The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1881-03-11
Joe, the Chimpanzee.
MRS. A. s. DOWNS.

w ntn III EhslSnu L WdS Very
much interested in the monkeys at
the geological gardens, Regents
park, Londou. There very hun.
dresls of all kinds aud sizes, from
the gigantic orang.outaug to tiny
creatures not much bigger than a
large rat. These monkeys had
spacious glass house, heated BY
steam; and as tropical tempera.
ture was always maintained, tall
palms and luxurious vines grew so
vigorously within its wall that |
have no doubt the quaint inmates
supposed themselves in their na.
tive haunts. They chattered aud
scolded each other, wildly chased
stray little dogs aud kittens, and
really seemed to know SO much
that | half.belieyed an old keeper,
who told me the only reason they
did not talk, was because they
could make themselves we'll enough
understood without. Many funny
stories heard of their sagacity.
One | recall of Il nurse who shook
n naughty little boy in the presence
OF some OF the mother monkeys,
whereupou all the old monkeys be.
gan shaking all the young ones un.
ill ii seemed as ii their poor little
heads would drop of.
But interested iu allthe singular
inhabitants OF the house, grew
attached to Joe, the young chin
panzee, who had been brought Il
baby from the coast of Guinea the
winter before. He had a little
room Oh the sunny side Of the
monkey house, with u stove, table,
chairs aud couple of beds ar
ranged like the berths in the state
room OF an ocean steamer. Besides
he had u man all to himself, to wait
upon him; and it was no wonder
the other monkeys were jealous of
his superior quarters and the de-
terence paid bilu; for while Joe
was not handsome he was worth
more money than all the others put
together. He was worth his great
sum because lie belonged to the
most intelligent and interesting
species of the monkey family, aud
only one or two of bis kinsfolk has
ever been IN Europe, while the only
one the geological society had ever
owned, had died OF lung iever be.
fore he had inhabited his conforta.
BILE quarters many months. Joe
was as tall as an average boy OF
eight OF ten years. He wore a thick
cloth roundabout aud low, fiat,
trencher cap such rs the Oxford
students delight in.
| Que day | walked TO the door OF
bis room aud knocked. The keep.
er said "Come iD,' and as | did
so Joe walked erect over the floor
to me, pulled of his cap with his
left hand, aud put out his right to
shake mine. When | said: at is
a fine morning. he bowed briskly |;
but when | added: care you pet.
~ well, JoeW he shook his head
aud looked very sober The keep.
er explained Joe had a cold, and
that made very low spirited" joe
was listening attentively aud
when the man had finished, he
shivered and drew up the collar OF
his jacket round his hairy throat,
as if to contirm the statement. |
gave him all apple, which he looked
at moment, then opened the door
of the oven of his stove, and put it
in ont of sight. Seeming TO under.
stand that the fire Was low, he
pulled q basket from under the
lower berth and took some bits OF
wood from 1t TO the stove. Then
the keeper handed him match,
aud he lighted a fire as cleyerly 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 back
u little, spread his legs apart,
opened the sheet, turned it until
he found the page he wanted, then
settled himself into the exact posi-.
ton of the comfortable English
gentleman who supposes the Times
is priHted for his exclusive use. Ii
was impossible to help laughing
and the sly twinkle in his narrow
eye assured us that Joe himself
knew how funny it was. Quite q
crowd had gathered at the opeI
door of his room, and as he noticed
1t, he put his hand in his pocket
drew out the one eye. glass English
men SO particularly effect, and put
it to bis eye looking as weakly
wise as Lord Dupdrery himsell
After little he grew tired of Sc
many spectators, left his chair ami
quietly shut the door In their faces
looking about as ii be would dc
something more for our amusement
, he remembered his apple in tn,
+ stove oven. Raining there he tool
/. hold of the door, but suddenly
| drew back, tor it was hot. III
B laughed little at bis discontinue
which he took in good part, stool
0 thinking y moment, then used hi'
. pocket.handkerchief as deity az
3 dainty lady would to accomplish
. his purpose. But ii the door wal
1 hot, the apple, joe logically rea
7 soned, must De hotter; so he yer
4 ..a..l..s. ~ tL...l IA l,af.ra npp n