BABOON AS SIGNALMAN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3491, 20 May 1920, Page 6

BABOON AS SIGNALMAN.

i A FAITHFUL FRIEND. When the idea. of the evolution of higher from lower forms of life oc‘curred to Darwin, he saw and noted that, if proved, it would change the ‘whole philosophy of life and nature !—including metaphysics. V 7 The baboon “Jack,” who with uni failing success worked the signals: for (nearly eight years on the Uitenhage line in South Africa, and pert'ol'med within the capacity of the genius homo, affords the strongest and most ,direct evidence yet adduced in sup{port of the Darwinian theory that I ihave read (says Maurice L. Johnston, writing in the “Saturday Review.”)' 3 James Edwin Wide, a. railway Nguard, being crippled by the loss of both legs below the knee. became :1 signalman about 1880. One day he saw a half-grown ‘baboon for sale, and purchased him in order to have an (amusing pet. ‘Japk” proved an apt 'pupil and an extraordinarily faithful _and affectionate friend. He learnt in a year or two to work the levers of the train signals. Anticipating his master after a short observation, he would -hand the key of the signal-box to the engine—drivers_, and afterwards place it ion the acustometl nail, the signal to do so being the sounding of the locomotive whistle four times. His master, being a cripple. was wont to travel upland down on the railway by means of a trolly. This trolly Jack would adjust on the rail, and then push. When his master left. it, Jack [would remo‘.'e the trolly from the I'Elil.~‘ and replace it. against the side ‘of the station. Jack came to know each of {fll(‘]CV(‘l‘S.tllld the one he *.\'a:< to pull the “distant” signal three-quarters of la. mile off with ease. On more than ‘one occasion when his nirzster had ‘fallen and injured himself, Jack took 'over all his duties till he recovered. VVhen Mr. \Vil(Te cultiv:netl his little ‘patch of garden ground, hobbling

[about on his stumps Jack would assist him by cm-rying away the rubbish. He worked the pump for irrigation. “He loved his master so dearly that-Pool‘ fellow———he _worked himself almost to death and pumped sometimes until he fell exh-aus4ted. When his master was I'esting’Jack would gently stroke: his face or his hand, and with a touch as light as :1. "'\\"oman’s brush ‘specks of dust off his clothes.” When the baboon first began to work the [signals on the Uitehage line “passengers raised a strong protest on ‘the score of risk by accident‘, but. never once was Jack known. to fail throughout a period of nearly eight years.” He died at about the -age of 11 years (nine of which was spent with Mr Wide) from t.ub“el'cul-Jois. Ml‘ 'W3de.; who cannot even now refer to him memory wiihout tea7l:s—~thoug'll. it is nearly 30 years his <lemise—is sfill living. I