Then，onenteringthepresenceofthehorse，theywouldtakeoneoftheenvelopesatrandom，openitandwritedowntheproblemontheblack-board；andMohammedorZarifwouldanswerwiththesamefacilityandthesamereadinessasthoughthesolutionhadbeenknowntoalltheonlookers。Butwasitreallyunknowntotheirsubconsciousness？Whocouldsayforcertain？Testsofthiskindrequireextraordinaryprecautionsandaspecialdexterity；fortheactionofthesubconsciousnessissosubtle，takessuchunexpectedturns，delvesinthemuseumofsomanyforgottentreasuresandoperatesatsuchdistancesthatoneisneversureofescapingit。Werethoseprecautionstaken？Iwasnotconvincedthattheywere；and，withoutpretendingtodecidethequestion，I
saidtomyselfthatmyblissfulignoranceofmathematicsmightperhapsbeofserviceinsheddinglightuponsomepartofit。
Forthisignorance，howeverdeplorablefromotherpointsofview，gavemearareadvantageinthiscase。Itwasinfactextremelyunlikelythatmysubliminalconsciousness，whichhadneverknownwhatacubicrootwasortherootofanyotherpower，couldhelpthehorse。Ithereforetookfromatablealistcontainingseveralproblems，alldifferentandallequallyunpleasantlooking，coveredupthesolutions，askedKralltoleavethestableand，whenalonewithZarif，copiedoutoneofthemontheblack-board。Inordernottooverloadthesepageswithdetailswhichwouldonlybearepetitionofoneanother，Iwillatoncesaythatnoneoftheantitelepathictestssucceededthatday。Itwastheendofthelessonandlateintheafternoon；thehorsesweretiredandirritable；and，whetherKrallwasthereornot，whethertheproblemwaselementaryordifficult，theygaveonlyabsurdreplies，wilfully\"puttingtheirfootinit，\"asonemightsaywithverygoodreason。But，nextmorning，onresumingtheirtask，whenIproceededasdescribedabove，MohammedandZarif，doubtlessinabettertemperandalreadymoreaccustomedtotheirnewexaminer，gaveinrapidsuccessioncorrectanswerstonearlyeveryproblemsetthem。IamboundinfairnesstosaythattherewasnoappreciabledifferencebetweentheseresultsandthosewhichareobtainedinthepresenceofKrallorotheronlookerswho，consciouslyorunconsciously，arealreadyawareoftheanswerrequired。
Inextthoughtofanotherandmuchsimplertest，butonewhich，byvirtueofitsverysimplicity，couldnotbeexposedtoanyelaborateandfarfetchedsuspicions。Isawononeoftheshelvesinthestableapanelofcards，aboutthesizeofanoctavovolume，eachbearinganarabicnumeralononeofitssides。I
oncemoreaskedmygoodfriendKrall，whosecourtesyisinexhaustible，toleavemealonewithhispupil。Ithenshuffledthecardsandputthreeoftheminarowonthespring-boardinfrontofthehorse，withoutlookingatthemmyself。Therewastherefore，atthatmoment，notahumansoulonearthwhoknewthefiguresspreadatthefeetofmycompanion，thiscreaturesofullofmysterythatalreadyInolongerdarecallhimananimal。
Withouthesitationandunasked，herappedoutcorrectlythenumberformedbythecards。Theexperimentsucceeded，asoftenasIcaredtotryit，withHanschen，MohammedandZarifalike。
Mohammeddidevenmore：aseachfigurewasofadifferentcolour，Iaskedhimtotellmethecolour——ofwhichImyselfwasabsolutelyignorant——ofthefirstletterontheright。Withtheaidoftheconventionalalphabet，herepliedthatitwasblue，whichprovedtobethecase。Ofcourse，Ioughttohavemultipliedtheseexperimentsandmadethemmoreexhaustiveandcomplicatedbycombining，withtheaidofthecardsandunderthesameconditions，exercisesinmultiplication，divisionandtheextractingofroots。Ihadnotthetime；but，afewdaysafterI
left，thesubjectwasresumedandcompletedbyDr。H。Hamel。I
willsumuphisreportoftheexperiments：thedoctor，aloneinthestablewiththehome（Krallwasaway，travelling），putsdownontheblack-boardthesignandthenplacesbeforeandafterthissign，withoutlookingateitherofthem，acardmarkedwithafigurewhichhedoesnotknow。HenextasksMohammedtoaddupthetwonumbers。Mohammedatfirstgivesafewheedlesstapswithhishoof。Heiscalledtoorderandrequestedtobeseriousandtoattend。Hethengivesfifteendistincttaps。ThedoctornextreplacesthesignbyXand，againwithoutlookingatthem，placestwocardsontheblackboardandasksthehorsenottoaddupthetwofiguresthistime，buttomultiplythem。Mohammedtapsout，\"27，\"whichisright，fortheblack-boardsays，\"9X3。\"Thesamesuccessfollowswithothermultiplicationsums：9X2，8X
6。Thenthedoctortakesfromanenvelopeaproblemofwhichhedoesnotknowthesolution：fourthrootof7890481。Mohammedreplies，\"53。\"Thedoctorlooksatthebackofthepaper：oncemore，theanswerisperfectlycorrect。
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Doesthismeanthateveryriskoftelepathyisdoneawaywith？Itwouldperhapsberashtomakeacategoricalassertion。Thepowerandextentoftelepathyareasyet，wecannottoooftenrepeat，indefinite，indiscernible，untraceableandunlimited。Wehavebutquitelatelydiscoveredit，weknowonlythatitsexistencecannolongerbedenied；but，asforalltherest，weareatmuchthesamestageasthatwhereatGalvaniwaswhenhegavelifetothemusclesofhisdeadfrogswithtwolittleplatesofmetalwhichrousedthejeersofthescientistsofhistime，butcontainedthegermofallthewonders，ofelectricity。
