To be fond of mischief and of playing jokes is a common trait in monkeys as it is in boys. This likeness is shown by the tricks of boys being called "Monkey tricks." Perhaps they would not play them if they knew that they were putting themselves on the level of the monkey. Stories of this tendency are common enough. Here is one told of a young chimpanzee who bore the familiar name of Tommy, and who lived in a cage in the Zoölogical Garden of London.
Master Tommy did not at all approve of tricks that were played upon himself, though he was very fond of playing them on others. Thus one day when a carpenter had to enter his cage to make some changes the little joker was in his element. He played all kinds of tricks on the workman, such as pulling his hair, snatching off his paper cap, stealing his tools, and even trying to trip him up. All the time he put on an air of innocence and only came up when he thought he was not seen. The moment the joke was played he retreated to the other end of the cage, where he seemed very much interested in something else.
In the end, when the carpenter had his back to him, Master Tommy could not resist the temptation, but sprang on the man's shoulders and gave him such a sound box on the ears that the keeper, who had been enjoying the fun, had to interfere and make the little rascal behave himself.
On another occasion Tommy in some way got a small dog into his cage, and had the time of his life with the little victim. He pulled its ears and tail till the dog lost its temper and began to show its teeth. At this Master Tommy pretended to be very indignant, and lifted his hand in a threatening way, as if to chastise doggie for his impudence. He would do the same with children if he got a chance, pulling their hair or clothes or scratching them.
In fact, he was a little imp of mischief, yet had been taught to be very neat and nice in his habits, to pick his teeth, clean his nails, and do other acts supposed to belong to the human race. Like man also he could walk erect, jump on his hind feet and dance in the stamping fashion of a child a few years old, though with greater force.
We must close our stories of monkey wit and wisdom with one that comes from South Africa, of a monkey that acted as signal man on a railroad. This is the story, as told in _Chambers' Journal_.