Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1883 — Dining with Apes. [ARTICLE]

Dining with Apes.

When Isabella L. Bird went to dinner at Kwala Kangsa (Malay Peninsula), the butler led in a large ape, and the Malay servant brought in a small one, both of which were seated at the table, and a Sikh brought in a large retriever and tied him to her chair. These were Mr. Low’s pets and daily companions. This was all done with perfect solemnity, and the dinner proceeded with stateliness. The apes had their curry, chutney, pineapple, eggs and bananas on porcelain plates, and so had the guest. The chief difference was that while she waited to be helped, the big ape was impolite enough (as if he had been at a picnic) occasionally to snatch something from a dish as the butler passed round the table, and the small one before long migrated from his chair to the table, and, sitting by the lady’s plate, delicately helped himself from it. She declares that it was a grotesque but most enjoyable dinnerparty, because it required no conversational effort, and her companions were interesting. All pleasure must be bought at the price of pain. The difference between false pleasure and true is just this—for the true the price is paid before you enjoy it; for the false, after you enjoy. —John Foster. Pride defeats its own ends, by bringing the man who seeks esteem and reverence into contempt.— Bolingbroke. It is claimed as one of the advantages possessed by Florida that it is south of the tornado belt.