Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-11
a PET MONKEY.
Some OF the Antics in which lie In
dulces.
-Chsmbsrsls Jonrnal.l

NV Office. in the last port where | was
stationed. looked over the sea and had
veranda outside it, which, of course, was
kept sacred I was sitting one day in my
Office chair. looking out over the bay DO
vond 20 collect my thoughts for dispatch
then in hand. when | cspied a Celestial
coming along the verandA with some dark
object in his arms the dark object show
ing Il appreciation Of the attention II Was
receiving by placing two arms Of ihordi-
nat. length round the mans neck. nat
urallyrose MP TO see what this phenomenon
was, and having Deen told that II was
rare animal | at once made Oyerturcs for
his purchase.
As soon ~ negotiations were concluded ]
fastened my purchasc-a black glbbon-to
NV copying press. instead Of sending MIN
ul To my house, being ANXIOUS 70 Introduce
him myself to ms tVo dogs and TO Joseph
the cat. | could not intrust rare animal
10 nv servants. lest the Introduction
through their agency 20 Joseph and the
rest might result in some disaster. When
! fastened the Chiffon 10 the press took no
account II the length of the animaPs
arms. and WAS therefore not little sur
ur,scd when black hand took possession
Of a red-and-blue pencil and black
mouth began 30 eat II. Nature IS SAID
in her benchceucc to instruct the lower
HflfHll- WilAi 10 eat anu VIM w hfNANa'
That no doubt applies 10 an animal IN
the wild state. such animal being directed
bv instinct whore 10 find Al antidote 70
ANYTHING deleterious which 10 may have
caien. An animal ~ captivity must. how
ever. be treated differently, and must not
be- allowed 20 do n il likes. SO reasoned,
lut A. bad no herb ready 90 correct the
EVIL which knew would result from eating
"a pencil. proceeded to recover the stolen
article. Though my now pet did not mind
being touched, though he would Jump into
your lap and make himself at home, no
strongly objected 10 part with anything
which be had once gotten mold Of, and good
deal of diplomacy lad TO be used before L
rcpO~scsscd myself of the pencil.
Scarcely WAS this fun at an end before
some black fingers were dipped into the
ink: and when the ink was removed out OF
reach the gum bottle was next turned over,
the gum being particularly appreciated.
Thinking that the animal might be thirsty,
] put saucer 81 water before him, but
though easy 10 put the saucer down It was
impossible to pick itup again, even though
there was not drop of water left IN 1t. IL
seemed tome. on refection. that had made
a bad purchase. did not clearly see how
| was 10 feed an animal that was 80 IN
tractahle. and ! had serious misgiyings
that my new pet would gIvo me lot OF
trouble and quite likely would die IN three
months Monkeys are generally supposed
20 be troubled either with hoart-dseahe or
with consumption and 70 endure captivity
for short time only. mus l had gwen
nv pibbon three months 10 live, and fully
expected that before fOur months had
passed he would he under a glass case IN
nv drawing-rO0m. am extremely pleased
10 say that at the time ] Wrlte-more than
two wears since purchased him-he IS still
alive. though | must confess 1t has not been
easy 10 rescue him from the jaws OF death
on several occasions.
At first the name Of "Sambo" was given
TO the gibbon Oh account Of Its Jet blac
color, then this was changed IN course OF
time 10 Samuel the little fellow be-
coming too res ectable 20 be called Sambo.
At the last port at which / was stationed
the lower windows of my dwelling house
were provided with IRON bars, about five
inches apart. as n protection against
thieves. These lnrs were great conVe-
nicncc to me. as | could attach sam 10
them mt meal times, thus keeping him ont
of mischief while giving him plenty OF
freedom. The question of feeding sam was
not an easy one to tackle. II we sat down
and began eating before he was served the
most noisy protests were made, and when
the saucer of rice was put down there was
no one courageous enough to recover the
empty saucer. The point was often settled
by Sam himself who, having finished his
rice. would throw the saucer into the air
few times, catching 1t very cleverly, and
then hurl 1t away from him. A wooden
bowl was found 10 answer better, but this
also received much rough usage, and had
to be repeatedly renewed.
One very noticeable feature about
Sam was his extreme jealousy. II
strOked the cat i'm his presence b. used to
get INTO "a parOXysm Of rage and make
great efforts TO bite me. lie wuuld be
almost as much vexed if lpatted the dogs.
When a guest came 10 luncheon he wns so
angry al the intrusion that he often had 10
be removed. He would absorb all the con-
vcrSatIon until removal, 1t being quite im-
possible t. keep him quiet. He had q
singular obicctiOn-he has 1t now in
"a mild wav-tO anything being re-
moved by the servants. and had he
been fastened TO my chair instead OF
the window no plate once put on the table
could have been removed. When in the
drawing room with me-and he was often
there-he would even fly at my wife if she
attempted 10 touch the tea things. At this
date he has sObcred down good deal; but
even now, though "A servant may bring me
a letter. he must not take away a reply II
Sam is with me. lie objects 10 any one
coming near me: and If my wife shakes
my coat. or even touches my shoulder, he
catches hold Of her, though now perhaps
more III play than in anger.