The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-10-30
English Writer Says They Think
and Dream.
Macaque, In Captivity, Entertained
Himself With Feats of Magic
Records of the Reasoning Pow
ers of Dumb Animals.

Most people, despite loads of facts
demonstrating that. animals think,
consistently maintain that they do
not, says a writer in the London An
swers. The most remarkable signs
of intelligence on the part of a dog.
say are put down to instinct" Or,
if intelligence is admitted, it is looked
upon by these persons as different
brand from that displayed by them
selves.
A friend of the writer has a dog
a spaniel-that shows remarkable in
telligence. When any one enters the
gate leading to Mr.. BIS country
home Pedro-the dog in question
banks a warning of the approach Of
a stranger. On the writer's first visit
to Mr. BIS home he received this
attention, but the very next time he
went near that house Pedro APP
preached him silently and walked by
his side through the small park sur
rounding the property. And the re-
markable thing about 1t was that 1t
was pitch dark at the time-so dark
that the animal was absolutely in
visible to the visitor.
Now, it was certainly his sense of
smell that revealed the writer's iden-
tity to the dog, but it was memory
that told the animal that it was no
stranger who was approaching, while
it was reason that informed him that
it was unnecessary to bark in such
circumstances.
That monkeys think there can be
little doubt, and how very like human
beings they can be is illustrated by
the case of one of these-a macaque
in captivity.
A large nut had become wedged in
one of his cheek pouches, and by the
time it was discovered by the keeper
it was necessary to remove it by lane
ing. This was done from the outside,
and then the wound was stitched
Then and there was born a monkey
magician The animal had soon re.
moved the stitches and proceeded to
amuse himself and mystify his fel.
lows by most mysteriously causing a
peanut to pass through his cheek and
come out by his mouth Or he would
reverse the process, putting the nut
into his mouth and passing 1t out
through his cheek. Not content with
this, he demonstrated that the same
feat was easily performable with a
straw in place of a peanut. And be
it said. no one watching the calm
expression of the performer and the
wonderment of the onlookers could
for moment hesitate as to what any
one of them was thinking about
That animals dream is almost as
certain as that they breathe. Watch
sportsman's dog after an exciting
day. AS he lies curled up on the
doormat he will perk uneasily in his
sleep and yelp with eagerness. If you
have ever seen the same dog trying
to dig out rabbit, you will never
doubt that he is dreaming of the
chase.
In their wild state animals must
and in escaping their enemies. The
cunning of an old fox is proverbial.
and it is only experience that can
enable one fox to show greater skill
in eluding pursuit than his younger
brother If only instinct were nee
essary the younger animal, with all
his faculties sharper, would have the
advantage.
Who dare deny that a dog can
smile? And who has not seen some
dog suffering deep melancholy?
That a dog may even possess dig
nifty capable of being grievously Of
Tended was clearly demonstrated to
the writer by Pedro, the dog already
mentioned at the beginning of this
article Pedro was going out shoot
ing with his master. but fifty yards
away from the house Mr. B. was
called back to the telephone. He left
his gun lying on grassy slope, and
the writer sat down to wait, with the
dog at his feet.
Presently, by way Of a joke, he
picked up the gun and invited Pedro
to come along, which he joyously pre-
pared to do. Then the gun was re-
turned to the ground and the joker
laughed. Highly offended. Pedro
turned his back upon the culprit and
slowly walked toward the house.
He had been hoaxed and he re-
scented 1t.