The New York herald., 1921-02-27
Horse Sense.

The expression horse sense is often
used with respect to individuals Of
the human family. Its origin Is
difficult to determine. 1t has been
said that the horse possesses a one
track mind. He learns slowly, but
having grasped what is wanted Of
him he will do 1t as n matter OF
routine day after day unless some
thing happens to upset him, and then
his education in most instances goes
for naught.
The horse between the shafts of q
milk wagon will remember after q
while every stopping place on his
route, but If frightened into running
away he will be as unreasoning and
hard to control as though his duties
had not made him part Of a system.
The fire horse knows the meaning of
the fire alarm gong and Is ready at
the first sound to rush TO his place.
The same impulse animates the thor
oughbred schooled to the barrier at
the race course, and many of US are
familiar with the expedient Of ring
ing the bell IN the starters stand on
the trotting track to stop horses which
have lost their drivers by accident
in the course Of the heat, the ringing
OF bell being the signal that a false
score has been made and that the
horses are TO return to the starting
point for another try.
The homing instinct is strongly i'm
planted in the natures Of all animals.
The dog probably will overcome
greater obstacles and travel further
than any other member of the four
footed tribe In order to return TO q
familiar place, but occasionally horses
possessing more intelligence than the
average OF their kind will give evil
dence Of remarkable reasoning power
Of the same sort
There is, for instance, the case Of
the farmer who wagered that one Of
his horses knew the difference be-
tween Saturday aud Sunday, and
also the difference between these
days and the other days Of the week.
lie proved It by sending his children
to school with the horse every school
day. 4 turn 10 the right at a GER
tain crossroads had to be made in
order TO reach the school. On Mon
day, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
and Friday Dobbln, with the reins
slack, never made a mistake, but
upon being hitched on Saturday and
started over the same road with the
same driver ho turned TO the left at
the crossroads and went TO market
IN the nearest town, as he had been
doing for a number OF years. On
Sunday he went straight on past the
crossroads to the church. BY what
mental process had he fathomed the
division Of his labors?
The mule has often been credited
with more brain power than the
horse. Mules employed in hauling the
cars in the depths Of the salt mine
at Averys Island In the state or
Louisiana know when It is noon on
Saturday. They are taken into the
mine on Monday morning and remain
there till noon on Saturday. At the
usual signal sounded at that hour
instead Of marching of to their quar-
ters for their ration they make on
Saturday for the hoist which is to
carry them to the surface.
Their delight in reaching the open
air is akin TO that OF schoolboys re-
leased for play. They stand for
few moments blinking In the sun
shine and then chase ono another
about, the toll Of the week forgotten.
When tired Of this they roll In the
sand pits, which arc a part Of every
establishment planned with a thought