New-York tribune., 1901-08-18
THE CITY'S APES
IN BRONX GEOLOGICAL
GARDEN TAUGHT TO PERFORM
IN PUBLIC.

an effort is now being made to render il vastly /
more interesting to the general public by train |
ing some of the more intelligent animals "A
start has been made with one big orang-outang, |
/ Raiah by name. He made his first public ap-
pearance last Sunday afternoon to the great
pleasure of the two thousand visitors who hap
pened 10 be near the temporary headquarters
Of the monkey colony.
II is rather unusual for a public ZOO to pay
any attention to the Development of animals
| for show purposes The keepers are usually
too busy to undertake the training of the beasts
under tn r care. few simple tricks may be
developed but anything approaching a regular
/ public performance has been left to the animal
shows. \ few weeks the keeper in charge
of the Bronx Park monkeys decided to expert
ment with the orang-outangs. of which the park
/ row has five. number greater 10y four than
/ the similar holdings of any other ZOO RaJah'
who is one of the most intelligent of the quiH-
trt has already attained sufficient skill IN the
art of entertaining to warrant his public eX-
hibition and two others Of the species are being
rehearsed. 1t is GoubtfUl if New-Yorkers will
ever see free shows of trained lions perform
ing bears and educated snakes at The Bronx
rnena gerie but the ape show is certainty.
Just how far will go in training our
o,an,s." said Director William I. Hornaday to
"A Tribune reporter, lis hard to say. II depends
somewhat upon the interest which the public
takes in the exhibitions and still more on the
oraug -outanss themselves. The trainer has
succeeded wonderfully well with Rajah. and is
working with one or two others. do not wish
To- say anything about these others until We
know just what they can do"
EIucat,d chmpanzo,s arr no longer nov
,lty. for they can De- easily trained to perform
MANY Interesting tricks The orang-outang,
however has generally ben passed over by
trainers Ills miud does NOT work s." rapidly as
th, chiuIauz,e's and usually H. is not fond Of
masking au exhibition ~ himself in any pre-
sorin,d Way.
KaJah WAS selected for the initial experiment
ar Bronx Patk because of his demonstrated
qualities # patience. kindness and affection
H., never fails L" recognize Keeper Monzie' and
shows his affection for him in many ways. He
insists on shaking hands every time the keeper
comes near his cage. aL4 has never been known
to -uaf. al any one lie has been at the park
t..o months and iu captivity only a little longer
ID, .t.s captured hy thr natives of Borneo. who
found him iu a tree separated from the rest oil
th, forest. IL Was traded and sold several
times hcfor. he reached Singapore. where
work animal dealer secured him.
when the park authorities decided TO make
Kaiah a protest. ,nal. tailor was sent Tor ana
"A fun suit ordered. The measurements were
taken by Mr. Dittmars one Of the curators
and the tailor made full suit Of clothes as
X.u AS a neglicec shirt. The order did not in
. clule und,rclothcs. for Hajah Is still too much
/ OF a barbarian Neither were pajamas ordered
as th, orang would probably refuse TO sleep IN
them When the clothes were finished RaJah
tried them on and. II course. they did not mt
But like many Euglishmen. the orang did not
seem 10 care whether they fitted or not HIS
keepers did. however and ext nslve changes
were, mad. While they were under way he
/ showed "A patience that VAS more than human
not once during the long operation did he jab-
ber in oranEcs- that he would take his trade to
/ a better tailor next time.
The use of a knife and fork came as naturally
| 10 him as though he had handled them all his
/ life lie even showed that he would rather eat
/ from a table than from the floor Of his cage
/ After several rehearSals in private RaJah was
ready for his first public appearance.
/ ON top Of the open air ape cage "A platform
! was built and there Hajah was taken by his
/ valet In full view Of a noisy crowd he sub
/ mittcd To being dr -sscd To the extent of n
/ collar and necktic lie unconcerned
about his dressing act as ever a French actress
! was in "A stage disrobing scene. He was helped
! into "A chair at "A table. and waited until the
/ cloth had been spread He did forget To say
/ grace but his audience did not notice the over
! sight He ate a cup of custard with spoon.
and smackcd his lips. The last can be par