The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-22

erward retaken. The officer who recap.
tured the man subsequently informed him
that his proximity was first revealed BY
the ears OF his tthe officer's) charged The
story in brief was that the escaping sol
der and a messmate were concealed In
wood One night they were closely pur-
sued by the Southern officer and his men,
and while stealing away from them as
cautiously as they could the cracking of
the dry leaves attracted the attention OF
the captains horse, which somewhat sud-
denly and without apparent reason pricked
its ears and seemed alarmed. The officer.
taking the hint, ordered his troopers to
surround the spot. and by the morning
he had the two fugitives closely corralled
Another feature concerning the ear OF
horse, and sometimes taken advantage of
TO Illustrate the intelligence OF the ami
NAL. Is the attitude II assumes under GER
tain conditions. Thus. we md trainers
OF trick horses in the cir~us ring pre-
senting magnificent animal TO an audi
ence. and he tells them that II viii do ak
actly what 1t is commanded. without man.
ipulation or sign from him. To prove his
assertion he win stand out OF sight OF
the horse and command the animal to
throw its ears forward. which Is immedi-
ately done. the horse presenting a noble
picturesque appearance at the same time.
The act 10 accomplished. however through
the assistance OF a member of the band,
who rattles his sticks upon the snare
drum. The horse, facing the drum, win
immediately throw Its ears forward. Tho
audience usually applaud. and the horse
gallops around the ring q time or two.
but the trainer takes care that he brings
Il TO halt with its rear toward the band
or place where the noise 10 to be made,
and then commands II to throw its ears
backward, when the rattle OF the snare
drum or some other noise will attract the
horses attention from behind and the
ears will be thrown backward to collect
the wave OF sound coming from the rear.
The audience again applaud and the horse
gallops around the ring. On being brought
to a halt the trainer announces that the
horse with now throw one ear backward
and the other forward on the word of COM
mand. but explains that this 10 a very
difficult act for his pupil to perform, and
30 1t appears to be. II il accomplished
BY having counter sounds diagonally
across the horse and on opposite sides
Of the ring. one to attract the right ear.
the other me left. Unless the two waves
OF sound are in the proper direction the
act win not be properly accomplished: but
AFTER q trial or two the manipulators OF
the drums will eventually get into posi-
ton. and then the horse win throw one ear
forward, the other backward. which In
variably results In much applause.
IL may DO well to say at this point that
the part we call the ear has nothing to do
with the function Of hearing; II IL simply
an appendage. one OF the duties of which
Is to collect waves OF sound as they pass
through the air and direct them to the in
ternal ear. whore the essential organs
or hearing are to be found, hence It's mo-
bility.
Another feature which is regarded by
many as an index to the character OF a
horse Is the color OF its coat. some beliey-
ing that chestnuts or sorrcls are likely IN
be high-strung. nervous creatures, while
gray horses often get the credit of being
very docile. but our Investigation along
this line has not led us TO believe that
there II any reliance Whatever TO be
placed tn opinions formed upon such n
theory, II is also contended that color
has much to do with the comfort of the
animal when exposed to the suns rays
especially In the summer season but our
observations have not demonstrated the
truth OF this superstition, as It has been
clearly shown time and again that dark
horses are able to do just as much work
without showing fatigue as those OF a
lighter color. This may be accounted for
by the fact that the coat is a nonconduc-
tor within certain limits. so that II prob
ably makes little difference what color II
Is as far as the temperature Of the parts
beneath are concerned.
In studying the character Of n horse n
may be well not to Jump AT conclusions
but observe Its habits carefully. and give
every link due consideration before com
Ing to a nnal conclusion.-New York
Times.