Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-01
MONKEYS 1ALkeD BACKWARD.
Numerous Ssientiats RevsrSSd the cy-
finders on Prof. Garner. sii-s. K

The gentlemen Of sciencx Of the
Smithsonian Institution APPRECIATE a
good joke and relish drolf situation
with rs much gnsto as they do all
the other good things of this earth,
and 1t happens that, often enough.
they see and make the most of the hui
norous and amusing aspect OF science
and its weighty problems much quick
er than the lay fraternity. For exam
pie. Prof. Otis T. Mason tells the fol-
lowing at the expense OF Prof. Garner,
whose study of the higher apes and eff
forts TO discover Il language or system
OF thought expression in the sounds
uttered by simians insgcneral. have at
tracted worldwide attention.:
Prof. Garner s-Fn. considerable
Time In study here in the Smithsonian,
said DR.. Mason. prior to the timi. he
became generally known and before he
left on his first expedition to the Cen
trai African region, there TO OBJ serve
the habits of the larger apes from the
interior OF Il cage. mad. with special
reference to the object of his Journey.
He was engaged while here in making
Il study of the sounds uttered by a
cageful of monkeys which had been
provided and placed at his disposal in
the taxidermist's quarters. in the small
frame building in the rear of the in
stitution. Here DR.. Garner studied the
simians without care or annoyance.
month in and month out. using large
photograph for recording whatever re
marks his sin,iani roommates had IA
offer.
In all that he did Prof. Garner re-
manned quiet and inconspicuous, for he
was not then ready to, announce the
results OF his Investigations. 1t hap
pened, however. that the work of this
savant proved too much for the curl
osity OF the younger scientists of this
institution. and when. they discovered
that he was endeavo,ing to shed light
on pithecan philology. there was a
general explosion of laughter all along
the line over what was. at that time.
an unheard-of proposition.
The boys, I am inclined - think,
rather looked upon GARNER asV crank
and it was not very long after they
found out what he was doing before
they were laying plans TO work off a
practical joke ut his expense. In this
they finally succeeded. E
"One afternoon the monkeys at GAR
ner's disposal were unusually loqua-
CAVuSs iiilluS one VI Ills cylinders.
which. before leaving that evening. he
arranged in the photograph ready for
4 heightened and prolonged repetition
on the following morning. But the
doctors plans went awry. EAiter he
left the boys got into his st.Jp and re-
versed the cylinder, SO that when Gar
ner arrived the next morning, set abe
photograph in operation, n volume of
sound poured forth that scared the
monkeys and cost the professor several
hours OF acute mental agony sand be-
wildernlent before he finally dis cover.st
that the cylinder had beeng reversed
and that the conversation fh;jd been
running backward.
another amusing thing Happened
after Prof. Garner became known to
the world, and that was when an en-
terprising Snowman came here evident
ly looking for him. The Snowman
was heard to remark that if lie could
get the doctor to travel throu 9Th the
country in the midst Of atcase of
monkeys, and talking monkey talk
he could make more money. than if he
had Buffalo BUS show"