Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-22
oUADRuMANoUs coNvERsATIoN.

The special article by Prof. Garner,
which is published in this issue, giving an
account of his experiments in testing and
initiating the forms of speech used by
monkeys is interesting and important
Critically it is possible to remark that
Prof Gamers assertion that animals have
certain forms of speech with fixed values
to the respective sounds, is announcing a
discovery which the lovers of animals
have known for ages. The deg and cat
not only have sounds to communicate
ideas among themselves, but they use
them to convey their sentiments, at least,
to man. While as to the simian race the
studies of naturalistS in the native haunts
of the animals have long established the
fact that they can discuss projects, issue
orders and act in concert to accomplish
desired purposes.
This, of course, does not detract from
the value and importance of Prof. Gamers
efforts to determine the exact sounds which
express certain ideas, and to learn how to
communicate them to the apes. In this
respect he is developing field of scien-
tifc investigation in which he is clearly
the original leader. While he has not pro-
ceeded very much further than the ordi-
nary lover of animuls has with the sounds
that express the sentiments of the domes-
tic animals, each step opens up vast field
of possibility.
In one respect, however, Prof. Gamers
theory Of what may be accomplished by
the study of the speech Of monkeys sug-
gests an earnest protest. That is the
thought that by learning to communicate
with the simian tribe mankind can aid the
lower race along the slow path of develop
ment There seem to be adequate objections
to this from both points Of view. In the
first place, the position of tutor to family
of gorillas would be very undesirable
one, especially when discipline and correc-
ton might be necessary to enforce the
instruction. But the obvious drawbacks
which suggest themselves from the human
side are not more important than the moral
question that could be raised from the
standpoint of the monkeys.
There is every reason to fear that if the
human race should learn the simian Ian
guage and undertake the task of instruc-
ton, the quadrumana would in time learn
to use language after Talleyrand's fashion,
to conceal thought. They might attain to
the perversion which the Honhymhyms
thought so incredible of Saying the thing
which is not.' At present we have every
reason to believe that what there is of mon
key talk is employed with sincerity and
veracity; but the instruction of their hu-
man elder brothers would introduce them
to lying, cozening. SANDER and false doc
trine of all shades. If developing the
gorillas would be risky task for the hu-
man instructor, it must also be said that in
the point of honesty and frankness the
gain would be very questionable for the
four-handed pupil
We wish success to Prof. Garner in
studying the monkey language; but he
should be careful about rashly essaying
the job of developing" his pupils. He
might turn the Barbary ape into ward
politician and the chimpanzee into the ed
itor of political organ, and if the mon
keys could realize the real meaning of the
change they would never forgive him.