“Shave his haunches, then colour them, encase the upper portion of his body with long hair, shave his face and colour it in the most hideous manner it is possible to conceive. I will get out large bills announcing the arrival of a savage monster in this country, which is exhibited now for the first time. ‘The missing link.’ Don’t you see? Now I’ve given you the hint, and it only remains for you to carry it out. No one so well adapted to manipulate a case of this sort. You’ll be able to make something of him. Do your best, old man, and upset the opposition shop.”
My father tumbled to the proposition at once.
“It shall be done, sir,” he said emphatically, “and we’ll take our chance.”
Well, with that, on the following day he set to work.
Poor old Jemmy was a venerable specimen of the ape species, he had been in the show for years, and was as tame and harmless as a kitten, and would let you do anything with him.
The hair was shaved off his posteriors, a long, shaggy coat of dark-brown hair was sewn round the upper portion of his body, the hair on the lower portion of his face was clipped quite close, then his face was coloured, and he was so completely metamorphosed that his own mother would not have known him.
Taken altogether his appearance was at once extraordinary, and like nothing that had ever been seen before or since, I think I may add.
A collar was put round his neck, to which a strong chain was attached, and the end of the chain was attached to an iron bar running across the back of the cage. By this means poor old Jemmy was kept in an upright position and compelled to walk on his hind legs.
It was, no doubt, a sad trial to the poor brute, who, however, bore it complacently enough. When all was in readiness Mr. Kensett shifted his quarters to the next town, having previously beplastered its walls with gigantic posters announcing the arrival of a large Pongo or wild man of the woods, who was so fierce that visitors were cautioned not to approach too near the bars of the cage.
Such a monster was surely never seen before. Jemmy was the very personification of ugliness and ferocity.