To the editor:
Quite a surprise to see the picture of my late husband, Dr. Horace Allison, and me in the historical section of The Star-Herald, as we were being interviewed by Frank McGee on the “Today” show ever so many years ago. Your reporter should have called me to learn the exact date of the broadcast, Dec. 29, 1971. Our appearance came about as a rebuttal to someone interviewed a few months before who told that ponies were excellent animals to use to help handicapped children become more self assured. I wrote to the producers that ponies were not meant to be childrens’ pets. Horses had been bred down eons ago to be small enough to go down into mines to haul out loaded coal cars. They are not known for having placid personalities. I told, from our experiences gained from raising, and working with donkeys, that donkeys were far safer, more suitable animals to use with children, whether handicapped, or not, and gave further illustrations. The producers were interested in what we had to say, asked us to appear on their program.
We, and our five kids, drove down to New York City towing a trailer with an entire jack in it. Upon arrival at the studios we were shown where to park, and another person greeted us, took us, and the jack, up to the Today studio in the freight elevator. The jack caused no problems as we walked through the halls. He, a true ham, ate up all the attention people gave him.
To help prove our point that donkeys were excellent animals for children to work with, and to enjoy, we had our twin sons, who had just passed their eighth birthday, do the managing and leading. The jack behaved as would a well mannered child. Everyone was amazed.
We had some free time while in New York City. We took the jack out of the trailer, out of the parking garage, and on a stroll though the throngs of Christmas shoppers in Times Square. Again, the jack “lapped up” all the attention people gave him. Even a mounted police officer got off his horse so that he could scratch behind the jack’s ears, and gave the jack a carrot. Interesting experience, sauntering through Times Square with five children under the age of eight years, the youngest a babe in arms, and our ass on a leash!
Castle Hill
