The National tribune., 1895-08-15
MONKEYS.
Many Interesting Stories Told of the
Little Animals Not Based on Facts.

The truth is that monkeys are caricatures OF
human beings The word ape. which means
man, was applied to the gorilla, chimpanzee.
orang outaug and gibboU before the Darwi nian
theory was conceived. while the word monkey
was derived either from "manikin T" or ho-
munculus," both of which mean "a funny little
man"
Men find Measure in Observing specimens OF
this great family because in them they see
grofesune counterfeits of themselves. and be-
cause, whether at play, qnarreliing. or in re-
pose. monkeys are always funny. OF all
things men like best to be amused.
The monkey suggests mana dwarfed,
weazened old man, for all monkeys seem old.
even the nursing babes in their mothers
arms. Some men are caricatures of their kind.
Certain Africans aud European type of man
display remarkable facial resemblance TO
monkeys especially TO the Cd World maca.
cues and many of the South American family.
A chacma once on exhibition in a Chicago
museum had such humanike countenance
that he constantly suggested TO visitors the
face Of some unhandsome human acquaintance.
Many tribes Of people in India. equatorial
Africa, Borneo. aud Java believe the chatter
ing grinning animals TO be real men who have
voluntarily or through comprlsion set them
selves apart from their relatives who have the
power OF speech.
Naturalists give the monkey reputation it
does not deserve by insisting that tho playful
ness and hu2or OF youth are Invariably sue
ceeded by viciousness in age. This conclusion
has been reached from study of it in captivity,
sud in temperate and colder climates cOnsnmp-
tion quicky v seizcs this child of tropic birth.
la prison il is irritable because it is sick and
dying. In its native home it becomes sedate,
serious. and dignfed with advancing years
but affords no more evidence of ugliness of
temper than does the lord OF creation in his
native condition.
Equally slanderous are the stories that have
been SO freely circulated concerning the corrupt
morals of the monkey; the vices suggested,
where they exist, having been 1sught it by
human preceptors. and not acqu.yA by IFS own
natural deprsyity.
Old Hanno, the Carthagenian, started cock
aud bull story TO the effect that certain
monkeys chased after his freebooting followers.
and peited them with sticks and stones. which
invention has come down through the ages
with notifications suit the creduity of the
successive generations.
New, as fact, man alone has recourse to
other means of otlense and defense than those
afforded by nature. Like most fables, which
travellers in all ages have had n fondness for
paming off for yeracious happenings. there is
a suggestion of n foundation for the fiction.
Baboons. which usually live in hiily countries.
when frightened, scamper of up hill at terrific
speed, and in so doing dslodge loose stones,
which may roll down upon their rursuers.
So other monkeys. which are all arboreal in
their habits will leap from branch 10 branch in
their efforts to escape from their arch enemy,
man, aud in so doing will cause dead branches
to fall upon the heads of the hunters below.
But they do not throw stones and sticks. Nor