HENNY KINDERMANN

TRANSLATED BY AGNES BLAKE

With a Chapter on THINKING ANIMALS by

DR. WILLIAM MACKENZIE

METHUEN & CO. LTD. 36 ESSEX STREET W.C. LONDON

First Published in this translation in 1922

PREFACE

It is hoped that this little work may assist in the search along the dark path upon which many a poet and—in later times—many an investigator has set his feet. It would not be worthy of us, whom science and technical ability has raised to so high an intellectual position as explorers of Nature in every field—should we neglect anything however trivial, deeming it as beneath our notice.

We know so much about all that lies around us: the manner in which the cells build our bodies; how the juices circulate within the plant. We feel Nature to be ensouled, to be a spiritual entity—and yet—it is only her corporeal life with which we are intimate. Therefore let us now turn our eyes to new horizons, so that the human spirit may be in a position to extend its search, doing so with knowledge and understanding. What is imperative is that we should investigate to what degree the higher animals have been dowered with sensibility, and to what extent this can be utilized: whether it can crystallize—so to speak—into what is known to us as thought. My own work of investigation was undertaken in a spirit entirely devoid of prejudice; and what I have so far discovered I now place in the hands of the reader, asking him to bring the same unbiased and objective attitude of mind to bear when reading these pages. It is my hope that they may arouse his interest and instil that broader attitude of thought which should lead to further investigation, since a question so serious and important does not permit of being lightly set aside.

I have given a short preliminary account of earlier investigations undertaken in this field of research, before inviting the reader to accompany me along the path I myself pursued into this New Land.

Henny Kindermann

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. THOUGHT CAPACITY IN ANIMALS 1

The Dogs:

Rolf 5

Ilse 15

Heinz 18

Harras 20

Roland 22

II. MY PREVIOUS ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE SUBJECT 23

III. LOLA 30

IV. BEGINNING THE TUITION 35

V. CONTINUED TUITION 43

VI. SENSE OF TIME 54

VII. CALCULATING TIME 59

VIII. SIGHT 63

IX. HER PERFECT SENSE FOR SOUND 70

X. SCENT 74

XI. SENSITIVENESS OF THE SKIN 79

XII. FORECASTING THE WEATHER 84

XIII. ADVANCED ARITHMETIC 89

XIV. WORKING WITH OTHER PERSONS 94

XV. THE QUESTION OF POSSIBLE INFLUENCE 97

XVI. ALTERATIONS AND MEMORY 102

XVII. THE CONNEXION OF IDEAS 110

XVIII. SPONTANEOUS REPLIES 113

XIX. WRONG AND UNCERTAIN ANSWERS 116

XX. MATTERS WHICH, SO FAR, ARE UNACCOUNTED FOR, OR UNEXPLAINED 120

XXI. ALTERATIONS IN CHARACTER 122

XXII. A VARIETY OF ANSWERS 126

XXIII. ULSE'S FIRST INSTRUCTION 144

XXIV. LAST WORDS 149

CONCLUSION (BY PROFESSOR H. F. ZIEGLER) 152

THINKING ANIMALS (BY DR. WILLIAM MACKENZIE) 157

In recording the remarks made and answers given by these dogs I have—wherever it seemed possible to do so without loss of a certain distinctive charm—inserted the English translation only; here and there, however, where, for instance, the conversation between mistress and dog has turned on the spelling of a word it has been necessary to give the entire sentence in German. There are also some quaint remarks of which I have been loth to omit the original, these being sure to appeal to anyone acquainted with idiomatic German.

The Translator