The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-12-16
JOE, THE CHIMPANZEE.

| There were hundreds of all kinds and
sizes, from the gigantic orang- outang to
the 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,
palms and lu1urious vines grew so Wig
orously within its walls that have no
doubt the quaint inmates supposed them
/ selves III their native haunts.
| They chattered and scolded each other,
wildly chased stray little dogs and kittens
and really seemed to know so much that
1 half believed an old keeper, who told
me the only reasons they did not talk,
was because they could make themselves
well enough understood without.
Many funny stories L heard of their
sagacity. One I recall Of nurse who
shook a naughty little boy in the pres
| ence Of some of the mother monkeys,
whereupon all the old monkeys began
shaking all the young ones until it seem
ed as if their poor little heads would
| drop of.
But, interested in all the singular u-
habitants OF the house, l grew attached
to Joe, the young chimpanzee. who had
been brought baby from the coast of
Guinea the winter before He had a
little room on the sunny side Of the
monkey house, with stove, table, chairs
and couple of beds arranged like the
berths Ill the state room OF an ocean
steamer. Besides he had IA man all TO
himself, to wait upon him; and it was 10
wonder the other monkeys were jealous
OF his superior quarters and the Difference
paid him; for while Joe was not hand
some he was worth more money than all
iAe others put together.
He was worth this great sum because
he belonged to the most intelligent and
interesting species of the monkey family,
and only only one or two of his kinsfolk
had ever been seen in Europe, while the
only one the Geological Society had ever
owned had died of lung fever before he
had inhabited his comfortable quarters
many months.
Joe was about as tall as an avemge boy
cloth roundabout, and low flat trencher
cap such as the Oxford students delight
in.
One day l walked to the door Of his
room and knocked. The keeper said
Come in, End as [ did SO Joe walked
erect over the floor to me, pulling eff his
cap with his left hand, and put out his
right to shake mine. When l said 'It
is q ine morning." he bowed briskly;
but when added, "Are you pretty well,
Joe?' he shook his head and looked very
| sober. The keeper explained: ''Joe had
cold, and that made him very low
spirited"
Joe was listening attentively; and when
the man finished, he shivered and drew
up the collar of his jacket round his
hairy throat, as to confirm the statement.
| gave him an apple, which he looked
at a moment, then opened the door of
the oven of his stove and put it in out Of
sight. Seeming to understand that the
fire was low, he pulled basket from un-
der the lower berth and took some bits
of wood from it and put into the stove.
Then the keeper handed him match
and he lighted fire as cleverly as any
Yankee boy | ever saw.
"Show the lady how you read The
Times, Joe, " said the keeper.
Joe drew up a chair, tilted it bacl,
little, spread his legs apart, opened the
sheet, turned it until he found the page
hs wanted, then settled himself into the
exact position of the comfortable Eng
lIsh gentleman who supposes The Times
is printed for his exclusive use. 1t was
impossible to help laughing, and the sly
twinkle in his narrow eye assured us Joe
himself knew how fanny it was.
Quite a crowd had gathered at the
open door of his room, and as be noticed
it, he put his hand in his pocket, drew
out the one eye glass Engishmen SO par
ticularly affect, and put it to his eye,
looking as weakly wise as Lord Dun
dreary himself. After little he grew
tired of so many spectators, left bis chair
and quietly shut the door in their faces.
Looking about as If he would do some
thing more for our amusement, he re-
membered his apple in the stove oven.
Running there lie TOOK hold of the door.
bat suddenly drew back, for it was hot.
We laughed little at his discomfort
which he took in good part, stood think
ing a moment, then used his pocket
handkerchief as deftly as dainty lady
would to accomplish his purpose. But
if the door was hot, the apple, Joe logic
ally reasoned, must be hotter; so he ven
tured lot to touch it before opening his
knife. Wondering what he was going
to do, fould him sticking the blade into
the apple, and bringing it ont in triumph
Ihe keeper gave him plate, and after
letting his apple cool little, he offered
1t to US. We courteously declined, bur
the servant tasted, explaining that Joe
did not like to eat anything alone. Then
Joe followed, but did not like the flavor, !
and being asked If II was sour, he nodded. /
We were told that he, in common with
other monkeys, liked oranges and ban
anas better than any other fruits.
Yet he kept tasting little of the ap
pie from spoon while the keeper told
us how the sailors who hoped to capture