Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-10

fashion by a spring
called Instinct We
know now that beasts
and birds have minds
and use them just as we do, the main diff
ference being that our intelligence Is Of a
higher grade. They possess certain innate
ideas and impulses, representing inherited
experience. which may be considered in
stinetive in the ordinary sense Of the term.
30 do we also. When we come into the
world. we do not have to be taught to suck
or to grasp objects. Those seem to be the
only instincts with which man is provided
at birth.
las quickly as we have dropped the no.
ton that the intelligent actions Of all liv-
ing creatures other than ourselves are d.
rected by mere blind instinct. the study of
reason In the lower animals becomes in
tensely interesting. There is established
between ourselves and them a bond of intel
lectual sympathy. as &C were. To our sur
prise. We discover that they not only think.
but talk-at all events. the birds and beasts.
We speak Of them as dumb for the sole
reason that We have not learned to under
stand their languages. In fairy tales there
Is frequent mention Of human beings who
have acquired through supernatural means
Q knowledge of the languages used by crea-
lures In fur and feathers, but IL Is possible
for any observant person to learn much of
those languages by study. The domestic
animals comprehend our tongue to a great
er or less extent. but we have not taken
pains to study their languages.
Monkey Talk.
Mr.. Garner Is alleged to have discovered
that monkeys talk. OF course, monkeys
talk, just az many other animals do: there
- nothing new In that. He is trying to
prove that they have an articulate speech,
and In his conclusions on that subject we'll
Informed naturalists do not coincide The
opinion Of science Is that man Is the only
creature that speaks articulately Some of
the apes are remarkably human-like, 1t is
true: but their relationship to mankind is
by no means close. There is no possibility
that they could be taught to use articulate
language. 1t Is even imagined, by the way
mat there was a time when man himself
was dumb animal, communicating with
sounds.
About Birds.
There Is no question Of the fact that
birds have comprehensive language of their
own. with words to express all emotions.
and to convey understanding to others of
their kind. They possess notes of alarm.
notes OF love. notes Of curiosity, notes of
pam, notes OF hunger, notes of sorrow.
notes OF JOY notes of soothing for the
young. notes for calling their fellows to-
not only Ineligible to each other. but to
any human being who takes the trouble to
make study of II. Crows when thew are
roooing a corn field, station sentinels to
watch The latter stand on neighboring
tree tops II they see a man coming they
c.y: All! ahi an? The note plainly means.
mere comes somebody! Look out nowi He
Is coming directly this way and he has a
gun! IL Is time We were offr
AZ tne alarm the flock stops eating and
ScHV wings Its way to a safe distance
GUT IN the corn field you will hear crows
excnanse questions from tree top to tree
Top. The tone of the interrogative is unmIs-
takapie They say: DO you see any one
sn,g crows are among the most in
semsent OF all birds. They soon learn how
Iar shotgun will carry and do NOT fear
tnat weapon when they are out of range A
scarecrow does not deceive them very long
AIter snort time they discover that it is
onIy dummy and will even perch upon il
contemptuously. Thus the wise farmer finds
II desirable to change the scarecrow from
Tune to time. while his crop is ripening. The
crow can be taught to talk as well as the
parrot. but 1t is merely mimicry of course
and not speech in the sense we are alluding
Canine Intelligence.
Dogs understand far more Of the human
speech than Is generally supposed. They as
sist their comprehension of what is said to
them by studying the face of the master.
II you are sitting of an evening writing or
reading In a quiet room and a footstep is
heard outside your dog will raise his head
ana MS eye will seek yours. In reply YOU
can communicate your confidence or the re-
verse far better by the expression of your
race than by words. 1t is very odd that pct
oogs VIII rarely have anything to do with
servants. though the latter may do all the
feeding. In a regiment the officers dogs
and mems dogs form distinct castles in ac-
cordance with the rank of their masters,
the quality Of breed having nothing to do
with the matter. cur that is the property
OF lieutenant will not associate with the
pest pred dog owned by private. In dog
Washington navy yard. where they seem to
Know that they are safe from pursuit.
dog Is always a close student Of the
habits OF his master. II the latter goes to
MS ONCE six days in a week the beast
knows when the holiday arrives. The hunt
ing dog eagerly watches the face and eyes
OF his owner to see II he is going to be per-
United to participate in the chase OF
course. II Is not possible to use a dog for
hunting every day. He runs thirty or fifty
umss as rar In the course of a days outing
as MS master does; So. when the hunting is
kept up day after day. the various members
OF the pack must take turns In staying at
nome. The moment that the animal up to
that moment eager and with ears and tail
erect, hears the unfavorable word he be-
comes picture of disappointment and
sinks away with his tail between his legs
Not even a human being can exhibit the
than can dogs.
Chimpanzees and GOrfllas.
speaking of the intelligence of APPS. the
anthropoids are capable of acquiring some
very surprising accomplishments, thu h
their limitations are distinct Chimpanzees
have been taught to wait on the table and
70 sweep out rooms A distinguished French
man published a book a while ago, in which
ne expressed the opinion that chimpanZees
would. sooner or later. take the place of do
nestle servants. He owned one of these
animals. which he trained to light the fire
and to wake his master when the oven was
hot. Button, in 1I40. had chimpanzce which
ate at the table. opened a napkin and en-
ployed IL rightly. used a fork and spoon,
poured out wine and clinked glasses, poured
tea and put sugar in IL, washed windows
and tried to Initiate its owner in writing
with pen.
"A young gorilla at the Berlin aquarium
slept In an ordinary bed. covering himself
with the bedclothes. and ate at table with
the keeper. He drank water from a glass,
carrying the latter steadily to his mouth
without splitting the contents, and setting
II down carefully. He died OF consump-
ton, unfortunately. This melancholy fate
seems always to attend gorilas and CHM
panzees in confinement Thus there Is not
any hopeful prospect for the plan which
mas been suggested for developing the in
teingence OF apes by keeping a number of