84 THE SPEECH OF MONKEYS. 



proof against gossip and their tongues are free 

 from it. 



Among the little captives of the simian race 

 who spend their life in iron prisons to gratify 

 the cruelty of man, and not to expiate some 

 crime committed or inherent, I have many little 

 friends to whom I am attached, and whose de- 

 votion to me is as warm and sincere, so far as I 

 can see, as that of any human being. I must 

 confess that I cannot discern in what intrinsic 

 way the love they have for me differs from my 

 own for them. I cannot see in what respect 

 their love is less divine than is my own. I can- 

 not see in what respect the affections of a dog 

 for a kind master differ from those of a child for 

 a kind parent ; nor can I see in what respect the 

 sense of fear for a cruel master differs from that 

 of a child for a cruel parent. It is mere senti- 

 ment that ascribes to those of a child a higher 

 source than the same passions in the dog; the 

 dog could have loved or feared another master 

 just as well ; and filial love or fear would have 

 reached out its tendrils just as far with all the 

 ties of kindred blood removed. It has been said 

 that one is able to assign a definite reason why 

 and that the other is a vague impulse ; but I am 



