The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-04-07
A Field for Scientific Investigation

A Field for Scientific Investigation.
Prof. r. L. Garner is still tackling the
monkey dialect before learned and in
terested audiences in New York. Wheth-
err or not he is in search of the missing
link" on the line of the Darwin theory,
he has not, in definite terms, that we
have noticed, indicated. He believes,
however, that the monkey has a Ian
guage, and that it is possible for man to
comprehend its scope and meaning. All
animals have u means of communities
ting their wants and desires to their
kind, but whether it is such a connection
of sounds and intonations as to be intel
ligible to humans, is a matter about
which there is no light. But the Offices
ton we have to Prof. Gamers labors
and researches is that it is mere abstract
theory, without any practical bearing
upon the moral, social or industrial in
terests of this country. We do not raise
monkeys, as staple product. We could
have no use for their language If it were
decided that they had such. We have
no communication with them outside OF
the show cage, park and museum ZOO
environments. They are not part OF
the American social system, nor are they
connected with our every day affairs, to
Ill ike it paramount matter to talk to
them in their own vernacular. SO it is
only a useless abstraction to waste time
in, invacf fi0n prof
Garner is pursuing.
There is, however, an animal that is a
part of our daily life; enthroned on the
hearthstone, and sand witched between
our waking and sleeping hours. 1t has
language, and a musical language at
&that distinct in it's utterances, and mel
! lifluous in it's rotundity. 1t encompasses
the whole range of musical inventory
commands all the genufiections and in
donations from bass to alto. 1t is a Ian.
guage that we have never given research
or sought to understand. When the sill
very moon sheds it's mellow rays upoI
nature at the mid night hour and the
palpitating stars glitter like diamonds
in the blue ether above, the sweet ca
dences of this language ring out tt
soothe to repose the weary, restless soul
and bring under the Influence of ma
lures sweet restorer' the purturbet
spirit. soft in the Silly night has thu
family of Thomas cats and Pussy cats
met in delightful serenade, on the gar
den fence and rolled forth in rymtl
and measure, the changing notes of thei
unknown language; yet there has beer
no ardent investigation to fathom it
depth or guage its meaning. 1t is ;
home product-a factor in the domesli
institutional is always with us, ant
why not Prof. Garner dedicate his leisur
hours to penetrating its mysteries ant
approaching it's pathos, instead of look
ing to the jungles of Africa for a new
revelation in signs and language, pecu
liar to foreign product, and altogethe
un American?
If the Professor will only learn enough
to enable our people to speak into 81
lence the midnight serenaders as the
regale the air with the melody of thei
lingo and invent something else than tn
boot>jack to impress oar moods and de
sires upon these jewellers in the art di
vine, he will have accomplished mucl
for human progress and civilization.
Let him try the language of the Thorn
as-cat, and leave to scientists of othe
chimes the gutterel of the monkey, an
lie will prove himself friend of human
J ity if he can evolve from this nativ
mystery order and intelligence 1t is
wide field for investigation, and to it w
invite the indefatgabie Professor.