The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-11-06
APES DO REAsCN, He SAYS.
Intelligence Of a Chimpanzee in Es-
Gaping from Cage-A Cy-
cling Ape.

An ape. reared from DaDlllooo al
the Biological Institute in Amanl,
German East Africa. has accomplish
mentS as bicycle rider. There WAS
a demand from Berlin for so gifted
a specimen of the anthropoid ape and
he has now been added to the collec-
tionS in the geological Garden OF
that city.
Perhaps it is not very remarkable
that All intelligent ape with innate
love for feats of balancing and gym
nastic stunts on the branches Of trees.
should learn to ride a bicycle. His
trainer reports that his patience and
time were not overtaxed in teaching
him to ride.
The ape was little slow in grasp
ing the idea that by working the ped
ais he could propel the machine, but
when light dawned upon him his edu-
cation as a wheelman was almost COM
plete. He is not yet sufficiently obser-
want of obstacles in the road, but he
is improving.
Just now the German public is
most interested in the studies that
DR.. Alexander Sokolovski has been
making of three anthropoid apes at
Stellingen, near Berlin His scienti-
fic speciality is geological psychology
and he has been observing the life Of
two oranguotang, male and female,
called Jacob and Rosa, and an un-
named chimpanzee. He has convine-
ed himself that these animals have
not only instinct. but also elementary
reasoning powers.
The three animals are excellent
friends. but there are marked tenn
peramental difference between the
chimpanzee and the orangutangs.
The former is full Of life and is doing
something every waking moment. The
latter are more quiet, sit reposefullv
for long. periods on the floor, and
when they attempt the swinging bar
they are slower and more cautious
than the chimpanzee, who is reckless.
He likes rough and tumble play with
Jacob, but Rosa is his favorite.
There seems to be a perfect under
standing between them and she is his
dutiful servant in many Of his origl-
nal performances.
To facilitate Dr.. Sokolovskl s
studies the keepers gave a good deal
of latitude to the three animals. The
chimpanzee especially has had his
own way to an unusual extent. He
acts more naturally when he does not
know that he is under human obser-
vation, and for hours every day he
has been apparently by himself
though watched every moment.
Some Of the most interesting re-
suits of DR.. Sokolovski's studies grew
out of the chimpanzee's desire to
escape confinement. He does not
like it, though his two friends seem
content with their lot.
They occupied part of a very
large wire cage, more than halt OF
which was used as the summer Sleep
ing place of the giraffes. The board
partition dividing the cage into two
compartments was high, though 1t
did not extend to the roof. Nobody
dreamed that the chimpanzee could
surmount this wall, but he did, and
it was one Of his three successful at
tempts to get out Of his cage.
In a corner of the cage against the
wooden partition was large box IN
which the apes slept and so heavy
that they could not move it. One
day the chimpanzee jumped up on
this box and seemed to be critically
examining the partition. He jumped
into the air again and again with
arms stretched above his head, but he
could not bring his fingers within
three feet Of the top Of the wall.
His attention suddenly became RI
veted upon a large tin globe which
had been given to the animals to play
with. It was made Of thick plate and
was so big and heavy that It was not
easy to handle. It was made for roll
ing along the ground.
Now was the tine for Rosa to help,
and she was summoned. Together
they boosted the globe upon the box
and rolled it into the corner. Here
it was kept by the faithful and intel
icent Rosa while her friend Chamber
ed up over her back to the top of the