Nevertheless，asregardstelepathyinthesenseinwhichweunderstandandknowitto-day，mymindismadeup。Iampersuadedthatitisnotinthisdirectionthatwemustseekforanexplanationofthephenomenon；or，ifwearedeterminedtofinditthere，theexplanationbecomescomplicatedwithsomanysubsidiarymysteriesthatitisbettertoaccepttheprodigyasitstands，initsoriginalobscurityandsimplicity。When，forinstance，IwascopyingoutoneofthegrislyproblemswhichI
havementioned，itisquitecertainthatmyconsciousintelligencecouldmakeneitherheadnortailofit。Ididnotsomuchasknowwhatitmeantorwhethertheexponent3。4。5calledforamultiplication，adivisionorsomeothermathematicaloperationwhichIdidnoteventrytoimagine；and，rackMY
memoryasImay，IcannotrememberanymomentinmylifewhenI
knewmoreaboutitthanIdonow。WeshouldthereforehavetoadmitthatMYsubliminalselfisabornmathematician，quick，infallibleandendowedwithboundlesslearning。ItispossibleandIfeelacertainprideatthethought。Butthetheorysimplyshiftsthemiraclebymakingitpassfromthehorse’ssoultomine；andthemiraclebecomesnoclearerbythetransfer，which，forthatmatter，doesnotsoundprobable。Ineedhardlyaddthat，afortiori，Dr。Hamel’sexperimentsandmanyotherswhichIhavenotherethespacetodescribefinallydisposeofthetheory。
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Letusseehowthosewhohaveinterestedthemselvesintheseextraordinarymanifestationshaveattemptedtoexplainthem。
Aswegoalong，wewilljustshearthroughthefeebleundergrowthofchildishtheories。Ishallnot，therefore，lingeroverthesuggestionsofcheating，ofmanifestsignsaddressedtotheeyeorear，ofelectricalinstallationsthataresupposedtocontroltheanswers，norotheridletalesofanexcessivelyclumsycharacter。TorealizetheirinexcusableinanitywehavebuttospendafewminutesinthehonestElberfeldstable。
Atthebeginningofthisessay，ImentionedtheattackmadebyHerrPfungst。HerrPfungst，thereaderwillremember，claimstoprovethatallthehorse’srepliesaredeterminedbyimperceptibleandprobablyunconsciousmovementonthepartofthepersonputtingthequestions。Thisinterpretation，whichfallstotheground，likealltheothers，inthefaceoftheactualfacts，wouldnotdeserveseriousdiscussion，wereitnotthattheBerlinpsychologist’sreportcreatedanimmensesensationsomeyearsagoandhassucceededinintimidatingthegreaterpartoftheofficialGermanscientificworldtothisday。
Itistruethatthereportinquestionisamonumentofuselesspedantry，butwearenonethelessboundtoadmitthat，suchasitwas，itannihilatedpoorVonOaten，who，beingnocontroversialistandnotknowinghowtoproclaimthetruthwhichwasstrugglingforutterance，diedingloomandsolitude。
Tomakeanendofthiscumbrousandpueriletheory，isitnecessarytoemphasizeagainthatexperimentsinwhichtheanimaldoesnotseethequestionerareasregularlysuccessfulastheothers？Krall，ifyouaskhim，willstandbehindthehorse，willspeakfromtheendoftheroom，willleavethestablealtogether；
andtheresultsarejustthesame。Theyarethesameagainwhenthetestsaremadeinthedarkorwhentheanimal’sheadiscoveredwithaclose-fittinghood。TheydonotvaryeitherinthecaseofBerto，whoisstone-blind，orwhenanyotherpersonwhateversetstheprobleminKrall’sabsence。Willitbemaintainedthatthisoutsiderorthatstrangerisacquaintedbeforehandwiththeimperceptiblesignsthataretodictatethesolutionwhichhehimselfoftendoesnotknow？
Butwhatistheuseofprolongingthisfightagainstacloudofsmoke？Noneofitcanbearexamination；anditcallsforagenuineeffortofthewilltosetone’sselfseriouslytorefutesuchpitifulobjections。
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Onthegroundthusclearedandattheportalofthisunlooked-forriddle，whichcomestodisturbourpeaceinaregionwhichwethoughttobefinallyexploredandconquered，thereareonlytwoways，ifnotofexplaining，atleastofcontemplatingthephenomenon：toadmitpurelyandsimplythealmosthumanintelligenceofthehorse，ortohaverecoursetoanasyetveryvagueandindefinitetheorywhich，forlackofabetterdesignation，wewillcallthemediumisticorsubliminaltheoryandofwhichwewillstrivepresently——andnodoubtvainly——todispelthegrosserdarkness。But，whateverinterpretationweadopt，weareboundtorecognizethatitplungesusintoamysterywhichisequallyprofoundandequallyastonishingoneitherside，onedirectlyrelatedtothegreatestmysteriesthatoverwhelmus；anditisopentoustoacceptitwithresignationorrejoicing，accordingasweprefertoliveinaworldwhereineverythingiswithinthereachofourintelligenceoraworldwhereineverythingisincomprehensible。
