88 THE MINDS AND MANNERS 



length of it, the absolute skill and precision of it, and the animal's 

 easy mastery of every situation. There was a notable absence 

 of hesitations and mistakes, and of visible direction. The 

 trainer seemed to do nothing save to assist with the stage 

 properties, just as an assistant helps any acrobat through the 

 property business of his act. If any commands or signs were 

 given, the audience was not aware of it. Later on I learned 

 that sometimes Peter did not perform with such spirit, and 

 required some urging to be prompt. The trainer was kept 

 hustling to keep up with his own duties. The animal seemed 

 to remember, and I believe he did remember, the sequence 

 of a performance of fifty-six separate acts! 



When I witnessed Peter's performance in New York, saw 

 the length of it and noted the immense amount of ner- 

 vous energy that each performance used up, I made the 

 prediction that he could not for one year endure such a strain. 

 It was reported to me that he died nine months from that time. 



In October, 1909, when Peter went to Philadelphia, he 

 was frequently and closely studied and observed by Dr. 

 Lightner Witmer, professor of psychology at the University of 

 Pennsylvania, and his mentality was tested at the laboratory 

 of the University. Dr. Witmer's conclusions, as set forth in 

 a paper in the December (1909) issue of the Psychological 

 Clinic; are of very great interest. He approached Peter's 

 first performance in a skeptical frame of mind. I gladly 

 waive the opportunity to express my own views regarding 

 Peter in order to put upon the stand a more competent witness. 

 Hear Dr. Witmer: 



"As I entered the theatre," he says,' "my feelings were 

 commingled interest and doubt. My doubts were bred from 

 knowledge of the difficulty of judging the intelligence of an 

 animal from a stage performance. So-called educated horses 

 and even educated seals and fleas have made their appeal in 

 large number to the credulity of the public. Can any animal 

 below man be educated in the proper sense of the word? Or 

 is the animal mind susceptible of nothing more than a mechan- 



