The learning of the alphabet. . . required the most patience.

April 6, 2022 12:10 AM

Beautiful Jim Key made a splash at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, but he was already famous. He was celebreated by President McKinley. He predicted Alice Roosevelt's marriage when they met. It is reported that he could perform arithmatic, make change, sort mail, read bible passages, and express political opinions. Notably, he was a horse. Jim was made an honorary member of the American SPCA, presumably because of his trainer, Dr. W. M. Key's advocacy for kindness toward animals. Some sources estimate his pledge of Jim Key Band of Mercy was signed by two million children. Sadly, the details of the Beautiful Jim Key Two-Step dance seem to be lost to time, but many other artifacts remain. [Includes some quite racist statements and slurs, all written in the early 1900s.]

There is also a book, which I haven't yet read, and somewhat dated rumors of a film in production.

posted by eotvos (6 comments total)

(One of these days, I'm going to learn how to spell. Or at least how to use a spell-checker.)
posted by eotvos at 12:46 AM on April 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

"Notably, he was a horse" is very funny.
posted by longtime_lurker at 4:38 AM on April 6, 2022 [11 favorites]

Includes some quite racist statements and slurs, all written in the early 1900s.

The horse was racist? What a world.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 8:53 AM on April 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

Milkshake Duck was once a horse....

Still, he was the Most WOnderful Horse in all the World, so maybe other horses are worse.
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:01 AM on April 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

In case anybody is curious, it looks like Jim is a Standardbred (with an Arabian dam, which is mentioned in the first link). I was curious enough that I looked up his pedigree.
posted by sardonyx at 9:36 AM on April 6, 2022

I'm pretty sure Jim Key Band of Mercy played at my prom.
posted by kirkaracha at 10:38 AM on April 6, 2022 [1 favorite]