The New York herald., 1922-01-01
Theodore Zell Describes Tai
ents Possessed by His
Dog Tom.
AIMS TO KEEP THE PEACE
Shows Teeth and Springs Be-
tween Persons Whom He
Sees Quarreling.

Special Cable to THE NEw YORK HERALD.
Copyright, fsge. By THE New YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Berlin, Dec. 81. q,
Attention hero has just been di-
rected to the mental development OF
certain animals by an astonishing de-
scription by Theodore zell Of the talent
for acting possessed by a German
mastiff named Tom. which he owns.
AT the same time book by Herr Zell
to stimulate afresh interest in this
field of German science.
Tom. however. is not so enlightened
as was his ramous predecessor, Rolf.
an Airedale belonging to O Mannheim
attorney. for Rolf learned to read and
srell and was able TO express himself in
well formed sentences. which he sig
nailed with q paw in code os bis own
something Ike che Morse code. Neither
is Tom 50 we'll Informed as wero the
famous Elbcrfeld horses. which stamped
out words with their hoofs and solved
mathematical riddles, like extraction Of
the fourth and fifth root. But Tom evil
IDENTIFY has genius and represents a new
type, both with regard to histrionic
gifts and sense OF hunor.
Pacifist Among Dogs.
Tom might be called the first pacfst
among dogs. on account OF his passion
ate interference when he secs some ami
NAL being beaten and because of his
extreme dislike to ouarrels.
Most interesting Is his behavior. Herr
xxtao la hne fftf4 -
to hide away in his large jaws some
article. such as stocking, which Zell's
daughter is knitting or some similar
object essential TO her needlework. Ev-
idently Tom imagines that he hides 1t
without her knowledge. for when she
begins, with exaggerated industry, TO
search FOR the stolen article Tom as
sumos q particularly stupid expression.
as it IN an effort to show he has not the
slightest idea Of where it might be found
III Herr Iell happens to be present Tom
Will wait for a moment when Frauleln
Zcll Is not looking and then he will open
his Jaws wide enough so his master can
see what he has in his mouth. meanwhile
showing a CLINT Of Joy out of the corners
OF bis eyes, whereupon he will close his
mouth again and Immediately resume HIS
former stupid countenancc.
Only when Fraulein Zell asks Tom
point blank. Tom. Go you know where
my stocking can be?' viii the game end.
Responsible for Peace.
Tom feels himself responsible for
keeping the peace wherever he goes. If
two persons get into controversy and
their voices rise Tom will sJSing be-
tween them. growing and his teeth
flashing.
What especially sngers him Is 70 see
a driver logging 4 horse. Wren thls
happens he Immediately runs 20 the
horses eide 10 prevent more blows fall
ing on the animal If the driver stops
whipping his horse Tom does rothing.
hut II the whip is used again nc attacks
The driver and throws him to tie
ground. On tho other hand. II he sees
some driver trying to start heavily
laden cart he will take hol1 of the
harness with his teeth and throw all kis
weight into the work OF getting .he cart
going.
In Herr zelrs house Tom IL not per-
mitted to lie on the sofa, but once ex-
coptlon was made 10 THIS rule 80 tiine
when Tom was seriously III. Occasion
ally afterward he would DO caught talk
ing n nap on the same sofa, and them. Il
he was asked. Tom. are you nl7" no
would begin groaning and breathing
SO heavily that an uninitiated outsider
would believe nc was dying.
DR. Zeli Is we'll known abroad. having
written several books on the mertal de-
velopment of animals.