"The Mental Life of Monkeys and Apes: A Study of Ideational
Behavior," is a document of much interest and value. Dr. Yerkes'
use of the orang-utan as a subject was a decided step forward in
the study of "animal behavior" in America.




IX

THE MAN-LIKENESS OF THE CHIMPANZEE


During the past twenty years, millions of thinking people have
been startled, and not a few shocked, by the amazing and uncanny
human-likeness of the performances of trained chimpanzees on the
theatrical stage. Really, when a well trained "chimp" is dressed
from head to foot like a man, and is seen going with quickness,
precision and spirit through a performance half an hour in length,
we go away from it with an uncomfortable feeling that speech is
all that he lacks of being a citizen.

In 1904 the American public saw Esau. Next came Consul,--in about
three or four separate editions! In 1909 we had Peter. Then came I
know not how many more, including the giant Casey and Mr. Garner's
Susie; and finally in 1918 our own Suzette. The theatre-going
public has been well supplied with trained chimpanzees, and the
mental capacity of that species is now more widely known and
appreciated than that of any other wild animal except the Indian
elephant.