AsforKrall，hedoesnotdoubtforaninstantthathishorsessolveforthemselves，withoutanyassistance，withoutanyoutsideinfluence，simplybytheirownmentalpowers，themostarduousproblemssetthem。Heispersuadedthattheyunderstandwhatissaidtothemandwhattheysay，inshort，thattheirbrainandtheirwillperformexactlythesamefunctionsasahumanbrainandwill。Itiscertainthatthefactsseemtoprovehimrightandthathisopinioncarrieswaygreatweight，for，afterall，heknowshishorsesbetterthananyonedoes；hehasbeheldthebirthorrathertheawakeningofthatdormantintelligence，evenasamotherbeholdsthebirthortheawakeningofintelligenceinherchild；hehasperceiveditsfirstgropings，knownitsfirstresistanceanditsfirsttriumphs；hehaswatchedittakingshape，breakingawayandgraduallyrisingtothepointatwhichitstandsto-day；inaword，heisthefatherandtheprincipalandsoleperpetualwitnessofthemiracle。
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Yes，butthemiraclecomesassuchasurprisethat，themomentwesetfootinit，asortofinstinctiveaberrationseizesus，refusingtoaccepttheevidenceandcompellingustosearchineverydirectiontoseeifthereisnotanotheroutlet。Eveninthepresenceofthoseastoundinghorsesandwhiletheyareworkingbeforeoureyes，wedonotyetsincerelybelievethatwhichfillsandsubduesourgaze。Weacceptthefacts，becausethereisnomeansofescapingthem；butweacceptthemonlyprovisionallyandwithallreserve，puttingofftilllaterthecomfortableexplanationwhichwillgiveusbackourfamiliar，shallowcertainties。Buttheexplanationdoesnotcome；thereisnoneinthehomelyandnotveryloftyregionswhereinwehopedtofindone；thereisneitherfaultnorflawinthemightyevidence；
andnothingdeliversusfromthemystery。
Itmustbeconfessedthatthismystery，springingfromapointwhereweleastexpectedtocomeupontheunknown，bearsenoughwithinitselftoscatterallourconvictions。Rememberthat，sincemanappeareduponthisearth，hehaslivedamongcreatureswhich，fromimmemorialexperience，hethoughtthatheknewasperfectlyasheknowsanobjectfashionedbyhishands。Outofthesecreatureshechosethemostdocileand，ashecalledthem，themostintelligent，attachinginthiscasetothewordintelligenceasensesonarrowastobealmostridiculous。Heobservedthem，scrutinizedthem，triedthem，analyzedthemanddissectedthemineveryimaginableway；andwholelivesweredevotedtonothingbutthestudyoftheirhabits，theirfaculties，theirnervoussystem，theirpathology，theirpsychology，theirinstincts。Allthisledtocertaintieswhich，amongthosesupportedbyourunexplainedlittleexistenceonaninexplicableplanet，wouldseemtobetheleastdoubtful，theleastsubjecttorevision。Thereisnodisputing，forinstance，thatthehorseisgiftedwithanextraordinarymemory，thathepossessesthesenseofdirection，thatheunderstandsafewsignsandevenafewwordsandthatheobeysthem。Itisequallyundeniablethattheanthropoidapesarecapableofimitatingagreatnumberofouractionsandofourattitudes：butitisalsomanifestthattheirbewilderedandfeverishimaginationperceivesneithertheirobjectnortheirscope。Asforthedog，theoneofalltheseprivilegedanimalswholivesclosesttous，whoforthousandsandthousandsofyearshaseatenatourtableandworkedwithusandbeenourfriend，itismanifestthat，nowandthen，wecatcharatheruncannygleaminhisdeep，watchfuleyes。
Itiscertainthathesometimeswandersinacuriousfashionalongthemysteriousborderthatseparatesourownintelligencefromthatwhichwegranttotheothercreaturesinhabitingthisearthwithus。Butitisnolesscertainthathehasneverdefinitelypassedit。Weknowexactlyhowfarhecango；andwehaveinvariablyfoundthatourefforts，ourpatience，ourencouragement，ourpassionateappeals，havehithertofailedtodrawhimoutofthesomewhatnarrow，darklyenchantedcirclewhereinnatureseemstohaveimprisonedhimonceandforall。
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Thereremains，itistrue，theinsect-world，inwhichmarvellousthingshappen。Itincludesarchitects，geometricians，mechanicians，engineers，weavers，physicists，chemistsandsurgeonswhohaveforestalledmostofourhumaninventions。I
neednothereremindthereaderofthewasps’andbees’geniusforbuilding，thesocialandeconomicorganizationofthehiveandtheant-hill，thespider’ssnares，theeumenes’nestandhangingegg，theodynerus’cellwithitsneatstacksofgame，thesacredbeetle’sfilthybutingeniusball，theleafcutter’sfaultlessdisks，thebrick-layingofthemason-bee，thethreedagger-thrustswhichtheaphexadministerstothethreenerve-centresofthecricket，thelancetofthecerceris，whoparalyseshervictimswithoutkillingthemandpreservesthemforanindefiniteperiodasfreshmeat，norathousandotherfeatureswhichitwouldbeimpossibletoenumeratewithoutrecapitulatingthewholeofHenriFabre’sworkandcompletelyalteringtheproportionsofthepresentessay。Butheresuchsilenceandsuchdarknessreignthatwehavenothingtohopefor。Thereexists，sotospeak，nobench-mark，nomeansofcommunicationbetweentheworldofinsectsandourown；andweareperhapslessfarfromgraspingandfathomingwhattakesplaceinSaturnorJupiterthanwhatisenactedintheant-hillorthehive。