New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-22
A Self. Educated Animal.

From Frau Moeckers story il is appar-
| ont that Rolf contrary to what happened
! in the case OF the Elberfeld horses. edu-
| Gated himself quite alone Further IN.
dog understands what is expected from
! him. be the problem given him verbally
/ or in writing on blackboard He al
ways gives the answers by the process NJ
! knocking his right front paw. When hs
Is tod that the solution is wrong he
understands at once and does the problem
over again. He never makes the same
| mistake twice
/ While the Tribune correspondent was
visiting Frau Moeckel an invitation was
extended TO set some problems to Rolf and
this was done. Easy additions and easy
! subtra ctions were both solved CORRECTLY
The way he listened, counted and even re-
hected was marvellous. but IL was notice
BILE that he disliked hearing people talk
ing while he was doing his work. Once.
while conversation was proceeding. ne
suddenly stopped in his calculations and
knocked his paws in a way which Frau
Moeckel made out to nave the following
signihcs ton: who is this gentleman
Rolf, in fact, has made himself familiar
with a sort OF Morse code OF his own in
vention. Each letter is represented nv
certain number OF knocks, and he has,
moreover. number OF conventional signs
which indicate Yes" NO" Tired.
Bed and other commonplace words
The dog did not have the first idea Of his
alphabet The idea was conveyed 10 Rim
by Frau Moecke who had read about ths
Elberfed horses and wanted 10 try ner
luck with Rolf too.
Rolf" she once said. we want to make
an alphabet for you.
The dog made the conventional sign for
yes"
Rolf, am going TO tell YOU the letters
of the alphabet. and you will tell me the
number which is going 10 represent each
letter. What do you give me for Az"
Four knocks
"B7"
Seven knocks.
And so on. The next day. Frau
Moecllel added. II asked Rolf whether he
remembered the numbers he had given
me ! found he had remembered every
one
Knows His Home Town.
Further experiments were then made
one Of the visitors showed the dog card
on which the name OF a Mannheim arts.
tic society was printed The dog imms.
diately knocked A-U-S-D-L-U-N-G. vhich
is the canine substitute for the German
word "Ausstellung The question Where
do you come FROM elected the answer:
"M-A-N-M' Mannheim
s'Mh is fnere in this narkcf7"
"G-O-k-L-A-D' (meaning "cnocolste'D
This was correct
What does this picture represent" Th'
dog was handed a stil-life picture. Tho
reply vas. after some thinking
"G-I~A-s MID B-L~M' Glag mi
Blumeu) glass with flowers, which
again was correct.
The most surprising experiment made
with Rolf was tine following: He wa,
shown a marriage announcement sent b.
one OF Frau Moeckels friends. young doc
toy, who was engaged 20 a Fraulcin DAISY
Chester, and was asked what the caro-
meant After some time the answer came
as follows: The doctor is going TO get .
miss called like Daisy" Tine pet cat OF
Frau Moeckel is called DaisyD
\ number OF prominent psvcholoSisu
have announced to Frau Moeckel heir
intention Of wishing her and Of trying
new experiments with Rolf Maurice
Maeterlinck will also come from Brussels
D within few days. and Rolf is sure TO IN
one OF the sensations Of the year IN
Germany when MS almost incredible feats
become known 10 the world AT large. An
offer to nuy the dog from Frau Moecksi
has already been received in Mannheim
Needless to say II was instantly rejected.