The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-01-20
TO LEARN GORILLA TALK.
Prof. Garner to Establish Himself in th
African Forest in a Stout Cage.

Eroh Uarher co ESTABLISH Himself In the
African Forest in a Stout Cage.
Prof. Z. L. Garner, who has achieved
recent celebrity in connection with
the study of monkey language. is in
Washington consulting with scientific
men respecting an expedition to Africa
which he proposes to make. For some
years past he has devoted attention to
the analysis of simian speech, his pur-
pose being to produce lexicon there
of. Once having established an under
standing of few of the simpler words
used by these arboreal cousins of man
kind, he believes that it will be easv
enough to communicate with them in
telligently. Thus they may be edu-
Gated in limited degree and may be
taught to be of some service in the
world.
Prof. Garner's present intention is
to learn something of the speech of
gorillas. These great apes represent
an elevated type among the anthro-
poids; they are rapidly diminishing in
numbers, and it is desired to secure a
few last words from them, at all
events, before their kind becomes ex-
tinct. Accordingly he proposes to sail
few weeks hence for the west coast
of Africa, whence he will make his
way into the Gaboon country, where
are vast forests which afford a home
to the greatest numbers of gorillas to-
day. He will take with him a large
iron cage, constructed in sections so
as to be readily transported.
This cage is not intended to catch
gorillas in. On the contrary, it is
meant to keep them out. Prof. Gar
ner proposes to occupy it himself, hav-
ing it set up in the midst of the forest.
1t will be big enough to provide him
with room to sleep and to study. The
sections will be conveyed by carriers
into the wilderness, where they will be
put together. Prof. Garner antici-
pates that the study he has already
made of monkey. talk will be a help.
After acquiring by guess the meaning
OF few words, he will make use of
them by taking part in the howls him.
SELF BY day as we'll as by night he
will make responses to the yells and
cries of gorillas that he hears in the
woods, and he thinks that in this wav
he will be able to attract certain indi-
viduals about him. Presumably they
will be faVorably prepossessed with SO
agreeable an anthropoid as the profess
sor. and Intimacies may result which
will afford most profitable epportuni-
ties for conversation. He will not
venture out of his cage, however.
Prof. Garner will carry along with
him eight monographs and a gross of
blank cylinders. The Photographs
will be placed around the inside of the
cage, with large tin trumpets fixed to
their diaphragms and pointing out
ward. If any gorillas approach the
barred inclosure and have any remarks
to make of hostile or amatory ma
ture, the electric batteries controlling
the monographs can be turned on at a
seconds notice. and the words uttered
will be indeliblv recorded, for the
future edification of civilized lecture
audiences. Electric lights will illumi-
nate the cage and it's surroundings at
night, in order that the species of the
creatures which approach may be prop
erly identified. 1t is hoped that this
may serve incidentally to attract goril-
las.
There are no monkeys in Africa.
The simian order is represented there
by two great families of tailless apes
the gorillas and the chimpanzees.
The latter are found all the way across
the continent in that latitude. For in
telligence they are celebrated. Prof.
Garner proposes to try to learn some
thing of their language also. How
very desirable it would be if such an
object could be attainedi Missionary
societies might be organized for the
evangelization of chimpanzees. and
they in turn could be employed to dis
tribute tracts among the gorillas, which
have hitherto been so conspicuously
intractable that they are said to be the
only animals which will invariably at