Weknowabsolutelynothingofthequality，thenumber，theextentoreventhenatureoftheirsenses。Manyofthegreatlawsonwhichourlifeisbaseddonotexistforthem：those，forinstance，whichgovernfluidsarecompletelyreversed。Theyseemtoinhabitourplanet，butinrealitymoveinanentirelydifferentworld。Understandingnothingoftheirintelligencepiercedwithdisconcertinggaps，inwhichtheblindeststupiditysuddenlycomesanddestroystheablestandmostinspiredschemes，wehavegiventhenameofinstincttothatwhichwecouldnotapprehend，postponingourinterpretationofawordthattouchesuponlife’smostinsolubleriddles。Thereis，therefore，fromthepointofviewoftheintellectualfaculties，nothingtobegatheredfromthoseextraordinarycreatureswhoarenot，liketheotheranimals，our\"lesserbrothers，\"butstrangers，aliensfromweknownotwhere，survivorsorpercursorsofanotherworld。
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Wewereatthisstage，slumberingpeacefullyinourlong-establishedconvictions，whenamanentereduponthesceneandsuddenlyshowedusthatwewerewrongandthat，forlongcenturies，wehadoverlookedatruthwhichwasscarcelyevencoveredwithaverythinveil。Andthestrangestthingisthatthisastonishingdiscovery，isinnowisethenaturalconsequenceofanewinvention，ofprocessesormethodshithertounknown。Itowesnothingtothelatestacquirementsofourknowledge。Itspringsfromthehumblestideawhichthemostprimitivemanmighthaveconceivedinthefirstdaysoftheearth’sexistence。Itissimplyamatterofhavingalittlemorepatience，confidenceandrespectforallthatwhichsharesourlotinaworldwhereofweknownoneofthepurposes。Itissimplyamatterofhavingalittlelessprideandoflookingalittlemorefraternallyuponexistencesthataremuchmorefraternalthanwebelieved。ThereisnosecretaboutthealmostpuerileingenuousnessofVonOsten’smethodsandKrall’s。Theystartwiththeprinciplethatthehorseisanignorantbutintelligentchild；andtheytreathimassuch。Theyspeak，explain，demonstrate，argueandmeteoutrewardsorpunishmentslikeaschoolmasteraddressinglittleboysoffiveorsix。Theybeginbyplacingafewskittle-pinsinfrontoftheirstrangepupil。Theycountthemandmakehimcountthembyalternatelyliftingandloweringthehorse’shoof。Hethusobtainshisfirstnotionofnumbers。Theynextaddoneortwomoreskittlesandsay，forinstance：
\"Threeskittlesandtwoskittlesarefiveskittles。\"
Inthisway，theyexplainandteachaddition；next，bythereverseprocess，subtraction，whichisfollowedbymultiplication，divisionandalltherest。
Atthebeginning，thelessonsareextremelylaboriousanddemandanuntiringandlovingpatience，whichisthewholesecretofthemiracle。But；assoonasthefirstbarrierofdarknessispassed，theprogressbecomesbewilderinglyrapid。
Allthisisincontestable；andthefactsarethere，beforewhichwemustneedbow。Butwhatupsetsallourconvictionsor，morecorrectly，alltheprejudiceswhichthousandsofyearshavemadeasinvincibleasaxioms，whatwedonotsucceedinunderstandingisthatthehorseatonceunderstandswhatwewantofhim；itisthatfirststep，thefirsttremorofanunexpectedintelligence，whichsuddenlyrevealsitselfashuman。Atwhatpreciseseconddidthelightappearandwastheveilrentunder？Itisimpossibletosay；butitiscertainthat，atagivenmoment，withoutanyvisiblesigntorevealtheprodigiousinnertransformation，thehorseactsandrepliesasthoughhesuddenlyunderstoodthespeechofman。Whatisitthatsetsthemiracleworking？Weknowthat，afteratime，thehorseassociatescertainwordswithcertainobjectsthatinteresthimorwiththreeorfoureventswhoseinfiniterepetitionformsthehumbletissueofhisdailylife。Thisisonlyasortofmechanicalmemorywhichhasnothingincommonwiththemostelementaryintelligence。Butbehold，onefineday，withoutanyperceptibletransition，heseemstoknowthemeaningofahostofwordswhichpossessnointerestforhim；whichrepresenttohimnopicture，nomemory；
whichhehasneverhadoccasiontoconnectwithanysensation，agreeableordisagreeable。Hehandlesfigures，whicheventomanarenothingbutobscureandabstractideas。Hesolvesproblemsthatcannotpossiblybemadeobjectiveorconcrete。Hereproducesletterswhich，fromhispointofview，correspondwithnothingactual。Hefixeshisattentionandmakesobservationsonthingsorcircumstanceswhichinnowayaffecthim，whichremainandalwayswillremainalienandindifferenttohim。Inaword，hestepsoutofthenarrowringinwhichhewasmadetoturnbyhungerandfear——whichhavebeendescribedasthetwogreatmovingpowersofallthatisnothuman——toentertheimmensecircleinwhichsensationsgoonbeingshedtillideascomeintoview。
