The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-01-20
Do APES REASON

| observed with much apparent interest
that when the keeper entered the cage
he handled a bunch of keys, one OF
which he inserted in a paddock. The
Keeper sometimes gave him the keys
because he was so gravely curious to
examine them one by one, and often
he would strain up against the wire
to look at the paddock outside, for the
idea seemed to dawn upon him that
1t had something to do with getting
into or out of the cage.
One day Jacob managed to break the
wooden piece on the swing and this
put an implement into the hands of the
chimpanzee. The bit of tough hard
wood was about three feet long and
1t had broken SO that one end was al
most a point. DR.. Sokolovski could
scarcely believe his eyes when he saw
the ape thrust the stick outside of the
wire, push the thin end up through the
staple that held the paddock and then
pry with all his might to force 1t out.
The keeper was notified, the perform
ances terminated, and the chimpanzee
was deprived of his new tool
AS he felt his restraint so deeply 1t
was decided to give him a little oc-
casional exercise In the open, and so
one day the keeper took him out into
the garden for stroll, leading him by
small chain. 1t was great lark for
the ape and he plainly manifested his
enjoyment and all the more when they
reached fruit stall at the gate, where
he was regaled with bananas.
| He had the time of his life and the
very next day he decided that he want
ed another stroll and more bananas. He
set to work on the wire of the cage,
which was merely meant for summer
use, but was supposed to be strong
enough to hold any animal that was
| put into the cage. The chimpanzee
confined his attention to the smaller
wires that were bent around the net
work of larger wires to keep them In
place. He bit and tugged at one wire
with his strong teeth till 1t broke, and
then he uncoiled it with his fingers
end threw 1t on the ground. He treat
ed number of these wire bands in
the same way and then with his enor-
mously strong hands and arms he pull
ed and bent the larger wires till he had
cleared a hole big enough to crawl
through.
1t was high time to sound the alarm,
| but before anything could be done the
chimpanzee was out in the garden and
Jacob and Rosa were at his heels The
leader was making straight for the
fruit stand when the force of keep
ers coralled the party and forced them
! back into the cage.
This is only one series of observa-
tions among many which led DIR. Sok-
olovski to the conviction that these
animals, while less than human, are
much more than brutes. He learned
many things also from the orang-
outang, but they were not so bright
| and interesting as the chimpanzee.
One of the peculiarities of this fell
low was his antipathy for everything
human excepting his keepers. Jacob
and Rosa would blandly extend their
hands for cordial shake with the pub
lie while the chimpanzee lurked be-
hind for a good chance to snatch of
the headgear of the visitors. Spec
tacles aroused his greatest ire and he
had way Of sweeping them off the
nose with sort of backhand claw that
hurt and almost stunned the victim.
DR.. Sokolovski advises that a num-
Der of young men trained in geological
or comparative psychology be station
ed In the native homes Of these ami
mails to make a thorough study Of
them. He does not think that the
anthropoid ape was the direct ances-
tor of the human race, but he believes
man originated through some striking
| differentiation from them.
At any rate In physical structure and
in mental processes they are the near
est approach which the brute creation
has made to man. They are worthy Of
the most minute study and with the
present methods of investigation DR..
Sokolovski believes it will be possible
TO reveal their whole life and history
and to learn just what they are.-New
York Sun.