A simple-minded Irish priest I have been told of, having heard
that we were descended from monkeys, yet not quite grasping
the chronology of the business, recently visited a menagerie,
and gave particular and patient attention to a large cage of
our alleged poor relations on exhibition there. He stood for
a long time intently scrutinizing their human-like motions,
gestures, and expressions. By and by he fancied that the largest
of them, an individual of a singularly grave demeanor, seated
at the front of the cage, gave him a glance of intelligence.
The glance was returned. A palpable wink followed, which also
was returned, as were other like signals; and so it went on
until his reverence, having cast an eye around to see that
nobody was observing him, leaned forward and said, in a low,
confidential tone: “Av ye’ll spake one w-u-r-r-d, I’ll baptize
ye, begorra!”--JOSEPH H. TWICHELL, D.D.
(95)