The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-09

NEW YORK, Oct. 8.-Esau, the man
ape, made his New York debut yester-
day afternoon at the Victoria hotel, in
the presence of ten physicians, twelve
reporters and a humor1st. He is a
baby, according to his friend and in
structor, Capt. De Lancier, although an
infant sufficiently sophisticated to
drink claret punch and to wear dress
suit with more or less grace. He is
three and a half years old, and he has
a gold tooth with a diamond in 1t.
Esau talks in high caste chimpanzee.
If he had the opportunity he would sell
his birthright for bottle of claret. The
sight of red wine causes him to smile
from ear to ear.
He. appeared yesterday afternoon in
dress suit of the same cut as that
affected by his trainer, for both have
visited Chicago. He was a little
drowsy at first, a fact which, Mr.. Louis
B. Beck, his director general, explain
ed, was due to the fact that he had re-
Gently come from Philadelphia.
In appearance Esau is strangely hui
man. The ChimpanZee has the same
number of bones as a man; his fea-
lures, with the exception Of the nose,
which is rudimentary, are fairly well
developed. His forehead is unusually
high for an animal, and the fact that
he has brain power was demonstrated
by many tricks and feats which he per-
formed. His nearness to the human
family was shown by his appreciation
Of stimulants and by the longing
chances which he bestowed upon cigars
and cigarettes.
Built to Walk Erect.
Esau is about four feet high and
walks practically erect. The physicians
who examined his knees said that the
formation of the patella indicated that
he was intended to walk in an upright
attitude. He sat in chair, whispered
confidential remarks to his keeper, ate
a banana with a knife and fork, poured
out his tea and spoiled the decoction
of the fragrant herb with sugar and
cream in the most approved Occidental
style. The creature used a napkin,
placed his knife and fork methodically
on his plate when he had finished his
repast, and then picked his teeth with
his elbow on the table, just as some
men do in boarding houses.
Capt. De LANCER is authority for the
statement that Esau can say papa"
when he has a parrot for a linguistic
pacemaker. The explorer has taken
some records of chimpanzee talk, and
he says that when the photograph is
working Esau carries on conversa-
ton with the cylinder in his own lam
guage. The creature is little tongue
tied. He utters sound which sounds
like well" well" whenever he sees
anybody who strikes his attention.
Of the company which attended his
reception yesterday a humorfst seemed
most to impress Esau. He struck the
purveyor Of fun upon his ample waist
coat and repeated the blows with both
hands, chuckling all the while, until
the man was constrained to get out of
range. The remark that Esau had sold
his birthright for a mess of potash is
said to have precipitated this attack.
Has Decided Taste for CIaret
Much distress was experienced by
member of the medical profession
when he saw the chimpanzee drink
claret punch with every evidence of
enjoyment.
1T perceive" said he to the captain,
that you are teaching him the use of
two bad adjuncts of civilization-rum
and toothpicks, suggest that cold water
is sufficient.
"The fact is" replied the captain,
that he needs a little stimulant of a
mild kind in this climate. / hall not
permit him to fill a drunkard's grave"
Esau left his chair and fastened to a
table, where there was large bowl of
punch, and held UP a cup for a supply
of the liquid. He received about two
teaspoonfuls, which he drank in haste.
He then gave costume imperonations
Of Mr.. Dooley and Mrs. Carrie Nation.
Shows His DisIikes Plainly.
After his performance he held an
afternoon tea and reception. Esau
shook hands with all, with the eXcep-
ton of two or three persons whom he
seemed to dislike at first sight. When
the humorist took a seat by the chin
panZee's chair Esau devoted himself
exclusively to him. He patted the re-
splendent waistcoat, placed his arms
around the mans neck. stroked his
hair, slapped him on the shoulder, and
occasionally spoke volubly in the SIM
ian patois. When his new acquaint-
ance rose to depart Esau shook hands
with him several times and waved
farewell. It Is the belief Of the cap
tain that Esau can be taught to speak
English in time
Esau was captured in the Congo
Free State when q baby, in the sum-