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Isitpossibletobelievethatthehorsesreallydowhattheyappeartodo？Istherenoprecedentforthemarvel？IstherenotransitionbetweentheElberfeldstallionsandthehorseswhichwehaveknownuntilthisday？Itisnoteasytoanswerthesequestions，foritisonlysinceyesterdaythattheintellectualpowersofourdefenselessbrothershavebeensubjectedtostrictlyscientificexperiments。Wehave，itistruemorethanonecollectionofanecdotesinwhichtheintelligenceofanimalsislaudedtotheskies；butwecannotrelyupontheseill-authenticatedstories。Tofindgenuineandincontestableinstanceswemusthaverecoursetotheworks，rareasyet，ofscientificmenwhohavemadeaspecialstudyofthesubject。M。
Hachet-Souplet，forexample，thedirectoroftheInstitutdePsychologieZoologique，mentionsthecaseofadogwholearnttoacquireanabstractideaofweight。Youputinfrontofhimeightroundedandpolishedstones，allofexactlythesamesizeandshape，butofdifferentweights。Youtellhimtofetchtheheaviestorthelightest；hejudgestheirweightbyliftingthemand，withoutmistake，picksouttheonerequired。
Thesamewriteralsotellsthestoryofaparrottowhomhehadtaughttheword\"cupboard\"byshowinghimalittleboxthatcouldbehunguponthewallatdifferentheightsandinwhichhisdailyallowanceoffoodwasalwaysostentatiouslyputaway；
\"Inexttaughthimthenamesofanumberofobjects，\"saysM。
Hachet-Souplet，\"byholdingthemouttohim。Amongthemwasaladder；andIprevaileduponthebirdtosay，’Climb，’eachtimethathesawmemountthesteps。Onemorning，whentheparrot’scagewasbroughtintothelaboratory，thecupboardwashangingneartheceiling，whilethelittleladderwasstowedawayinacorneramongotherobjectsfamiliartothebird。Nowtheparrot，everyday，whenIopenedthecupboard，usedtoscream，’Cupboard！
Cupboard！Cupboard！’withallhismight。Myproblemwas，therefore，this：seeingthatthecupboardwasoutofmyreachandthat，therefore，Icouldnottakehisfoodoutofit；knowing，ontheotherhand，thatIwasabletoraisemyselfabovethelevelofthefloorbyclimbingtheladder；andhavingthewords’climb’
and’ladder’athisdisposal：wouldheemploythemtosuggesttometheideaofusingtheminordertoreachthecupboard？Greatlyexcited，theparrotflappedhiswings，bitthebarsofhiscage，andscreamed：
\"’Cupboard！Cupboard！Cupboard！’\"
\"AndIgotnomoreoutofhimthatday。Thenextday，thebird，havingreceivednothingbutmillet，forwhichhedidnotmuchcare，insteadofthehemp-seedcontainedinthecupboard，wasinparoxysmsofanger；and，afterhehadmadenumberlessattemptstoforceopenhisbars，hisattentionwasatlastcaughtbytheladderandhesaid：
\"’Ladder，climb，cupboard！’\"
Wehavehere，astheauthorremarks，amarvellousintellectualeffort。Thereisanevidentassociationofideas；causeislinkedwitheffect；andexamplessuchasthislessonappreciablythedistanceseparatingourlearnedhorsesfromtheirlesscelebratedbrethren。Wemustadmit，however，thatthisintellectualeffort，ifweobserve，animalsalittlecarefully，ismuchlessuncommonthanwethink。Itsurprisesusinthiscasebecauseaspecialand，whenallissaid，purelymechanicalarrangementoftheparrot’sorgangiveshimahumanvoice。Ateverymoment，Ifindinmyowndogassociationsofideasnolessevidentandoftenmorecomplex。Forinstance，ifheisthirsty，heseeksmyeyesandnextlooksatthetapinthedressing-room，thusshowingthatheveryplainlyconnectsthenotionsofthirst，runningwaterandhumanintervention。WhenIdresstogoout，heevidentlywatchesallmymovements。WhileIamlacingmyboots，heconscientiouslylicksmyhands，inorderthatmydivinitymaybegoodtohimandespeciallytocongratulatemeonmycapitalideaofgoingoutforaconstitutional。Itisasortofgeneralandasyetvagueapproval。Bootspromiseanexcursionoutofdoors，thatistosay，space，fragrantroads，longgrassfullofsurprises，cornersscentedwithoffal，friendlyortragicencountersandthepursuitofwhollyillusory，game。Butthefairvisionisstillinanxioussuspense。Hedoesnotyetknowifheisgoingwithme。Hisfateisnowbeingdecided；andhiseyes，meltingwithanguish，devourmymind。IfIbuckleonmyleathergaiters，itmeansthesuddenandutterextinction，ofallthatconstitutesthejoyoflife。
Theyleavenotarayofhope。Theyheraldthehateful，lonelymotorcycle，whichhecannotkeepupwith；andhestretcheshimselfsadlyinadarkcorner，wherehegoesbacktothegloomydreamsofanunoccupied，forsakendog。But，whenIslipmyarmsintothesleevesofmyheavygreat-coat，onewouldthinkthattheywereopeningthegatesofthemostdazzlingparadise。Forthisimpliesthecar，theobvious，indubitablemotor-car，inotherwords，theradiantsummitofthemostsuperlativedelight。
Anddeliriousbarks，inordinatebounds，riotous，embarrassingdemonstrationsofaffectiongreetahappinesswhich，forallthat，isbutanimmaterialidea，builtupofartlessmemoriesandingenuoushopes。
