The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-01-14
JOE, THE CHIMPANZEE.

When in England I was very much in
terested in the monkeys at the zoolog-
zeal gardens, Regents Park, London.
There were hundreds of all kinds and
sizes, from the gigantic orang-outang to
tiny creatures not much bigger than .
large rat. These monkeys had a spacious
glass house. heated by steam; and as a
tropical temperature was always main
tained tall palms and luxurious vines
grew so vigorously within It's wall that L
have no Doubt the quaint inmates sup
posed themselves in their native haunts.
They chartered and scolded each other,
wildly chased stray little dogs and kit
tens, and really seemed to know so much
that half-believed an old keeper. who
told me the only reason they did not
talk. was because they could make them
selves we'll enough understood without.
Many funny stories I heard of their
sagacity. One / recall of a 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 seemed
as if their pool ~ ads would drop
off
But, interested in all the singular in
habitants of the house, grew attached
10 Joe, the young chimpanzee who had
been brought baby from the coast of
Guinea the winter before. He had lit
tie room on the sunny side of the mon
KEY house. with a stove. table chairs
and a couple of beds arranged like the
berths 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 defer
once paid him: for while Joe was not
handsome he was worth more money
than all the others put together. He was
worth his great sum because he belonged
20 the most intelligent and interesting
species of the monkey family, and only
one or two of his kinsfolk has ever been
seen in Europe. while the only one the
geological society had ever owned, had
died of lung fever before he had in
habited his comfortable quarters many
months. Joe was as tall as an average
boy of eight or ten years. He Wore
thick cloth roundabout and low. flat,
trencher cap such as the Oxford students
delight in.
One day 1 walked TO the door of his
room and knocked The keeper said:
Come in" and as I did so Joe walked
erect over the floor to me, pulled off his
cap with his left hand. and put out his
right to shake mine. When said: at
is fine morning." he bowed brisklv;
but when l 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 if 10
confirm the statement. l gave him an
apple, which he looked at a moment.
then opened the door of the oven of his
stove, and put it in ont of sight. Seem
ing TO understand that the fire was low,
he pulled a basket from under the lower
berth and took some bits of wood from i
to the stove. Then the keeper handed
him match, and he lighted a fire a!
cleverly as any Yankee boy | ever saw.
"Shoy the lady how you read the
Times. Joe. said the keeper. Joe drew
up a chair, tilted it back little, spreaC
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 printed fol
his exclusive use. II was impossible t.
narrow eye assured us that Joe himsel
knew how funny it was. Quite a crow
had gathered at the open door of his
room, and as he noticed it, he put his
hand in his pocket drew out the one eve
glass Englishmen so particularly affect.
and put 1t to his eye looking as weakly
wise as Lord Dundreary himself. After
little he grew tired of so many specta-
tors, left his 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 he took hold of the door
but suddenly drew back, for it was hot
he laughed a little at his discontinue
which he took in good part. stood think
ing moment, then used his pocket
handkerchief as deity as dainty lad,
would to accomplish his purpose. Blu
If the door was hot, the apple, Joe logi
cally reasoned, must he hotter; so h
ventured not to before opening
his knife. Wonder what he was 90
ing to do, / found him sticking tn
blade into the apple and bringing il on
in triumph. The keeper gave him
plate, and after letting the apple cool
little he offered il to us. We courteousl-
declined, but the servant tasted. explain
ing that Joe did not like to eat anythinl
alone. Then Joe followed. but did no
like the flavor, and being asked if it wa
sour, he nodded We were told that he
in common with the other MONKEYS. Ek
oranges and bananas better than an,
other fruits.
Yet he kept tasting little of the appl,
from spoon while the keeper told u
how the sailors who hoped to capture hi
mother only succeeded in bringing hin
off alive after they had killed her. The,
had hard work to keep him alive OF
board ship, but found a warm nook TO
him by the galley fire. He was In fai
health when they landed, so thew oh
tanned the large price offered by tn
geological gardens; but in spite of tn
most devoted care, he seemed to Ian
guish In his new home.
'sDo you love me, Joe?" the man ende,
his story with. Joe nodded. smiled. an,
put his head lovingly on the other
shoulder. As we left that dav Joe tool
his hat, cane, and heavy wrap, and es
corted us to the great door of the monkey
house, shaking our hand as we babe hin
goodbye.
Another time when I called he wa.
taking tea, using milk and sugar nm,
handling cup and saucer as il he bat
been familiar with them from his 90 s,ies
days He motioned us to take cha. rs
We did so, and he jumped up, found
cups for MS, and then passed a plate O
biscuits, laughing with glee ~ we tool