Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-04-15
Monkeys and Organ Grinders.

With the return of warm weether, horde
of monkeys and organ grinders are annually
let loose upon our citizens. We have often
wondered where they came from and whith.
er they went. Their place of rendezvous
we have at length discovered. A lofty build.
ing in Orange street, evidently desi signed by
the builder for The abode of comfort and ele
gance, has been tor some period in the csm-
plele occupancy of these creatures. The
threshold crossed, the organs OF scent, sight
and hearing--lhe fumes, the filth, the
screeches--lepve no doubt of the character
Of the place. Each apartment forms the
abode of both men and monkeys and ii
would require no great stretch of imag ina
ton in the visitor TO suppose some of the in
mates representatives of those interior AtrI.
can tribes, who are said TO possess tails.
In the lower rooms, Jacko was generally re-
strcted in his peranbulations by a short
chain; but in tie attic and upper apart.
ments, where the monkey tribe generally
predominated over the genus homo, the ami
ma,s occupied boxes about foot square,
having apertures for ventilation, and TO ad-
nit food, and were bereft of companionship.
In other cases, the monkeys are made 10 oc-
cupy small closets, plTlltioned of into small
compartments. In one room thus occupied,
in part, were three bedsteads, Oyerspread
with tattered and filthy quilts, whereon slept,
at night six or nine individuals, of both SEX
es. Adjoining, was an apartment where,
among swinging cobwebs and the sooty ac-
cumulations of decade of years, was 10 be
seen the whole apparatus OF street music.
managers, monkeys aud organs, for the
weather was unpropilious for The prosecu-
tiOn OF the fine arts. Our sudden entrance
taking them by surprise. group of men
around a liable, pushed from sight The cards
with which they were playing, and curlously
eyed the visitors. One of them then pros
ceeded to show off favorite monkey, which
| he said was worth tree huntred rollar.' The
ordinary price ranges from $40 to $50. Close
by the card players. an aged couple, with
haggard visages, were gracelessly stretched
out, faces upward, over heap of hand or.
gans and boxes, heavily slumbering.
| During tile interview which ensued, various
information was elected. The receipts of
organ-players are now small compared with
former years, on account of the great compe-
tilion in The business; but il is not Unusual
for these vagrants TO make a dollar, or even
ST. so a day. The monkeys are imported,
but their constitutions are unable TO bear up
under the rigors of winter in these high lali-
tudes, and they are Obliged to spend the
most inclement part of the season IN the
Southern States. There are at present but
few monkeys in the city, in consequence OF
this temporary absence. The cold weather
has the effect to induce rheumatic pains,
cramp in the stomach, diarrhea, &C., attend
ed with loss of flesh. The city does not
hold out SO great inducements 10 itlneTant
| organists as the country. the former being far
less liberal in its patronage.
Monkeys are not at all fastidIous as TO the
nature of their food The hand-orgnns are
generally owned by the performers, and are
manufactured abroad There are instances
10 which they are the properly of some capi.
tails, Included in the fraternity, who hires
them out for a certain per centage Of the
profits. The performers are chiefly from