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Imentionthesemattersonlybecausetheyarequiteordinaryandbecausethereisnobodywhohasnotmadeathousandsimilarobservations。Asarule，wedonotnoticethatthesehumblemanifestationsrepresentsentiments，associationsofideas，inferences，deductions，anabsoluteandaltogetherhumanmentaleffort。Theylackonlyspeech；butspeechismerelyamechanicalaccidentwhichrevealstheoperationsofthoughtmoreclearlytous。WeareamazedthatMohammedorZarifshouldrecognizethepictureofahorse，adonkey，ahat，oramanonhorseback，orthattheyshouldspontaneouslyreporttotheirmasterthelittleeventsthathappeninthestable；butitiscertainthatourowndogisincessantlyperformingasimilarworkandthathiseyes，ifwecouldreadthem，wouldtellusagreatdealmore。TheprimarymiracleofElberfeldisthatthestallionsshouldhavebeengiventhemeansofexpressingwhattheythinkandfeel。Itismomentous；but，whencloselylookedinto，itisnotincomprehensible。Betweenthetalkinghorsesandmysilentdogthereisanenormousdistance，butnotanabyss。Iamsayingthisnottodetractfromthenatureorextentoftheprodigy，buttocallattentiontothefactthatthetheoryofanimalintelligenceismorejustifiableandlessfancifulthanoneisatfirstinclinedtothink。
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Butthesecondandgreatermiracleisthatmanshouldhavebeenabletorousethehorsefromhisimmemorialsleep，tofixanddirecthisattentionandtointeresthiminmattersthataremoreforeignandindifferenttohimthanthevariationsoftemperatureinSiriusorAldebaranaretous。Itreallyseems，whenweconsiderourpreconceivedideas，thatthereisnotintheanimalanorganicandinsurmountableinabilitytodowhatman’sbraindoes，atotalandirremediableabsenceofintellectualfaculties，butratheraprofoundlethargyandtorporofthosefaculties。Itlivesinasortofundisturbedstolidity，ofnebulousslumber。AsDr。Ochorowiczveryjustlyremarks，\"itswakingstateisverynearakintothestateofamanwalkinginhissleep。\"Havingnonotionofspaceortime，itspendsitslife，onemaysay，inaperpetualdream。Itdoeswhatisstrictlynecessarytokeepitselfalive；andalltherestpassesoveritanddoesnotpenetrateatallintoitshermeticallyclosedimaginings。
Exceptionalcircumstances——someextraordinaryneed，wish，passionorshock——arerequiredtoproducewhatM。Hachet-Soupletcalls\"thepsychicflash\"whichsuddenlythawsandgalvanizesitsbrain，placingitforaminuteinthewakingstateinwhichthehumanbrainworksnormally。Noristhissurprising。Itdoesnotneedthatawakeninginordertoexist；andweknowthatnaturenevermakesgreatsuperfluousefforts……\"Theintellect，\"asProfessorClarapedewellsays，\"appearsonlyasamakeshift，aninstrumentwhichbetraysthattheorganismisnotadaptedtoitsenvironment，amodeofexpressionwhichrevealsastateofimpotence。\"
Itisprobablethatourbrainatfirstsufferedfromthesamelethargy，acondition，forthatmatter，fromwhichmanymenhavenotyetemerged；anditisevenmoreprobablethat，comparedwithothermodesofexistence，withotherpsychicphenomena，onanotherplaneandinanothersphere，thedensesleepinwhichwemoveissimilartothatinwhichtheloweranimalshavetheirbeing。Italsoistraversed，withincreasingfrequency，bypsychicflashesofadifferentorderandadifferentscope。
Seeing，ontheoneside，theintellectualmovementthatseemstobespreadingamongourlesserbrothersand，ontheother，theevermoreconstantlyrepeatedmanifestationsofoursubconsciousness，wemightevenaskourselvesifwehavenothere，ontwodifferentplanes，atension，aparallelpressure，anewdesire，anewattemptofthemysteriousspiritualforcewhichanimatestheuniverseandwhichseemstobeincessantlyseekingfreshoutletsandfreshconductingrods。Bethisasitmay，whentheflashhaspassed，webehaveverymuchastheanimalsdo：wepromptlylapseintotheindifferentsleepwhichsufficesalsoforourmiserableways。Weasknomoreofit，wedonotfollowtheluminoustrailthatsummonsustoanunknownworld，wegoonturninginourdismalcircle，likecontentedsleep-walkers，whileIsis’sistrumrattleswithoutrespitetorousethefaithful。
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Irepeat，thegreatmiracleofElberfeldisthatofhavingbeenabletoprolongandreproduceatwillthoseisolated\"psychicflashes。\"Thehorses，incomparisonwiththeotheranimals，arehereinthestateofamanwhosesubliminalconsciousnesshadgainedtheupperhand。Thatmanwouldleadahigherexistence，inanalmostimmaterialatmosphere，ofwhichthephenomenaofmetaphysics，sparksfallingfromaregionwhichweshallperhapsonedayreach，sometimesgiveusanuncertainandfleetingglimpse。Ourintelligence，whichisreallylethargyandwhichkeepsusimprisonedinalittlehollowofspaceandtime，wouldtherebereplacedbyintuition，orratherbyasortofimminentknowledgewhichwouldforthwithmakeussharersinallthatisknowntoauniversewhichperhapsknowsallthings。
Unfortunately，wehavenot，oratleast，unlikethehorses，wearenotacquaintedwithasuperiorbeingwhointerestshimselfinusandhelpsustothrowoffourtorpor。Wehavetobecomeourowngod，toriseaboveourselvesandtokeepourselvesraisedbyourunaidedstrength。Itisalmostcertainthatthehorsewouldneverhavecomeoutofhisnebulousspherewithoutman’sassistance；butitisnotforbiddentohopethatman，withnootherhelpthanhisowncourageandhighpurpose，mayyetsucceedinbreakingthroughthesleepthatcrampshimandblindshim。
