The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-04-09
OHIMPANZEES AT PLAY.
The Fear They Felt at Doll-B Baby and
Their Subsequent Vandalism.

The Keeper of the chimpanzees at
the Geological garden placed doll
baby in their cage the other day. The
funny little men are very fond of new
playthings, are very curious about
strange objects, and are generally rath-
er timid in approaching anything that
has semblance of the terrible in its
makeup. The doll was placed on the
floor of the cage leaning against the
wall. 1t was clothed in ared dress, that
attracted the attention of the chimpan-
zees in a moment. At first they stood
at respectable distance and '.hoo-
hood 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 unavail-
ing, the big one dashed in to within
foot or two of the passive baby, Jump
ing and chattering, but, finding that the
strange thing did not bulge, she incon-
tinently 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 be-
fore her while she approached; but she
did not 60 far. After little the big
one got up courage enough to get quite
near, so that, picking up long straw,
she could tickle the newcomer under
her chin. The doll never stirred. The
end of the straw was examined and
smelt of by the two animals, and moth
ing specially harmful being found, they
ventured to touch it. This was too great
a test of courage, and both scampered
to the top of their cage. They could
not be induced to go back for some time,
but, after awhile, curiosity got the bet
ter of fear, and they returned to the in
spection, which was mostly confined to
sitting in front of it and making faces at it.
Tom Manley, the keeper, tied the
inquire to 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 violently, and actually
laughed to see the antics that the red
robed individual cut up in its perform
ance 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
garments to the box in which they sleep
They placed it inside and at once exc
cuted "A war-danee 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 making evident fun
of this softheartedness, the other pulled
the doll away and deliberately sat upon
its head, striking the body with the
palms of her hands. While she was en-
deavoring to regain the plaything the
dress did not remain intact. After this
they hauled the body about the cage,
up the tree, and onto the cross-beem,
and then threw it to the ground One
piece of the dress they used to make
necktie, and another was turned into
head-dress, which one of them adorned
herself with before the mirror in the |
corner of the cage.
The chimpan2ees are doing remark |
ably well, and have now been kept here |
for eight months, longer than these an
imals have ever been kept in this |
country before. - Ptiladelphia Press,