Mr. Columbus Coriander's Gorilla [pp. 186-193]

f MR. COL UMBUS CORIANDER'S GORILL,A.
it reflects humiliatingly upon the nationality of those concerned. Speculation
became rife and unreasonable, and suspicion rested upon the commonest commercial transactions-while the prices
for the veriest necessities of life were so
inflated, that actual distress threatened
the poorer classes and the unwisely
venturesome. Whether influenced by
these conditions or not, the large majority of the employds did not accept
the beneficent provision of Article III
of the Treaty-admitting them "to the
enjoyments of all the rights, advantages,
and immunities of citizens of the United
States "-but returned within the Empire as transportation could be provided
for them.
MR. COLUMBUS CORIANDER'S GORILLA.
Y article on the Origin of the Hu man Species had been months
in preparation. Much of the fame which
I have since secured by its publication
in that widely-circulated magazine, the
Interoceanic Monthly, is due to the
fact that I spent weeks in deep investigations in ethnological science, comparing results, and especially examining the
points of resemblance which exist in the
brute creation and the nobler race of
man. To say that I utterly overthrew
the Darwinian theory, and quite demolished the tribe of pretenders who have
since attempted to imitate that great
apostle of error, may not be strictly in
accordance with modesty, but hosts of
candid friends will admit that it is strictly true. I know very well that, though
my untiring labors in the cause of science
are not yet thoroughly appreciated, an
admiring posterity will dwell with delight on the name of Samuel Simcox
as the benefactor of his race, who
showed where that race had its birth,
and from what primitive elements it
sprang. For further particulars, see the
Interoceanic Monthly for June, i8-.
My favorite haunt during the progress
of my article was Coriander's Menagerie; having resolved that this should
be the masterpiece of my life, I spared
neither labor nor expense upon it, and
actually procured a season ticket to the
menagerie, and passed many pleasant
hours in watching the wild animals,
studying their habits, and drawing
many valuable conclusions from their
points of resemblance and difference.
Consequently, though the apes and
monkeys had furnished me with an
inexhaustible fund of amusement and
interest, I was delighted beyond measure when it was announced that Coriander had secured a live gorilla for his
collection of wild beasts. An agent
had been despatched to Africa and had
sent home, with great secresy, a real
live specimen of this dreadful beast;
and so well had all the negotiations
been kept {hat nobody knew of what
was being done, until the monster was
fairly caged and on exhibition at Coriander's Menagerie. I entered with zest
upon a study of the creature's habits
and peculiarities; and, while the idle
curiosity of mere wonder-mongers kept
a vast crowd about the cage wherein
the furious beast was confined, I calmly
surveyed it from a safe distance and
made my scientific observations for the
benefit of mankind. And when vulgar
wonder at the strange beast had somewhat subsided, and I could get nearer
the cage and watch the gorilla, I was
more and more impressed with the human traits which I discovered in the
extraordinary animal. His manner of
reclining was, though impish, half human; and his grotesque gait, as he
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