide, and
tackled bit of each block. This was for the
goose to take hold BY Then laid in a few
ears of corn.
1.-The second night brought the goose UP.
He had had nothing to eat and was pretty
hungry 1 began with the first three letters
of the alphabet-A, B, C-showed him the
difference between them, and kept at him
until he brought me the right letter each
time I asked for it. Then 1 rewarded him
with a few grains of corn-not too much
He learned the whole alphabet perfectly
in two evenings, and 1 never heard of child
who did as we'll. Every time he picked up
the letter 1 called tor I gave him grain of
corn, but [ gave him nothing when he
brought the wrong letter. Know? Why
that goose was as eager to learn as 1 was
to teach, just as soon as he found that the
proper letter always brought him something
to eat!
after that had cards printed with short
words upon them and l taught the goose to
bring the correct answer to questions asked
him. Some of my questions were: Who
was the first Presdent?' Who was the last
PRESIDENT What is your name?' What is
my name?' Where do yot: liver How many
days do you work?' Six was the goose's
answer. What do you work for?' Corn
What do work for? Money.
Il had the days of the week printed in
slips, too. Then ! asked my goose: What
is tcday?' And I taught him to bring the
right answer. Oh, that was a trick of
course The blocks or cards were laid i, .,
row upon the floor and the goose walked
along in front of them, stopping at the right
place. When asked, What day is today?'
the goose marched gravely by each until he
saw my foot move just a little toward a
particular card. He knew that was the one
to take, and he brought me Tuesday. if if
was Tuesday, as straight as die
t Next taught him to tell the time of day
This was little more complicated, but I did
it in much the same way. was not particu
lar about minutes, but a o'clock or '1alf-past
Z was llCol CiOuSH lOr a goose TO get, and q
very slight motion of my foot showed him the
correct hours of the day card just as well as
the names of the day of the week
Now, you may cali that a smart goose or
even doubt the story altogether but it is tr,,a
enough and believe many geese could learn
as well as that goose did
He made big reputation, though used
10 snow nm off to my friends and thew
prcugnt others to see my trained goose. and
at last people came from all over the countrv
to see that goose tell what time it was''
A reward of food when they are docile and
quick and refusal of it when they prove re-
fractory is enough incentive for animals n
learn readily the tricks required of them.
special ways of teaching have to be used
with each animal, and the trainer must learn
something of the animal his habits pecu-
t1arlties. ukinss and dislikings before he can
manage the creature readily In fact he must
get acquainted with his pupil.
| The most successful trainers say that with
Persistent kind treatment they can accomplish
what they wish with any nmal.-Philadel-
phia Inquirer.