The Washington times., 1914-06-09

Gruber .'Grubr." None Of the scient-
lists who examined Rolf knew his
complicated language; while one of
them received his answer, another
noted down the number Of taps, and
the answer was afterward interpret
ed from the code.
Corrects Own Mistakes.
During these examinations. Rolf
was made to do sums and describe
pictures shown to him. His memory
was also tested in several ways. Al
most every one of these answers
was correct; If mistakes were made
in the spelling, he afterwards cor
rected them himself In describing
the pictures, he often added little re-
marks of his own; for instance, "a
bird with a blue<tail." "a fat pig,
etc. When shown the picture OF a
monk, he took this to represent a
monk he knew, whose name he men
toned. adding that the picture was
badly painted"
Al one of these sittings ftve scien-
fists we're present, and when Rolf
first came into tie room and saw all
the strangers he wante1 to run
away. especially as his mother
was not present When prevented
he became very cross and refused
to look at any pictures or answer
70 tap. and said: Looked at many
pictures and said what they were
for Ziegleri-it Is enough-will not
say any more what is stupid-want
TO be allowed to go-and ne men
added en- expression OF snnoyance
about all the gentlemen that ne
had learnt from the children, which
;s ,,pt-anslatabie.
The same evening he was asked
why he had been SO cross, ana ne
then answered that he had been
thinking of mother all the time.
A few hours before the next exam
ination, Rolf had received from Herr
KraII a picture book representing
q school for animals. and in II some
of Tho animals were represented as
being very unwilling to earn. Herr
Krall had also written a letter 10
him with phonetic spelling, telllng
hin, that he sent the book tecause
Rolf was going to send Herr kran
"a little Lol-''
His Remarkable Letter.
Rolf generally calls himself by his
pet name 'Lol, and the llttte
Lor' refers to one IF the expected
puppies. After being shown the book
and letter, he vas asked 10 answer
IL. AS some letters are represented
by as many as nineteen taps. II took
him thrce-Quarters OF an hour TO
convey his answer, and he had TO
make over 700 taps! No wonder that
Rolf makes his sentences as short
as possible, Here is the rcmar. able
letter: ''Dear-the book amused Lol
very much.-Daisy must see 1t
Animals gladly learn, bookmeker
Iies.-The Christchl!d comes. Neither
fetches it.-HCrses shall have tree
Lol gives YOU a little Lol.-Mrry
kisses.-Your Lol."
rs DR. Gruber points out. this
letter is very much such a ono as
We might e. peCt from child ceven
to eight years old. IL shows real
mental processes. uccasioned DY see
ing The book and reading the let
ter, and also shows his feelings al
the time Ie tells Herr Erall that
he will shcw tine hook TO Daisy. the
cat: he resents the imputat!on that
animals dn not learn willingly and
mentions that there were enough
gentlemen present. showing that he
still resents this intrusion.
Ie then tells Herr Krall that he
must let his horses have n Christ
mas tree, which is indispensable to
every German chilo!
An Astonishing Answer.
There are several other accounts
OF Rolf published in scientific journ-
ais. In the best-known German ZOO
logical journal, Prof ZiegIer con-
tributes an interesting account.
from which one example may be