DOG WITH HUMAN MIND.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 112, 25 April 1914, Page 4 (Supplement)

DOG WITH HUMAN MIND.

SCIENTISTS PUZZLED. LETTERS. SPEAKS GERMAN AND DICTATES Rolf a shaggy Skye terrier, who "talks'’ by means of a “paw language,” is mystifying the scientists of Germany. The little animal reads, counts, adds, subtracts, multiplific*, divides, dictates replies to" letters received by him, and even discusses religion. Rolf is owned by Frau Dr. F. Mocckcl. the invalid wife of a prominent lawyer of Mannheim, whose house has become the rendezvous of learned professors, who have submitted Rolf to extraordinary experiments with astounding results. What adds to the peculiarity of Frau Moeckel’s dog is that, unlike the famous Elberfeld horses trained by Herr Krall, he is largely educatedEver since Frau Moeckel purchased him he has been the constant companion of her children. He was allowed to sit by the side of Frau Moeckel’s little girl during lessons, and, as it is now recalled, always paid the closest attention. The discovery of Rolf’s learning was made during one of these lessons. Frau Moeckel states that one day her little girl was unable to answer & sim-’ pic question in mental arithmetic, when she exclaimed, “ How stupid; why, even Rolf could answer that. Couldn’t you, Rolf?” To the amazement of mother and child, Rolf lifted his right paw and Is-at the exact answer to the problem. It was naturally thought that the answer was mere coincidence; but when they gave Rolf another problem he again returned the correct answer. A third and a fourth test followed, until it was evident that the dog knew what be was talking about. Frau Moeckel then took him in hand and began to educate him. An alphabet was fixed up. Frau Moeckel asking: “Rolf, how many ‘paws’ do you want for ‘A,’ how many for •B,’ etc?” The dog himself designated liow many heats of his foot would designate the different letters by which he spells out his thoughts, ideas, and answers. Like the Elberfeld horses, : Rolf uses something like Colonel Rooso- ! velt’s “simplified spelling.” He eliminates all useless letters. I Some of the things tliat arc related : and written about the " Mannheim dog.” as lie is called, are so fantastic that they would bo unbelievable were it not for the fact that they are attested by men wlioie word is beyond doubt. A professor from Baslo has made on his exiK-rience with Rolf a report that reads like romance. He say*:— "Frau Moeckel has just received a letter addressed to Rolf from a gentleman who had come to see the dog, and of whom Rolf had grown very fond. The letter read: ‘Dear Rolf, —I still think very often, of you, and how kind and nice vou worked for me. I have told our Pick (.the gentleman’s own dog) about it. lie cannot read, speak, or calculate yet. We also have a dachshund. but I a:n sorry t■> say ho is sick. I Many greetings.’ . | “ Before my eyes Rolf dictated with f his paw the following reply:—‘Lib! big j bvi murd gomn Irn.-. dagl aug dogdr holn grus Rot.’ (Free translation: ‘Dear! Pick by mother come learn. | Also Dackel (short for dachshund). Got I doctor. Greetings.—Rolf.’)” I The professor then asked Rolf why b.o I (the professor) had come to see him. R<»!f I answered: "To sec Rolf work.” Tho I fitter "M” wa. s written on a piece of I paptw, and Rolf was told to give some I words starting with that letter. He ! answered: “Mouse, man, Michel.’’ The latter is the name of a servant in the I house. While the professor was talking I with the dog a motor-car went by in the street. A few moments later he was asked what had just passed the house. Rolf replied laconically: “Audo.” I The Professor asked: “What is my i name?” “Wolf,” spelt out the dog correctly. “Where did I come from?” “ Basle," was the answer. As no mention of the professor’* name or Basle | had been made, it was concluded that I he remembered it from the evening beI fore, when Frau Moeckel had told the f dog that a gentleman by that name was coming from Basle the next day.