50 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 



animal, usually so docile, was resolute in his refusal to touch 

 the handle of the barrel organ. His preceptor labored at this 

 point for a month without being able to vanquish the repug- 

 nance of the horse for the object so constantly presented to his 

 attention. Coaxing, caresses, and the whip were employed in 

 turn, and equally without success. On these occasions the 

 horse's eyes expressed as clearly as though he had spoken it 

 in so many words the absolute determination not to touch the 

 handle of the organ. The trainer, though naturally of a violent 

 temper, was always patient and gentle with his equine pupil. 

 Whenever he felt that the obstinacy of the horse was on the 

 point of getting the better of his apparent calmness, he would 

 leave the stable to give vent to his irritation out of the sight or 

 hearing of the animal. To those who prophesied that the horse 

 would never turn the handle of the organ, he replied, " He 

 shall tm'u or die." At length, perceiving that he made no pro- 

 gress in the work of vanquishing the animal's obstinacy, he 

 caused the windows of the stable to be stuffed with hay and 

 then boarded over, so that not a ray of light was visible, and a 

 couple of men, hired for the purpose, beat a drum incessantly 

 beside the animal's stall, relieving one another at stated inter- 

 vals. The struggle was continued for four days and nights, 

 during which the professor returned to the charge once every 

 hour, presenting the handle of the organ to his refractory pupil, 

 renewing his command to the latter to take hold of it. 



The neighborhood' was beginning to threaten the trainer with 

 a summons before the police court, to answer to the charge of 

 disturbing its slumbers with the pei-petual beating of the hor- 

 rible di'um, which the unfortunate horse, comprehending at last 

 that there was no other chance of deliverance left to him, sud- 

 denly seized the handle of the organ with his teeth and turned 

 with all the little strength that was left to him. ]5aylight was 

 at once restored to the stable, the drummers were dismissed, 

 all possible caresses and the finest oats were lavished on the 

 now docile scholar, who never forgot the terrible lesson of his 

 four days struggle, but, whatever may have been the sentiments 

 with which he regarded the operation, never failed vigorously 

 to turn the handle of the barrel organ whenever the word of 

 command was given. 



TO FEIGN LAMENESS. 



To teach a horse this trick requires a greater decree of labor 

 and perseverance than is necessary to instruct him in almost 

 any other. So wearisome is the task, and so long is the time 

 requu*ed in its accomplishment, that in ordinary cases it is not 



