306 Life and Immortality. 
would be free? Could instinct teach him that the stitches 
of the strap-buckle were to the strap what the staples and 
nails were to the hinges, and that if he could but pick out 
the threads, the fastenings of the strap would be rendered of 
no effect? Neither could instinct teach him to use the strap 
after the manner of a lasso, nor to employ the poker in regain- 
ing his lost weapon. 
Not only did he thus show his ability to deal with the 
obstacles that stood in the way of his freedom, and without 
even the slightest suggestion from the mind of his master, 
but he also gave evidence that he had the capacity to profit 
by many of the civilities by which he found himself sur- 
rounded in the life in which he was placed. Monkeys are 
remarkable for their power of imitation, and Jack, as this 
Capuchin was called, proved himself to be no ordinary fel- 
low in this respect. He had seen his master eat out of a 
dish, using knife, fork and spoon when occasion demanded, 
and nothing would do but an abandonment of his old habits 
—the using of his fingers, which his ancestors were wont to 
do—and the assumption of civilized practices. In time he 
became quite skilful in the use of these table implements 
and showed greater dexterity in handling them than many 
a man has shown. Accustomed to their use, he would 
never have things any other way. The writer has repeat- 
edly been present when he was taking his meals. Seated 
upon the ground, his head and body slightly bent forward, 
with his plate of food before him, the ground serving him as 
a table, Jack would help himself in a quiet, cool and deliber- 
ate manner, all the while evincing in movement and look an 
air of the most consequential importance. To say that he 
was proud of the success which he had achieved in the correct 
use of table implements but tamely expresses the feeling 
which would dominate his bosom at such times. No human 
individual who had accomplished some wonderful discovery 
or striking feat at arms that had caused the earth to resound 
with his praises, could have felt more of the emotion than 
