Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-18
IMPORTANT INVESTIGATION.

AS we know, the theory of the evolu-
ton of man from the monkey has of late
years been greatly discredited. In fact
some two or three years ago one Of the
greatest scientific bodies in the world
practically kicked it out Of court. Never
theless. there are a good many individual
scientists" who have not been at all
downcast by that vigorous ejectment, and
in the last few months these have been
greatly encouraged to take the offensive
This encoura cement has its explanation
in the discovery somewhere in Java OF
another missing link" 1t is true that
a number of the links or bones of the new
missing link were missing. but the re-
sources of the evolutionists were equal
to the occasion. Partly out of the osseols
debris that was unearthed, but more
largely by the aid Of an enthusiastic
Imagination that evolved all the missing
links necessary, they succeeded in con-
structing TO their entire satisfaction
Simlan ancestor. Then they gave this
marvellous example of the art restora-
tive" a name, which as regards length
ponderosity, and npronounceability, any
man who wants to be descended from
monkey. ought to be proud Of as family
patronymic.
But TO elucidate this overture. There
are monkeys and monkeys. and it is well
that this proof Of the descent of man
from the monkey was not discovered
sooner; otherwise some people who want
TO trace back TO a Simian ancestry might
have been embarrassed and have become
DESTROYS of reconstructing their genealo-
gies. Now Boston investigation gives a
most valuable tip bearing upon the matter
under consideration. 1t has long been
contended that the gorilla and the CHM
panzee possessed a higher moral and in
tellectual development than was the gift
of the other Similar tribes. Last week
a number of learned men, including
Charles Eliot Norton, Professor Royce,
DR.. Everett, Professor Peabody, Dean
Briggs, Professor James, and Professor
Dolbear devoted the greater part of the
forenoons of several days 10 investi-
eating the relative intelligence Of two
monkeys" from the Boston ZOO" One
OF the animals was a chimpanzee and the
other an orang-outang. Under the pre-
viously-accepted theory of science it was
expected that the former would give evil
dence of the brighter mind. Not So how
ever. fer the advantage was all on the
side of the orang-outang. The report OF
the investigation tells us that the orang-
outang-perhaps we ought to say Mr.
g-Outang-showed grave interest in
the efforts of his distinguished hosts
to entertain and amuse him. few
minutes Of demonstration enabled him TO
ring an electric-bell as well as anybody
and he seemed to appreciate perfectly
that the sound followed the pushing of
the button in the relation Of effect to
cause. The chimpanZee, on the other
hand. proved to be unable 10 reason as
far as this and in several other ways
betrayed marked mental inferiority.
In view of the fact that. upon the
strength Of the Java find, the evolution
lists will doubtless return TO the charge
in full force. the investigation az Boston
/ must be regarded as of the greatest I'M
portance. 1t teaches that if man wants
10 be a nineteenth-century development OF
a monkey, he ought, if he has any family
pride TO claim from the orang-outang
and not from the stupid chimpanzee.