The talking machine world (Jan-Dec 1908)

8 THE TALKING MACHINE WORLD. TO MAKE A STUDY OF MONKEYS. Prof. M. E. Haggerty, the Harvard Exponent of Animal Psychology, to Spend the Summer Amcng the Simians at Bronx Zoo — Will Live in Their Quarters and Take Phonograph Records — Has no Hcpeof Discoveri ng Speech. In order that those young gentlemen at Harvard who are gleaning bright shoots from the fields of biology, zoology, psychologv-, sociology and morality may learn in how far they have developed beyond our common Simian ancestor, • Prof. Melvin E. Haggerty has installed himself in the Bronx for the purpose of a summer's observation of Dr. Hornaday's four-handed guests in the monkey house. The east room in the Simian pavilion has been fitted up with elaborate appointments to assist Professor Haggerty in his observations. There he will spend many hours each day getting a line on the monkey stream of consciousness, the basic concepts of the baboon with the bobbed scut and the aestho-physiologj' of the ring-tailed roarer of the African jungles. Monkeys have been observed before in the interests of science. Dr. Garner once went among them and returned to the civilized world with an alleged conversation chart that set many beards a-wagging and brought down upon the scientist one of the earliest charges of nature faking. Professor Haggerty, however, does not extend any hope of learning monkey talk. He will take phonogi-aphic records of their jibber, but not with the idea of reducing to a vocabulary. He is more interested in the relativity of relations and the functions of the Simian nervous systems. Day by day the savant will take copious notes on the monkey's loves and hates, his pains and pleasures, the acute tactile apperceptiveness of the baboon periphery, etc.. so that when he returns to the elm-shaded corridors of learning at Cambridge he may be able to tell the boys whether or not there is much of the monkey psychology left in their varied make-up. Director William T. Hornaday was very indignant at the report that Professor Haggerty would start light housekeeping in the Simian shed with a view to getting down to a sociological level with the big and little monks, thereby-winning their confidence and overcoming their instinctive modesty. Some scientists have urged that the monkey represses his real self in the presence of his tail-less brother, and if we could only get down to their plan and make them perfectly at home with us we would find them possessed with an intellectuality we never dreamed of. But this theory is not held by Professor Haggerty. He does not believe that the psychic development of the monkey is very high, though there are many close lines of resemblance between their instincts and eccentricities and man's. Their dispositions and temperaments, he expects to find, are still very close to the fundamental organism that prevailed in the Age of Ab. They have developed from the protozoon as we have developed that vague missing link that Darwin shed the first light on. It was a far cry from the first rigadoon of a protozoon to the monkey; in fact, a much further cry than from monkey to man. But there are puzzling gaps that science desires to fill in. In the east room of the monkey house, where Mr. Haggerty will make his headquarters, many scientific instruments are being installed. There will be tables for the educated chimpanzees and flying rings for the common baboons. The Harvard savant desires to get the monkeys' legs at every possible angle of action and repose. He will study them for hours when they seem in a state of profound reflection and test the development of their attention, the infinitesimal length of their sustained thought; dope out what excites their rage and impels their expressions of jc}-; try their passion for music with fiddle and bass drum, with cymbal and brass. Can a monkey appreciate Wagner? Will he lay down and die or leap joyfully to the melody of the Merry Widow waltz? These problems will be settled. ^ ; Also the monkeys will he given picture books ,in^color and black and white. Mirrors will be setjabout the room to determine if they are vain or modest. Professor Haggerty will devote nine ty dayjs to these observations, and expects to advance the science of synthetic psychology many notches. SUPPLIED MUSIC FOE THE OUTING. ir.pecial to The Talking Machine World.) Louisville, Ky.. June 29. 1908. At St. John's picnic at Churchill Downs last week the fact that there were no bands or orchestras did not in any way lessen the enjoyment of this occasion, for through the kindness of Mr. Silverstein, local manager for the Columbia Phonograph Co., music of the highest order was dispensed throughout the entire daj-. The Columbia B. C. Twentieth Century graphophone was the chief entertainer and did valiant service for "the countiy store." Mr. Silverstein sent out one of his largest and loudest machines and the concerts were one of the hits of the dav. A TALKING MACHINE IN AECADLA. Any one in search of an Arcadian dell right in the heart of New York can find one in the Waldorf-Astoria. Not to be outdone by the innovations at the Plaza and the Knickerbocker, the Waldorf management has turned the rooms of the first floor on the Fifth avenue side into an enormous garden. Palms are in abundance and there are statues from Mr. Boldt's private collection and in the center is a huge pyramid of ice, fruits and flowers. Around the sides are window seats and concealed among the palms is a Victor talking machine. The reproductions of voices of the world's greatest operatic singers are accompanied by an orchestra. It has been projwsed by a member of the Council of Aberdeen, Wash., to prevent the playing of talking machines on Sundays, following a recent ordinance of the Council to close saloons. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED! ORDER NOW (Patented) FALL RUSH Napping EDISON, VICTOR, ZONOPHONE AND COLUMBIA MACHINES IN SOLID COLORS, GOLD. RED AND BLACK, HAND DECORATED OR PLAIN, RETAIL $5.00 and $6.00 This horn is to the owner of a machine what the folding go-cart is to a mother— CONVENIENT AND HANDY— can be folded up and packed in the lid of a trunk. Does not take up space in the parlor like the ordinary horn. JOBBERS write for catalogues and prices. 11 "S to your own interest. FOLDING PHONOGRAPHIC HORN CO., 650 52 Ninth Ave , New York City TORONTO PHONOGRAPH CO.. Toronto, Ont., Canadian Agents. THE ONLY ONE PIECE POLDIIVa MORiN ROR