Book Backdrop for Step Right Up by Donna Janell Bowman – Object #3

This Horse Can Spell “Van Wyck”
Has Also Been Trained to Write with a Pencil His Own Name.
Says He’s a Democrat.
Spells Out “New York Journal” and Rings Up Money on a Cash Register.
There is a horse in town that can spell “Greater New York” and the name of its Mayor-elect, that can ring up sales on a cash register and count out the correct change and that can write his own name, which is Jim.
Jim Key is the full name of this accomplished animal. The surname he derives from his trainer, guide, philosopher and friend, William Key…They are great chums, this pair. In all their years of association the two-legged Key never lifted a whip, and the four-legged Key never lifted a hoof, in anger…
William Key asked him who was Mayor of Greater New York, and the horse picked out a sign bearing the name of Robert A. Van Wyck from among many similar signs bearing all manner of names.
“Which is the best newspaper, Jim”…the horse spelled out the name “New York Journal” with blocks inscribed with the various letters of the alphabet.
A series of letter boxes had been arranged, some of them bearing letters addressed to well-known people. Jim was commanded to take box 13 a letter addressed to Mr. T.C. Platt. He did so, and was preparing to file it under the letter “P” in a roll top desk, which he had thrown open with his muzzle, when he dropped the letter to Mr. Croker–possibly because of his political sympathies–which he filed under the letter “C.”
Next came the performance with the cash register. It was shown beyond a peradventure that he could distinguish various pieces of money, from a cent to a dollar bill; could ring up any amount designated on the machine, using his muzzle to depress the proper key, and could ‘make change’ as quickly and skillfully as any cashier.
With a pencil gripped between his teeth he scrawled ‘Jim’ on a slate when told to write his name. Last of all, he plunged his head into a glass bucket filled with water, holding his breath until he had picked up from the bottom of it a silver dollar.
Jim, who has never visited New York before, will be exhibited New York before, will be exhibited here shortly under the auspices of the Humane Society, which regards him as a valuable and beautiful object lesson of the effects of kindness to animals.