46 THE POWER OF KINDNESS. ‘\ 
Kalling a monkey is always a pitiful business, for it is so much like an act of murder 
committed on a human being. Many are the travellers who, urged either by anger, 
curiosity, scientific researches, or innate destructiveness, have destroyed these animals, 
and have been so stricken by remorse at the effect of their cruelty, that they have vowed 
never to kill another monkey as long as they lived. There are several most touching 
narratives of such scenes, but they are so trying to the feelings, that I can neither bring 
myself to write them, nor to inflict such tragical tales on my readers. It were much to be 
wished that men could read the effects of their cruelty in the eyes of other animals except 
the monkeys, and would bind themselves never to inflict one unnecessary pang upon any 
living creature. Surely no wounded monkey could look at its tormentor with more 
pitiful eyes than those of the over-laden and over-driven ass, or even the neglected and 
ill-treated dog. These latter animals, too, are always with us, and need nee only the 
cessation of actual cruelty, but even the oift of human sympathies, before they can take 
their proper place in creation, and become the true servants and companions of man. It 
rests with man, who gave names to all living beings, to complete the work which God 
began in making them, and by stooping from his own superior nature, to be a protecting 
and loving providence to the beings that are placed under him. By 50 doing, man draws 
out, fosters, and develops the better nature which is inherent in every animal, and which 
would remain concealed, like a seed in ice-bound soil, unless it were brought into vigorous 
life by the genial influence of a higher being. I cannot believe that any animal is utterly 
untameable, and so totally brutish as to be insensible to the touch of kindness. There 
are many animals which are proof against the old-fashioned way of education, and which 
are only rendered more fierce and obshmeate by the tortures and blows which were formerly 
so freely bestowed on animals in course of training. But these very animals have proved 
to be sensitive to gentle and kind treatment, and, though fierce and savage towards one 
who only approached in order to torment, became docile and subdued when in the hands 
of a tender and sympathetic owner. 
The same rule holds good with human beings ; and the great and beautiful truth 
becomes daily more apparent, that severity of punishment has an injurious rather than a 
beneficial effect, and that the only true rule is that of love. 
The Grivets and Vervets are frequent visitors to our land; and being extremely in- 
quisitive in character, as well as active in body, play strange pranks im their land of 
exile. One of these creatures which resided in London some few years ago, caused con- 
siderable annoyance to his neighbours, one of whom very kindly favoured me with the 
following account of some of his misdemeanours. 
“ A few years ago, we lived next door to a lady who had a pet monkey, which was 
one of the most imitative and mischievous little beings that ever existed. His imitative 
nature caused the servants so much trouble, that he had not a friend among those of his 
own house. 
“ One day he observed the ladies’-maid washing her mistresses’ lace ; and his offers of 
assistance having been somewhat roughly repulsed by her, chattering and scolding he 
went forth in search of adventures. Unfortunately, my windows were invitingly open, 
and he entered, with the idea of washing fresh in his head. 
“ His spirit of curiosity induced him to open two small drawers, from which he ab- 
stracted their whole contents, consisting of lace, ribbons, and handkerchiefs. He placed 
these things in a foot-pan, together with all the water and soap that happened to be in 
the room, ‘and he must then have washed aw ay with ereat vigour; for when I returned 
to my room, after an absence of an hour or so, to my astonishment, I found him busily 
engaged in his laundry operations, spreading the torn and disfigured remnants to dry. He 
was well aware that he was doing wrong, for without my speaking to him, he made off 
the moment he saw me, going very quickly and hiding himself in the case of the kitchen 
clock in his own home. 
“ By this act, the servants knew he had been doing mischief, as this was his place of 
refuge when he was in trouble or disgrace. 
“ One day he watched the. cook while she was preparing some partridges for dinner, and 
T suppose that in his own mind he considered that all birds ought to be so treated, for he 
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