290 Reminiscences of 



committee of Professor Haeckel, the most eminent 

 biologist and critical expert known, Professor Stumpff 

 of the Berlin University, and Professor Norenburg of 

 the Prussian Ministry of Education, who coincided 

 with all of the distinguished committees of examina- 

 tions, that Hans clearly exhibited thoughtful and reas- 

 oning powers, with remarkable memor}' — one might 

 well doubt the statements made, and believe that Hans 

 simply followed a fixed routine, or resorted to signs 

 and aid from his master, but has proved to be entirely 

 independent of him, and to pass the ordeal of examina- 

 tion as triumphantly during the absence of his master 

 as when he was present, clearly demonstrating that he 

 understood the Gei-man language when addressed to 

 him, and in no way depended upon the aid of any 

 trickery or drilled memory. 



And if all intelligent and reasoning animals have the 

 element of soul — and who can tangibly deny — ^where 

 shall we draw the line? When we view the starr}^ 

 sky and obsei-ve the many millions of suns, many eclips- 

 ing our own in magnitude, and by analogy having their 

 subordinate satellites as ours, and actually showing 

 them in a few instances, as that of Sirius and Procian, 

 and by the spectroscope and prism showing such as 

 have almost identically the elements of our sun and its 

 planets, may it not be a reasonable conjecture that there 

 may be countless worlds similar at least to our own in 

 having elements favorable to animal and plant life? 

 If it be so, and none can deny, may there not be many 

 worlds possessing beings of intelligence and soul, pos- 

 sibly far in advance of those upon our habitation, 

 created l)\' the immutable laws of nature which have 

 created ours? And beyond our tmiverse, in endless 



