Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-03-26

The keeper of the chimpanzees at the
Zoologicaf Garden placed doll baby in
their cage the other day, says the Phila-
delphia Press The funny little men are
very fond of new playthings, are very
curious about strange object and are gen
orally rather timid approaching anything
that has a semblance of the terrible in its
make up. The doll was placed on the
floor of the cage leaning against the wall.
1t was clothed in a red dress that attracted
| the attention of the champanZees in a
moment. At first they stood at a respect
full distance and ''hOohoed" at it to show
that they had not fallen in love with it at
first sight. Then they began to stamp on
the floor to scare it away.
Finding this unavailing. the big one
dashed up to within foot or two OF the
passive baby. stamping and chattering,
but finding that the strange thing did not
bulge, she incontinently turned tail and
fled. The little one was not to be
outdone. although she was evidently
greatly in fear of it. So she took her
blanket and held it up before her while
she approached; but she did not go far.
After little the big one got up courage
enough to get quite near, SO that picking
up long straw she could tickle the new
conner under her chin. The doll never
stirred. The end of the straw was EXAM
ined and smelt of by the two animals, and
nothing specially harmful being found,
they ventured to touch it. Tbs was too
great test of courage, and both scam
pered to the top of their cage. They
could not be induced TO 90 back for some
time. but. after a while. curiosity got the
better of fear, and they returned to the
| inspection. which was mostly confined to
| sitting in front of it and making faces at
| it.
Tom Manly, the keeper. tied the figure
| to a swinging rope. He had hardly left
when they dashed to the top of the cage,
and perching on a beam. began to pull up
the rope. They then shook the rope vio-
lently. and actually laughed to see the an
tics that the red-robed individual cut up
| in its performance on the slack rope. 1t
finally slipped out from the knot and fell
to the floor, causing another stampede.
BY that time, however they had got some
what familiar with the stranger, and the
big one dragged it by the hem of its gar
ment to the box in which they sleep. They
placed it inside and at once executed a war
dance on the top. The little one stopped
her noisy sister with cuff and drew out
the unfortunate. Then, sitting on the
floor she held it in her arms as if it had
been real baby of her own. After max
ing evident fun of this soft-heartedness.
the other pulled the doll away and de-
liberately sat upon its head, striking the
body with the palms of her hands. While
she was endeavoring to regain the play
thing the dress did not long remain in
tact. After this they hauled the body
about the cage, up the tree and on to the
cross beam, and then threw it to the
ground. One piece OF the dress they used
to make neckiie. and another was turned
into head-dress. which one of them
adorned herself with before the mirror in
the corner of the cage.
The chimpanzees are doing remarkably
well, and have now been kept here for
eight months. longer than these animals
have ever been kept in this country be-
fore. They are fed on milk, sweet pota-
toes. homemade bread, some broiled
chicken. occasionally. and once in while
an orange. Their keeper believes in Civ
ing them good supply of rich TODD that
can be easily digested. A few days more
will get them through the cold weather,
and when the summer comes they can be
easily cared for. The temperature is now
kppt ut 50 deorepS