The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-08-08
MONKEYS Ne has KNOWN
Some Of the Simian Friends Of
Prof. R 1 Garner, the Monkey
Expert
He Enjoys Their Society ana They
Also Find Pleasure in
His.
Tricks They Sometimes Play-some Of
Them Were Very Bright Little Fol-
lows-GOing to Africa.

written for The HELENA 1NpEPHNpENr.l
YNAFEW DAYS / START ON A TR1t
(t3 toths Congo region OF Western Africa
4 There ! expect to make the acqualnt-
ance of many monkeys n to study sheir
language in their native wilds. BY means
of the %phonograph l shall bring back to
Auaerisa what the monkeys say, IN their
very tones.
In this country ] am already intimate
with \ large number Of monkeys IN capt'v-
i~ty-noaksys owned by private individuals
md monkeys in public zoologioal collec-
tiens, like that in Central park. New York.
You will not be surprised whom l tell you
that / have many valued little monkey
friends among those l have used in my
studies in the past few years. Many OF
them / remember with great pleasure and l
think some of them remember me in the
same way.
Chief among them ia a little brown caIu-
chin named Dsgo. This name was given
him because he had been for a long time
with an Italian master who owned a hand
organ. Little Dago had been whipped un-
til he was very timid. but by patience and
kindness l had won his heart, and when l
would visit him he would chatter and show
every sign of pleasure; he would laugh and
show his little white teeth. and play with
my fingers. and when l would leave him he
would fret and beg for me and make such
pitiful sounds that l really regretted to
part from him. But, dear little fellow, he
was in quite poor health, and was so nerv-
GUS that great excitement would often
throw him into a fit. After a tritle more
than a year of confinement in a cage with
some other monkeys, of which he seemed
very much afraid. he pinned away and died:
and while l was sorry to lose my little
6imian friend, was not sorry that hs was
relieved from q life Of misery and pain, for
/ could not secure his permanent removal
to other quarters.
One reason why I was 80 fond OF Dago
was that I learned the first sound Of the
monkey speech from him, which l was able
to utter or define. ] feel that it WAS he
who first led me into the mysteries of the
Simlan tongue. and If l succeed in estab-
fishing an easy and certain communication
between man and the monkey race, think
all the world will remember this little
Simian with profound gratitude. and may
some day build II monument to the men,
ory of little Dago.
Another Of my monkey friends was called
Jokes. He WAS about fifteen years old. He
was born IN tho forests OF ET6Zll, Dut Aad
lived in captivity for about twelve years.
In this time he had served several masters,
and some of them had been cruel to him.
But when | knew him he had a kind master
and Jokes was fond Of him.
When l first went to see him he was very
friend y to me. but after a Gay or two
frightened him 90 that for weeks he ives
SfSFtd. But We finally became good friend.
Then he would eat from my hands and ia k
and chatter with me. He liked to have mt
his back and blow smoke in his
face. Jokes is a very bright monk, and
one of the largest of his kind. From him 1
lea: ned many things about his race and
sp~ech. After we "Inade up he seemed
glad to see me and sorry to part. and l no. Q
some day to meet him again. l have men.
toned him in q former article, in which l
have described some of my experiments
with him. Jokes did not like children, es-
pru.uLy bo s. l think this was because
thty ease him-I know that the sight of q
boy aiwa ! reused his anger.
Then here was dear. little, bad Jack. who
had q oou home in n family of five or six
child en-, most of whom were grown, and he
was indeed u pet. lie seemed especially de-
voted TO his mistress and one of her daugh-