Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1877 — A Mathematical Dog. [ARTICLE]

A Mathematical Dog.

Sows time ago 5 sent you my recollectibns of a dog who knew a halfpenny from a penny and who could count up as far as two. I have been able to obtain authentic information of a dog whose mental powers were still more advanced, and who, inf his day, beside being celebrated for his abil ties,'was of substantial benefit to a charitable institution in his town. The dog I refer to was a little white fox terrier, Prin by name, who lived at the Lion Hotel at Kidderminster for three or four years; but now, alas! he is dead, and nothing remains of hint hut his head in a glass case. I bad beard of this dog some months ago, but'having to make a visit to Kidderminster recently I went to see him. Tlie facts I give about him are based on the statements of Mr. Lloyd, his toaster, and they are fully substantiated by the ovidenee of many others. I have before me astatement of the proceeds of “Dog Prirys box, Lion Hotel; subscriptions to the Infirmary.” The contributions began in (September, 1874, and ended on April 25, 1874, and during that period the sum of £l3 14s. 6d. was contribute.! through Prin’s instrumentality. He began by displaying a fancy for playing with coins, hot unusual among terriers, and he advanced to a discovery that he could exchange the coins for biscuits. He learnt that for halfpenny he could get one biscuit, and for a penny, three; and having became able to distinguish between the two coins, it was found impossible to cheat him. If he had contributed a penny, he would not leave the bar tiiljhe had bed his third biscuit; and if there was nd one to attend to his wants, he kept the coin in his mouth till he could be served. Indeed, it was this persistence which ultimately caused poor Prin’s death, for there is every Feason to fear that he fell a victim to copper poisoning. By a little training , he was taught to placp the coins, after he had got the biscuits, upon the top of a small box fixed op the wall, and (they were dropped for him through a slot. He never objected to pant with them in this way, and having received the quid pro quo, he gave complete cVidCnee of his appreciation of the hoporable understanding which is so absolutely 'necessary for all commercial transactions.— Cor. London Spectator.