THE THINKING HORSE. COMMISSION OF EXPERTS SAYS THERE IS NO TRICKERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2650, 28 December 1904, Page 61

THE THINK ING HORSE. COMMISSION OF EXPERTS SAYS THERE IS NO TRICKERY.

Hans, the thinking horse, is not a fraud after .all. A commission of experts, consisting, of two major-generals, one colonel, the director and sub-director of the Zoologicaf - Gardens of Berlin, the proprietor of the principal circus in Berlin, two veterinary surgeons, two proprietors of riding schools, and two university professors, has submitted Hans to a strict examination, and has drawn up the following report : — "After extreme vigilance we have come to the conscientious conclusion that there ! is no trickery about the achievements of Hans, but that they are due solely to his I genuine intellectual abilities. Hans Jias counted, done arithmetical sums! identified persons, and spelt out their names on a blackboard, in the absence of his owner and all other persons connected with his training. All those -present during the tests were perfect strangers." Hans is the property of a Berlin citizen. ■ named ~voxi Osten^ and is a nine-year-old Russian horse of jet black colour and graceful build. He inhabits two stables, one of which serves as his bed and living room, while the other is his schoolroom, and contains a blackboard, arithmetical tables, and other scholastic accessories. The education of Hans has been carried out by Herr yon Osten, with the help of his friend Herr yon Schillings, an ex-officer of the German army, and well known as an African explorer and natural scientist. The horse submits willingly to the examinations, and 'Herr yon Osten usually begins by asking the day of the week. For instance, if it is Tuesday, he will tell Hans so, and the horse will strike his hoof on the ground three times. "And which day of the month is it?" continues Herr yon Osten. It happens to be the 23rd, and Hans strikes the stone pavement exactly 23 times with his hoof. "Which day of the month will it be next Tuesday,?" is the next, puzzling query addressed" to Hans. Hans ponders for a mdnute or two, a.nd then he replies correctly by striking the ground 30 times with his right hoof. One of the onlookers, who is a perfect . stranger to Hans and his proprietor, asks if the horse can tell the time from a watch. Herr yon Osten suggests that he should open his watch and hold it before the horse's eyes. The stranger shows Hans his "watch, and asks, " What hour of the day is it?" Hans looks intently at the watch, and replies by striking the ground 11 times. . "And how many minutes over the hour?" • is the supplementary question. Hans looks at the watch again, and remains silent. Everyone crowds round the watch, and finds that Hans had answered with absolute precision, for it is just 7fi seconds past 11 o'clock. "How many threes are there in seven?" is asked, and Hans replies by striking the ground twice. "And what is the re-, mainder?" asks someone in. the crowd. Hans ponders again for a minute or two, and replies by striking the ground once. • "Express the remainder in a fraction." says his teacher. Hans strikes the ground once, and, after a pause, three times, indicating . that he believes the fraction to be one- . -third. Among other feats he performs is to spell out in pasteboard letters the names of towns which are mentioned, and most words of one syllable. He identifies people from their photographs, can pick oijt colours, and recognises tunes which are played. The Kaiser has taken a great interest in the recent discussion about Hans, and it is stated that the horse is to appear before him.— St. James's Budget.