Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-12-02
Joe, the Chipanzee.

NtHs- tih. isohhtil N'it
hundreds Of all kinds and sizes, from the
gigantic ang-outang to tiny creatures not
much bigger than large rat.
These monkeys had spacious glass
house, heated by steam; and as a tropical
temperature was always maintained, tall
palms and luxurious vines grew so vigor-
ously within its walls that have no doubt
the quaint inmates supposed themselves in
their native haunts.
They chattercd and scolded each other.
wildly chased stray little dogs and kittens.
and really seemed to know so much that
half believed an old keeper who told me
the only reason they did not talk. was be-
cause they could make themselves well
enough understood without.
MANY funny stories ! heard of their sa-
gaci,y One ! recall of nurse who shook a
naughty little boy in the presence of some
Of the mother monkeys, whereupon all the
old monkeys began shaking all the yoting
ones until II seemed as If their poor little
heads would drop off,
But. interested in all the singular inhabi-
tants of the house. grew attached to Joe,
the Young chImpanzee who had been
brought a baby from the coas, Of Guinea
the winter before. He had little room on
the sunny side OF the monkey house. with a
stove. table. chairs and a couple of beds ar
ranged like the berihs in the state room Of
an ocean steamer Besides he had a man
all to himself. to wait upon him and il was
no wonder the other MONKEYS were Jealous
of his superior quarters and the Difference
paid him; for while Joe was no, handsome
| he vas worth more money than all the
others put together.
He was worth this great sum because he
belonged To the most intelligent and inter
esting species of the moNct family. and
| only one or two of his kinsfolk had ever
been seen in Europe. while the only one the
I geological Society had ever owned, had
died OF lung fever before be had inhabited
has comfortable quarters many months.
I Joe vas about a. tall a. an average boy
of eight or ten Years. He wore a thick
| cloth roundabout, and a low Hat iTeuchcr cap
such as the Oxford students delight in.
One day walked to the door Of hi room
{ aad Knocked. The keeper SAID Come 10. Z"
/ and as did 30 Joe walked erect over the
floor to me, pulled of his cap With his left
I hand, and put on; his right to shake mine
/ When ! said 1t is a fine morning" he
I bow cd briskl, bu; when added. AN YOU
I pretty aell. Joe ?" he shook hls head and
looked very sober. Th- keeper explained .
Joe had cold, and that made him yer,
7 loV spirited"
Joe uas listening aticnti,ely and when
the man finished. be .hivcrcd and drew up
the collar Cf his jacket round his hairy
I throat, a. II 10 confirm the statement
gave him an apple. which he looked at a
moment, then opened the door Of the oven
/ Of hl, stove, aud put IL IN out Of sight,
I Seeming 10 understand that the lire was low 4.
I he pulled basket from under the lower
berth aud took soH,e bits Of wuod from il 10
I the stove. Then the keeper handed him a
match. and he lighted tre a. cleycrly a.
/ al, ankee boy ever saw
/ SHOW the lad, how YOU read The T,mcs,
/ Joe" said the keeper.
/ Joe drew up chair. tilted il back a little
/ spread his legs apart. opened the sheet.
/ turned 1t until he found the page he wanied
/ then settled himself into the exact position
/ Of the comfortable English gentleman who
supposcs The Times is printed for hi, e.
/ elusive use. IL was impossible to help
laughing. and the ,ly twinkle IN his narrow
/ eye assured Us Joe himself knew how funny
/ It was.
! Quite crowd had gathered at the open
J Ap~f tt tAAs EbNtis anu u ilt lbtEAfl IT, ilt
| put his hand in his poke, drew out the one
1 elc-glass Engllshman so particularly affect.
[ and put i, TO his eve looking as weakly wise
As Lord Dundreary himself Aftcr little
I be grew tired OF ~ many spectators, left his
chair and quietly shut the door in their
faces
! Looking about as if he would do somr-
thing more for amusement, he remembered
his apple in the stove oven. Running there
he took hold Of the door. bat suddenly drew
back, for it was hot He laughed a li,ilc al
his discontinue which he took in good part,
7 .'Ood thinking moment, then used hi,
pocket handkerchief as deftly as a dainty
lady would To accomplish his purpose. But
Il the door MAS hot. the apple, Joe logically
reasoned. must be hotter; he yeniured
not 10 touch II before opening his knife.
/ Wondering what he was going 10 DO, |
found him sticking the blade i.io the apple
and bringing il out in triumph. The keeper
gave him plate. and after letting the apple
cool a liitle he offered il to US. We courie-
ously declined, but the servant tasted, rS-
planning that Joe did not like TO eat any Z
thing alone Then Joe followed. but did
not like the flavor, and being asked if il
was sour, be nodded We were told tha,
he, in common with the other monkeys,
liked oranges and bananas better than any
other fruits.
Yet he kept tasting a little of the apple
from a spoon while the keeper told Il. how
the sailors who hoped to capture his mother
only succee led in bringing him off alive
after they had killed her They had hard
work TO keep him alive on board ship, but
found a warm nook for him by the galley
fire. lie was in fair health when they landed.
so they obtained the large price offered by
the Geological Gardens but in spite of the
| most devoted care. he seemed To languish
in his new home.
do YOU love me, Joe2" the man ended
his story with. Joe nodded, smiled. and put
his head lovingly on the others shoulder.
As We left that day, Joe took his hat.
cane, and heavy wrap, and escorted Us to
the great door Of the monkey house, shak-
ing our hands as we bade him goodbye.
Another time when called ne was taking
tea. using milk and sugar and handling cup
and saucer as if he had been familiar with
them from his earliest DAYS. lie motioned
us TO take chairs. We did so and he jumped
up, found cups for US. aud then passed a
plate of biscuits, laughing with glee as We
took one. / have taken tea with many
curious individuals, but never expect to be
so honored again as to be invited by a
chimpanzee.
Noticing his hand was feverish l found
his pulse was l30. | said "What is the
matter with him? ?"
Consumption is what kills all of them. I"
the man answered, low, just as if talking
before human invalid.
From that day Joe failed rapidly, and one
morning under the head of Great Loss. -
| The Times announced that he died at mid
night
l went down at once to see the keeper
whose grief knew would be keen.
lie told me how for days, Joe could only
| l.. 81 a., al ~ f,rft kvs saoipo h,,,, n