New-York tribune., 1908-03-30
MR.. GARNER DEFENDS HIMSELF.
Objects to Being Put in Mature Faker"
Class by Curator Smith.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: desire to speak few lines through your
journalistic megaphone apropos OF a paragraph
which find in the columns OF The Boston Her
aid" OF November y last which by reason Of long
distance and slow mails has just reached me.
The statement referred to says that I have sent
message home that am now able TO converse
with monkeys, etc. and that Curator Smith, OF the
New York Museum OF Natural History, has pro-
claimed of the nature faker' class, etc.
In the first place I beg that have sent
no message home elsewhere as 70 what I am
doing or leaving undone in the way of studying
the speech of monkeys Moreover, neither Gu
rator Smith nor curator any one else is competent
is entitled TO express any opinion upon
the subject of taking or fact until he knows more
about the subject than he is likely ever to learn
from lot of mummfed monkeys in a museum
No man engaged in original reasearch has given
to the world more substantial evidence of his per
sistence, undeniable proof Of his self-devoton
TO purpose or more careful and conservative re
ports Of his progress than I have done for nearly
twenty consecutive years. and no man is more will
ing I to have his work thoroughly ex-
amined and criticised by candid and competent
critics. but the calumnies OF croakers who only
live upon the dry bones Of information cleaned
from books that other people have written I re-
insolence
With all due respect to the profession Of zoology,
and forgetful of the fact that l have many
sincere and unseIfsh friends among them, 1 must
say that 1 know of class of scientific men VINO
those engaged in museum work and at the same
time l know of no other branch Of science in which
there Is much objectionable bigotry-
If the alleged could be induced to forego
for a time the luxuries of a library TO which he
has probabl never contributed one new fact and
place himself under my guidance for a few days
hereby commit myself the promise that l VIII
show him some new facts Of nature that he can
never learn from his kn-dried specimens and
stuffed skins ot monkeys I will convince him
that even a curator OF such does not know
everything and that his library does not contain
everything that be learned.
OF course, do not expect Curator Smith TO take
the steps here suggested. neither do l expect him
10 change his prejudices, nor even TO be more Just
or courteous IN his language. only mean 10 say
10 the same audience of my country people
through the same medium Of the press that envy
jealousy and malice the sole motives that in
spire Curator Smiths sanderous and unmnnly
erithets | have fear of his calumny defeating
my purpose. foT II the monkeys here were aware
OF il they would scarcely condescend 10 resent it,
and as 10 injuring my in civilization, have
the vanity TO believe that my reputation as
man who has conscientously sought TO contribute
new truths to science, and succeeded in SO do
ing will be familiar posterity long after the
name Of Curator Smith shall have been expunged
from, tn. roster OF euratorial grandeur.
r. L. GARNER.
American Point Fernan Vaz Congo Francais
Vest Central africa. FEB, =, Dc2