A WELL-KNOWN BOSTONIAN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue I, 26 June 1897, Page 6

A WELL-KNOWN BOSTONIAN.

JOE, the gifted and affable ourang-outang who has been holding popular receptions at the Boston Zoo, has made a great many friends in that city. He has also received some flattering press notices — which, it is only just to say, his real qualities fully merit. We are indebted to his managers, through the courtesy of Mr William Grant James, of the Boxton Budget, for the lifelike photographs here reproduced. They cannot be called speaking likenesses, because Joe cannot talk. That is about the only human trait of which he is shy—and some cynics regard this lack as a negative virtue. But, while Joe says nothing, his imitative faculty is surprisingly developed. He dresses

and undresses himself, lights and smokes a pipe, drinks from a glass, rides a bicycle, and eats from a spoon. He has also acquired other human-like ways, as the accompanying illustrations attest. A feature worthv of note about Joe is the fact that though he has certain times for giving exhibitions, he is fully as interesting during his leisure moments. In other words, he is no poseur. He is very much like a child at these times, and though his object is to amuse himself, he is all the time amusing the lookers-on very much more. He has his playthings about him and sits on the floor. Like a baby, he wants to put everything within reach in his mouth. He is more inclined towards carpentering than anything else. Joe is very fond of his master, and, while occasionally refractory, can always be induced to yield to ‘ reason.’