Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-07

TT Is always interesting to know Just
how much the great apes. who resemble
= men. so strongly in appearance. ap-
proach us in mental makeup.
Some men may still be heard to express
an opinion that monkeys and apes are not
intelligent at all. superficial view gen.
orally based on the fact that they are less
docile than dogs and horses, but scientific
observation tends to place the man-like
apes continually nearer to man In the
mental scale.
Professor W. t. Shepherd, of wayues.
burg College. has been making q detailed
examination OF the two well-known chin
panzees, Peter and Consul, who have de-
lighted large audiences by their exceeding
Iy human behavior on the stage. The pro-
fessor studied the conduct Of the two dis
tinguished actors upon the stage and also
held an examination Of them in private.
questioning their keepers and testing the
abilities of the actors BY personal inter.
course.
Professor Shepherds observations are
exceedingly interesting and give the two
chimpanzees a very high place In the In
tellectuai scale. The conclusions he draws
may be summarized as follows:
/. The very clever and manlike actions
Of the apes are partly accounted for by
their superior motor-equipment. so nearly
like that OF man. which enables them TO
move with speed and accuracy, to turn
quickly to seize objects with their hands,
and 10 adapt their bodies and limbs to
many different attitudes in way not pos
slble TO other animals.
2. The training which show animals re-
ceiye accounts for many OF their tricks,
but the apes exhibit an ability to do things
which could not be learned by other ami
mails, however teachable.
3. The semi-erect carriage OF the apes
IS of great Importance and enables them to
perform acts which would be impossible
to other animals.
4. There are indications Of intelligent
imitation In the mental makeup OF the
chimpanzees. q decidedly human char
acteristic.
5. There are indications OF a low form
Of reasoning or OF crude ideas In the apes.
6. There are indications Of more human
like emotions In these apes than monkeys
such as the Rhesus manifest, e. 3. SYM
PATTY and a sense OF humor. =
z. They show superior capacity for I'm
telligent reactions to that OF any OF the
lower order of animals.
g. With all allowances made, the apes
are superior In intelligence 10 all sub
humans and so are nearer to man than any
OF the other lower animals.
Professor Shepherd describes his expert
ments in the Journal OF Animal Behavior
First he examined the chimpanEee Peter
who dressed like a man, sat down to q
table, put on q napkin ard ate food with 9
knife and fork. After eating. he struck 6
match. lighted q candle. lighted cigarette
and smoked. He gave his keeper, nc
Ardle. light for the latters cigarette
from his own.
Upon command from the keeper, the app
danced on the stage fairly well, much hkl
a man. a sort OF jig-dance.
When rollerSkates were put on his fee
be skated around the stage skilfully. HI
appeared 70 skate as we'll as a girl whom
he chased around the stage.
The animal got upon bicycle himsel
and rode II around the stage. He chase
the girl around the stage while riding tn
wheel While riding he drank water from
cup handed him. Then he skilfully rod
kstween a number Of bottles and cut
sort OF figure while riding between tn
bottles. The ape picked up q bottle an
drank out OF Il while riding.
The animal rode the bicycle up an n
4.