A CLEVER CANINE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 99, 22 September 1914, Page 3

A CLEVER CANINE.

THINKS LIKE A HUMAN. Kolfc, ft shaggy skye terrier, who talks by means of a paw language, iB mystifying the scientists of Germany. The little animal reads, counts, adds, Bubtracts, multiplies, divides, dictates, replies to letters received by him, and even discusses religion.

Rolf is owned by Frau Dr F. Moeckcl, the invalid wife of a lawyer of Mannheim, whose bouse has become the rendezvous of learned professors, woj havo submitted Rolf to extraordinary experiments with astounding results. What adds to the peculiarity of Frau Moeckel's dog is that, unlike the famous Elbe.rfeld horses trained by Hcrr Krall, he Is hugely self-educated. Even 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 ia no\r recalled, always paid the closest attention. The discovery of Rolf's learning was made during one of theße leeEons.

Frau Mocckel states that one day her little girl was unable to answer a simple question in mental arithmetic, when she exclaimed, "llow stupid; why even Rolf could answer that. Couldn't yo-j, Rolf!" To the amazement of mother and child, Rolf lifted his right paw and beat the exact answer to the problem.

ANSWERS TO ALL QUESTIONS COR-

RECTLY,

It was naturally thought that the answer was a mere coincidence; but when they gave Rolf another problem, he again returned the correct answer, A third and fourth test followed, until it was evident that the dog knew what he was -talking about. Frau Moeckel then took him in hand and began to educate him. , An alphabet was fixed up. Frau Mocckel asked:, "Rolf, how many 'paws' do you want for 'A,' how many for 'li/ etc.';" The dog hi.nself designated how many beats of his foot would designate the different letters by which he spells eut his thoughts, ideas and answers. Like the Elberfeld horses, Rolf uses something like Colonel Roosevelt's 'simplified spelling." Hs eliminates all useless letters.

Some of the things that are related I and written about thu "Mannheim I dog," as he is known, are so fantastic | that they would be unbelievable were it not for the fact that they are attested by men whose word is beyond doubt. A professor from Basle has made on his experience with Rolf a report that reads like a romance. He says:—Frau Maeckel lias just received a letter addressed to Rolf from a gentleman who had come to see the dog, and of whom Rolf had grown fond. The letter read: 'Dear Itolf, —I still think very often of you, and how kind and nice you worked for me. I have told our Pick (the gentleman's own dog) about it. He cannot read, speak or calculate yet. We also have a dachshund, but I am sorry to say he is sick. Many greetings."

DICTATES ANSWER TO LETTER. "Before my eyes Rolf dictated with kis paw a reply which, translated, is:— 'Dear Pick, by mother come lrarn. Also Dackel (short for dachshund). Get doctor. Creeting.—Rolf." The professor then asked Rolf why he (the professor) had come to see him. Rolf answered, "To see Rolf work." The letter "M." was written on a piece of paper, and Rolf was told to give some words starting with that letter. Ho answered, "Mouse, man, Michel." The latter is the name of a servant in the heuse. While the professor was talking with the dog a motor car went by in the street. A few seconds later he was •asked what had just passed the house. Rolf replied, "Audo." A companion of Rolf was soon to have some puppies. Frau Dr. Moeckel mentioned the fact to the professor and then, turning to Rolf, asked, "What will come soon?" "Little Rolf," he pawed out in phonetic German. The professor asked, "What is my name?" 'Wolf," ppelled out the dog correctly. "Where did I come from?" "Basl," was the answer. As no mention of the professor's name or Basle had been made, it was concluded that he remembered it from the evening before, when Frau Moeckel had told the dog that a gentleman by that mime was ooniing from Basle the next day.