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Tocomebackthentoourhorsesandtothemainpoint，whichistheisolated\"psychicflash，\"itisadmittedthattheyknowthevaluesoffigures，thattheycandistinguishandidentifysmells，colours，forms，objectsandevengraphicreproductionsofthoseobjects。Theyalsounderstandalargenumberofwords，includingsomeofwhichtheywere，nevertaughtthemeaning，butwhichtheypickedupastheywentalongbyhearingthemspokenaroundthem。
Theyhavelearnt，withtheassistanceofanexceedinglycomplicatedalphabet，toreproducethewords，thankstowhichtheymanagetoconveyimpressions，sensations，wishes，associationsofideas，observationsandevenspontaneousreflections。Ithasbeenheldthatallthisimpliesrealactsofintelligence。Itis，infact，oftenverydifficulttodecideexactlyhowfaritisintelligenceandhowfarmemory，instinct，imitativegenius，obedienceormechanicalimpulse，theeffectsoftraining，orhappycoincidences。
Therearecases，however，whichadmitoflittleornohesitation。
Igiveafew。
OnedayKrallandhiscollaborator，Dr。Scholler，thoughtthattheywouldtryandteachMohammedtoexpresshimselfinspeech。
Thehorse，adocileandeagerpupil，madetouchingandfruitlesseffortstoreproducehumansounds。Suddenly，hestoppedand，inhisstrangephoneticspelling，declared，bystrikinghisfootonthespring-board：
\"IghbkeingudSdim。Ihavenotagoodvoice。\"
Observingthathedidnotopenhismouth，theystrovetomakehimunderstand，bytheexampleofadog，withpictures，andsoon，that，inordertospeak，itisnecessarytoseparatethejaws。
Theynextaskedhim：
\"Whatmustyoudotospeak？\"
Hereplied，bystrikingwithhisfoot：
\"Openmouth。\"
\"Whydon’tyouopenyours？\"
\"Weilkannigd：becauseIcan’t。\"
Afewdaysafter，ZarifwasaskedhowhetalkstoMohammed。
\"MitMunt：withmouth。\"
\"Whydon’tyoutellmethatwithyourmouth？\"
\"WeiligkeinStimhbe：becauseIhavenovoice。\"Doesnotthisanswer，asKrallremarks，allowustosupposethathehasothermeansthanspeechofconversingwithhisstable-companion？
Inthecourseofanotherlesson，Mohammedwasshowntheportraitofayounggirlwhomhedidnotknow。
\"What’sthat？\"askedhismaster。
\"Metgen：agirl？\"
Ontheblack-board：
\"Whyisitagirl？\"
\"WeillangHrhd：becauseshehaslonghair。\"
\"Andwhathasshenot？\"
\"Moustache。\"
Theynextproducedthelikenessofmanwithnomoustache。
\"What’sthis？\"
\"Whyisitaman？\"
\"WeilkurzHrhd：becausehehasshorthair。\"
IcouldmultiplytheseexamplesindefinitelybydrawingonthevoluminousElberfeldminutes，which，Imaysayinpassing，havetheconvincingforceofphotographicrecords。Allthis，itmustbeagreed，isunexpectedanddisconcerting，hadneverbeenforeseenorsuspectedandmayberegardedasoneofthestrangestprodigies，oneofthemoststupefyingrevelationsthathavetakenplacesincemanhasdweltinthisworldofriddles，Nevertheless，byreflecting，bycomparing，byinvestigating，byregardingcertainforgottenorneglectedlandmarksandstarting-points，bytakingintoconsiderationthethousandimperceptiblegradationsbetweenthegreatestandtheleast，thehighestandthelowest，itisstillpossibletoexplain，admitandunderstand。Wecan，ifitcomestothat，imaginethat，inhissecretself，inhistragicsilence，ourdogalsomakessimilarremarksandreflections。Onceagain，themiraculousbridgewhich，inthisinstance，spansthegulfbetweentheanimalandmanismuchmoretheexpressionofthoughtthanthoughtitself。Wemaygofurtherandgrantthatcertainelementarycalculations，suchaslittleadditions，littlesubtractionsofoneortwofigures，are，afterall，conceivable；
andI，formypart，aminclinedtobelievethatthehorsereallyexecutesthem。Butwherewegetoutofourdepth，whereweenterintotherealmofpureenchantmentiswhenitbecomesamatterofmathematicaloperationsonalargescale，notablyofthefindingofroots。Weknow，forinstance，thattheextractionofthefourthrootofanumberofsixfigurescallsforeighteenmultiplications，tensubtractionsandthreedivisionsandthatthehorsedoesthirty-onesumsinfiveorsixseconds，thatistosay，duringthebrief，carelessglancewhichhegivesattheblack-boardonwhichtheproblemisinscribed，asthoughtheanswercametohimintuitivelyandinstantaneously。
Still，ifweadmitthetheoryofintelligence，wemustalsoadmitthatthehorseknowswhatheisdoing，sinceitisnotuntilafterlearningwhatasquarednumberorasquarerootmeansthatheappearstounderstandorthat，atanyrate，hegraduallyworksoutcorrectlytheevermorecomplicatedcalculationsrequiredofhim。Itisnotpossibletogiveherethedetailsofthisinstruction，whichwasastonishinglyrapid。Thereaderwillfindthemonpages117etseq。ofKrall’sbook，DenkendeTiere。KrallbeginsbyexplainingtoMohammedthat2squaredisequalto2X2
