Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-01-24

sist, bon vivant, raconteur, etc, is
with us. Society is agog, and the
members of the 400" are already con
sidering means of extending their
charmed circle in order 10 make
room for this most desirable acquisi-
ton, the human baboon. Scientists
also are much excited over Mr.. Coco's
arrival on these shores. AS for Mr..
Coco himself, he is nonchalant, and,
barring a slight attack of seasick-
ness, which Will have passed off, it is
hoped, by the time this paper is be
ing read is already quite at home in
America. For he is a man of the
world, is Nj. Coco. accustomed to be.
ing courted, stared at, commented on
and pondered over. He is a great
parsonage and he knows it,
Mr. Coco's chief claim to distinction
among his fellows lies in the fact that
he can write his name unaided, guild
ing the pen himself gracefully over
the paper He can also wear clothes,
stand on his hind legs, shake hands
and. what is more wonderful, appear
interested under the most boring cir.
cumstances. All of which proclaim
him a wonder of the age.
In St. Petersburg the car of Russia
declared that he had never seen
anyone like Mr. Coco. In Paris the
most prominent personages were at a
loss to find words to express their adj
miration Of him, and said only: La.
"a, LAT" In London King Edward him
self admitted that Mr. Coco simply
overwhelmed him with surprise and
changed autographs with him 1t has
been everywhere the same, and if Mr..
Coco does not repeat his European
triumphs in America it will surprise
all who know him.
Mr.. Coco is but 4 years of age,
therefore his precocity is tremendous.
He is not yet full grown, but he has
achieved a set Of whiskers that would
make a popuist growth look like a
moved lawn. Also he is married,
and leaves a wife and son behind him
in Berlin. Impossible, you say? True
prised and incredulous concerning this
statement of Mr.. Coco's family af-
fairs, however, if you were told that
he is a monkey.
Yes, Mr.. Coco is a monkey, a ba-
boon, and quite the most remarkable
OF his species, or. for that matter, of
all the monkeys that-Or, rather, who
have ever appeared in public. He is
the first baboon to achieve distinction
for his attachments and his advance
ment has opened the eyes of animal
trainers the world over.
Sultan, Consul, Joe, Mr.. Crowley
and other clever monkeys who have
been seen in this country have been
chimpanzees and it has always been
thought that they were the most
arenablc to education. The babOon,
while possessing a certain degree of
intelligence. has never been regarded
as a possible prodigy among apes.
But when Coco was captured in the
wilds of south Africa two years ago
and taken with a lot of other monkeys
10 Berlin It was noticed that he was
unusually bright His face had an in
telligent expression that presaged an
ability to learn. and the trainer who
took HIN IN charge soon found his
expectat4 1ns war7 more than realized
Coco was early taught to wear
clothes and he became so much at
achcd to the habit that he insisted on
having them ON at all times instead
of being glad to be relieved of them.
He also took the practice Of eating
with knife and fork most naturally
and soon would not take his food in
any other way. 1t was after he had
given such signs cas- these that the
trainer conceived the idea Of teaching
Coco to write.
No one need be told that no monkey
had ever learned this accomplishment
before and the trainer was ridiculed
when he announced his intention of
making a penman of Coco. But after
The animal had been taught to hold a
pen in his hand, While his trainer
guided it over the paer it was not long
before he began to practice for him
self At last, after about seven months
Of practice. he has learned to write
his name legibiy.
Coco's most remarkable attribute
aside from his ability to write his
name, is his love for music. At the
various theaters and music halls
abroad where he appeared he would
sit during she whole performance in
he wings, when he was not giving his
own exhibition and listen to the tune
played by The orchestra and sung by
the actors, The sound of a piano, or
gan or any musical instrument seems
To thrill him and he win close his eyes
and listen 10 every note with the
keenest appreciation.
ON tho Kaiser Wilhelm II. which
ship had the honor of Transporting Mr.
Coco 10 America, the intelligent ba
boon spent most Of his time, waen not
engaged in fighting off seasicllness, in
/ The saloon. close beside the orchestra
He would show the greatest objec
( tons every time his manager tried &C
make him coWe away from the music
Mr. Cocy's visit 10 this country will
NOT result, as many fear, in his writ
ms book giving his opinions Of
mortals. Nor will he, It they car
prevent II. put his musical talents &c
rt-a Eva f.,vrft, ,,,,+ .kc -cC~o If any