The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-04-20
A Monkeys Finishing School.

any more than men and women. They
require to be taught, and are obliged to
study hard before they reach that high
state of development in which they are
frequently found in circuses, at side
shows, on et-organs, and in the other
walks of monkey life. In their primitive
condition monkeys are not at all more in
telligent than babies, but they have much
more aptitude for acquiring knowledge,
and are more amenable to discipline than
the young ones of the human race. A
large number of monkeys are educated in
New York, where they are sent to delight
the hearts of small boys and slght-seers all
over the country. Unfortunately they
have not the advantages that human be-
ings have; their early surroundings are
the reverse of respectable, and their in
structors are generally men and boys who
failed to distinguish themselves in other
and higher avocations. The writer re-
Gently visited "a young monkeys finish
ing school," situated on Baxter street,
near Worth. On arriving at No. 18
he inquired of an italian fruit ven
der the way to the institution, and
was led through an alley strewn with
garbage, dust and rags, up the rickety
staircase Of two.story hut in the rear,
into room about ten feet by eight, in
which were found three men, two boys,
two hall. naked children, large dog, a
small monkey, two bedsteads, barrel of
rotten fruit and an ex-soldier waiting with
his organ, which was in need of repairs
The windows, the panes of which were
composed in equal parts of glass, paper,
rags and shoes, looked out upon q back
yard in which was hung an abund-
IS 1,,k
judging from the appearance of the
indwellers of the house. The proprietor
blind Italian who, although he has for
years been travelling about in the country
educating monkeys in New Orleans and
California, cannot speak q word of En-
glish, introduced himself. He expatiated
in terms of warm praise, bad French and
worse Italian on the peculiar character
istics of the monkey and the unfailing ef-
feet Of his method of instruction.
The monkey was then taken out of his
box, and the old Italian having picked
up the two children aud chucked them
into corner, and rolled the barrel of rot
ten fruit over to keep them company, q
space was cleared for his performance.
The animal began, of his own accord, by
standing on his head, turning somer-
sault, and pulling the writer's walking
stick out of his hand. But the professor
seemed to reprehend this unprovoked
activity, and his pupil was promptly
brought to order by the sight of q stout
riding whip. Then, all being in order,
the monkey went through military move-
ments with gun, stood on his head,
danced hornpipe, and, after much per-
suasion with the stock of the gun, walked
the length of the room on his forelegs.
The company then adjourned TO the back
yard aforementioned, whsre the dog was
saddled, and the monkey mounted him
and rode around the place in the most
manly style. -.
The professor said it had taken him
nearly six months to teach the monkey
the tricks he knew, and he did not con-
slider him perfect yet. Nevertheless, he
would sell him to circus for $500. He
had got him from an importer of monkeys,
who had brought him from Africa. He
had recently sold several black monkeys,
Capuchins he called them, at prices rang
ing from seventy to $3.50, according to
the number OF tricks they could perform
he charged so much for each monkey and
20 much extra for each trick. He did not
think there was any profit in selling
one monkey at . time; he makes most BY
selling several together. He gets most Of
his animals from the importers; those
which are tractable he trains for shows,
circuses and organs, and those which are