Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 223, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1911 — APE DISLIKES GIBB [ARTICLE]

APE DISLIKES GIBB

Simian Protests Against Wearing Guard’s Uniform. -Keeper Baldy" Begins to Disrobe In Tree as Big Crowd Follows and Cheers—Balked at Anaconda and Pythons. Mew York.—Keeper Baldy is the newest name for Baldy,, the smartest ape in ths zoological gardens in Bronx park. This intelligent simian appeared in the regulation keeper's uniform—cap, blue suit, white collar and shoes —the only departure being a large red necktie, which flowed below his chin And everything fitted the ape. for his suit was made to order by a well known clothing house on the same model used for the regular attendants in the park. A tailor made a special trip io the park to take his measure, and the only trouble Baldy caused was through his desire to investigate the tape measure. ; Baldy did not balk when Engelholm his keeper, and Charles Snyder, who Is in charge during Mr. Dltmars’ ab sence, were putting on the “glad rags"; that is, he did not protest until Snyder tried to put on his shoes. As fast as one was slipped on he would unfasten the other and send it sailing through the air, to the detriment of numerous glass Jars and window panes. He pulled back again when the white collar was adjusted about his neck.

When all was ready for Baldy to be escorted from his room In the private house one last touch was given to his toilet to make him a swell. His cap bearing the gold letters “N. Y. Zoo logical Society," was set jauntily on one side of his head, and then Snyder and Engelholm Assayed into the open with the new keeper. Instantly *a crowd gathered, and Baldy had fully a thousand persons following him about the grounds while he was being Introduced to the other inmates. It was the first time in the history of the boo that an Inmate had ever paid his respects to his neighbors. AU went weU until Baldy became frightened at the big anaconda and the regal pythons in the reptile house. He screeched and puUed so hard that his hat fell off and his collar worked Itself up to bis eyes. He did not like alligators, either, and was shortly taken out of the house. Then he became possessed of seven devils of misrthievousness, and with a sudden tug he escaped from the two keepers, hopped on to a fence and the next minute had grabbed the lowest limb of a small tree and swung himself up to it From his perch he grimacingly surveyed the crowd below. All the coaxing of the keepers failed to make the ape come down. They were afraid his new tailormade suit would be torn to pieces. Baldy took off his hat and examined it closely. He liked the gold lettering on it. Then he gave it an awful bang on the tree limb, and the keepers expected to see its crown drop out The large crowd roared with delight Horrors! Baldy suddenly felt the desire to do one of his giant swings on the tree limb. “Good-by coat” said Engelholm. “Good-by, trousers," said Snyder. Baldy heaved one way and then another, kicked against the tree with his new shoes and did such fantastic stunts that the clothes were strained to the utmost He unwittingly let one leg hang down. Snyder grabbed tt, and then Baldy came down with the tug. He was brushed off, his suit was examined to see if it had been torn ahd he was led around to other cages. He was captured none too soon, tor he was about to begin disrobing. Leaving the crowd that had formed behind him, the ape visited dozens of the inmates of the Zoo. He pulled the tail of an aoudad, scolded in piercing walls the bears as they lined up' to have a look at the unusual keeper.