The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-04-28
AHaerspu ynteIligeueer.
An Orang-0utang in Society.

CAMBRIDGE, MASS, April l6.-One
of the most interesting experiments
that has taken place at Harvard in
years was tried on last Wednesday.
Joe, the young orang-outang, and his
companion, the chimpanzee, Sally,
now on exhibition at the Zoo, were
the guests of Prof. William James.
Prof. James had arranged a series
of experiments, in which Joe and Sal
ly cheerfully took part, all designed
to bear upon the much-discussed rela-
ton of these brutes to the human
race. The orang outang seemed to
appreciate the honor which had been
done him in inviting him to appear be-
fore the learned men of Harvard, for
he behaved with decorum and mani
tested only politely his curiosity as to
everything presented for his inspec-
ton.
Joe sat upon the knee Of the emf
nent psychologist, slid a pair of long,
hairy, sinewy arms around his neck,
looked up into his eyes affectionally
and Rugged him, while a dozen Rad
clife girls elbowed one another to get
neal them.
At the conclusion of the expert
ments Prof. James remarked that Joe
in particular seemed to display amind
of the human type, and that in his
opinion there was a greater difference
in development between the orang-ou-
tang and the dog than between man
and the orang-outang. 1t has been
established by naturalists that the
ape, which most nearly approaches
man in its organization, is either a
chimpanzee or the gorilla; therefore,
it was expected that Sally, being a
chimpanzec, would exhibit the higher
degree of intelligence, but such was
not the case. The orang-outang,
though not so alert or active as his
companion, displayed more curiosity,
a stronger inclination to initiate, and
a more marked appreciation of the re-
lation of cause and effect.
One thing above all others was de-
monstrated, that was Joc's wonderful
curiosity. It seemed that nothing,
still or moving, escaped his attention,
ard on all things he looked in the
tanner of a complacent and wistful
old man, who understood very well,
and did not worry. He was methodi-
cal in finding the origin and character
of several sensations he received, and
always when he had satisfied himself
settled back unconcernedly and direct
ed his attention elsewhere. The imi-
tative faculty showed itself strongly
in some of his doings. Butwith this,
as with his curiosity, he was persist
ent only until he found himself able
or unable to initiate; then he was
philosophically resigned to whatever
turned up next. This peculiarly in
Joe interested Prof. James most.
When the professor whistled the
orang-outang puckered up his lips and
made a rude attempt to reproduce the
sound. When a toy snake was ex-
hibited he manifested great terror,
throwing himself frantically into the
arms of lis keeper. To ascertain
whether he recognized the object as a
snake a piece of rubber hose of the
same size and Aexibility was displayed
before him, but this he regarded with
composure, and, babylike, Immediate
ly tried to put it into his mouth. The
chimpanzee, on the other hand, mani
tested little interest in either the snake
or the hose.
A plaster cast of a bust Of one of
his species was placed before Joe. He
recognized it at once, felt the head
all over very carefully, and finally, as
the highest test of his identity, tried
to taste n of his ears. When Prof.
James tried the sense of smell Of the
pair with cologne both tried to drink
the perfumery. Joe listened intently
when the prongs of several tuning
forks were struck, apparently being
moved most by the deeper tones. Mr..
Edwards, Joe's trainer, took a piece Of
chalk, and, at Prof. James's sugges-
ton, drew apicture on the blackboard.
The chalk was then handed Joe, who,
after a little hesitation, drew some
very curious figures.
One of the most significant expert
ments. perhaps, was made with an
electric bell, which was rung by press
ing a button. Joe was seated on a
small table and the bell was placed on
the floor, just out of his sight. Then
a small board with the button attach
ed was placed before him and the bell
was rung. This seemed to interest
Joe very much; he listened to the
sounds and watched the button with
grave curiosity. His. muddy brain
could not grasp at once the relation of
cause and effect here, the perception
of which is supposed by some to be
an attribute of man alone; bus after
several demonstrations he began to
see vaguely that the button before
him had something to do with the
mysterious sounds under the table.
First he tried to pull it out, then twist
it, and finally, by a chance, pressed
the button, and had accomplished one
step toward human intelligence. The
bell rang and so interested Joe that he
leaped far over and contemplated it
for some time with great gravity. The
chimpanzee could not be made to ap-
pr%eciate this test. She became quer-
ulous when the professor persisted in
trying to make her comprehend it.
Ncw York SIN.
Whisky Generally the Cause.