HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
BROOKE'S GREAT MONKEY SHOW, 
ALEXANDRA PALACE, 1889. 
To have provided the greatest collection of Apes 
and 1 Monkeys that the world has ever known, or 
ever will know, is certainly something to be proud 
of, and to be remembered during the whole of 
one's life. 
It was with something akin to consternation 
that I received the following letter some day in 
May, 1889:— 
"Alexandra Palace, N. 
May, 1889. 
being aroused I determined to accept the invita- 
tion to interview Mr. Lee Bapty on the following 
day. 
Alighting at the Wood Green entrance I en- 
quired of the gate-keeper where I could find the 
General Manager. He asked if I had an appoint- 
ment; if so Mr. Lee Bapty is coming down the 
slope now with Mr. Walter Hill, the advertising 
contractor. 
On approaching the genial manager, I was 
greeted with the following remark, "Are you the 
Monkey Man ? If so I must ask you to come along 
to my general office in Queen Victoria Street." 
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Some of the original Keepers of Brooke's Monkey Show, Alexandra Palace, 1889. 
Dear Sir, 
If you can supply 1,000 Monkeys in about 
fourteen days time, come up and see me on 
Thursday next at eleven o'clock. 
Yours truly, 
(Signed) S. LEE BAPTY, 
General Manager." 
One thousand monkeys in fourteen days ! Why, 
the idea to my mind for the moment was prepos- 
terous and absurd. Only a thousand monkeys ! 
There was no dealer in Europe capable of supply- 
ing such a number so I reasoned, but my curiosity 
During the journey down it was explained to me 
that Messrs. Brookes, the proprietors of " Brooke's 
Monkey Soap," had entered into arrangement 
with the Alexandra Palace for an advertising show, 
to consist of at least 1,000 monkeys, and Mr. Le 
Bapty pleasantly remarked, "That's where you 
come in; you and I must see this thing through, 
and the unfortunate apes have to be found." 
I should like to mention here that after an hour's 
conversation with this gentleman I came to the 
conclusion that I had known him for years instead 
of an hour. 