=4；that2cubedisequalto2X2X2=6；that2isthesquarerootof4；andsoon。Inshort，theexplanationsanddemonstrationsareabsolutelysimilartothosewhichonewouldgivetoanextremelyintelligentchild，withthisdifference，thatthehorseismuchmoreattentivethanthechildandthat，thankstohisextraordinarymemory，heneverforgetswhatheappearstohaveunderstood。Letusadd，tocompletethemagicalandincrediblecharacterofthephenomenonthat，accordingtoKrall’sownstatement，thehorsewasnottaughtbeyondthepointofextractingthesquarerootofthenumber144andthathespontaneouslyinventedthemannerofextractingalltheothers。
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Mustweoncemorerepeat，inconnectionwiththesestartlingperformances，thatthosewhospeakofaudibleorvisiblesignals，oftelegraphyandwirelesstelegraphy，ofexpedients，trickeryordeceit，arespeakingofwhattheydonotknowandofwhattheyhavenotseen？Thereisbutonereplytobemadetoanyonewhohonestlyrefusestobelieve：
\"GotoElberfeld——-theproblemissufficientlyimportant，sufficientlybigwithconsequencestomakethejourneyworthwhile——and，behindcloseddoors，alonewiththehorse，intheabsolutesolitudeandsilenceofthestable，setMohammedtoextracthalf-adozenrootswhich，likethatwhichIhavementioned，requirethirty-oneoperations。Youmustyourselfbeignorantofthesolutions，soastodoawaywithanytransmissionofunconsciousthought。Ifhethengivesyou，oneaftertheother，fiveorsixcorrectsolutions，ashedidtomeandmanyothers，youwillnotgoawaywiththeconvictionthattheanimalisablebyitsintelligencetoextractthoseroots，becausethatconvictionwouldupsettoothoroughlythegreaterpartofthecertaintiesonwhichyourlifeisbased；butyouwill，atanyrate，bepersuadedthatyouhavebeenforafewminutesinthepresenceofoneofthegreatestandstrangestriddlesthatcandisturbthemindofman；anditisalwaysagoodandsalutarythingtocomeintocontactwithemotionsofthisorder。\"
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Truthtosay，thetheoryofintelligenceintheanimalwouldbesoextraordinaryastobealmostuntenable。Ifwearedetermined，atwhatevercost，topinourfaithtoit，weareboundtocallintheaidofotherideas，toappeal，forinstance，totheextremelymysteriousandessentiallyuncomprehendedandincomprehensiblenatureofnumbers。Itisalmostcertainthatthescienceofmathematicsliesoutsidetheintelligence。Itformsamechanicalandabstractwhole，morespiritualthanmaterialandmorematerialthanspiritual，visibleonlythroughitsshadowandyetconstitutingthemostimmovableoftherealitiesthatgoverntheuniverse。Fromfirsttolastitdeclaresitselfaverystrangeforceand，asitwere，thesovereignofanotherelementthanthatwhichnourishesourbrain。Secret，indifferent，imperiousandimplacable，itsubjugatesandoppressesusfromagreatheightoragreatdepth，inanycase，fromveryfar，withouttellinguswhy。Onemightsaythatfiguresplacethosewhohandletheminaspecialcondition。Theydrawthecabalisticcirclearoundtheirvictim。Henceforth，heisnolongerhisownmaster，herenounceshisliberty，heisliterally\"possessed\"bythepowerswhichheinvokes。Heisdraggedheknowsnotwhither，intoaformless，boundlessimmensity，subjecttolawsthathavenothinghumanaboutthem，inwhicheachofthoselivelyandtyrannicallittlesignswhichmoveanddanceintheirthousandsunderthepenrepresentsnameless，buteternal，invincibleandinevitableverities。Wethinkthatwearedirectingthemandtheyenslaveus。Webecomewearyandbreathlessfollowingthemintotheiruninhabitablespaces。Whenwetouchthem，weletlooseaforcewhichwearenolongerabletocontrol。Theydowithuswhattheywillandalwaysendbyhurlingus，blindedandbenumbed，intoblankinfinityoruponawalloficeagainstwhicheveryeffortofourmindandwillisshattered。
Itispossible，therefore，inthelastresort，toexplaintheElberfeldmysterybythenolessobscuremysterythatsurroundsnumbers。Thisreallyonlymeansmovingtoanotherspotinthegloom；butitisoftenjustbythatmovingtoanotherspotthatweendbydiscoveringthelittlegleamoflightwhichshowsusathoroughfare。Inanycase，andtoreturntomorepreciseideas，morethanoneinstancehasbeencitedtoprovethatthegiftofhandlinggreatgroupsoffiguresisalmostindependentoftheintelligenceproper。OneofthemostcuriousisthatofanItalianshepherdboy，VitoMangiamele，whowasbroughtbeforetheParisAcademyofSciencein1837andwho，attheageoften，thoughdevoidofthemostrudimentaryeducation，wasableinhalfaminutetoextractthecubicrootofanumberofsevenfigures。
Another，morestrikingstill，alsomentionedbyDr。Clarapedeinhispaperonthelearnedhorses，isthatofamanblindfrombirth，aninmateofthelunatic-asylum，atArmentieres。Thisblindman，whosenameisFleury，adegenerateandnearlyanidiot，cancalculateinoneminuteandfifteensecondsthenumberofsecondsinthirty-nineyears，threemonthsandtwelvedays，notforgettingtheleap-years。Theyexplaintohimwhatasquarerootis，withouttellinghimtheconventionalmethodoffindingit；andsoonheextractsalmostasrapidlyasInaudihimself，withoutablunder，thesquarerootsofnumbersoffourfigures，givingtheremainder。Ontheotherhand，weknowthatamathematicalgeniuslikeHenriPomcareconfessedhimselfincapableofaddingupacolumnoffigureswithoutamistake。