The Ape, the Idiot & Other People

"The Ape, the Idiot & Other People" by W. C. Morrow is a collection of short stories written in the late 19th century. The stories explore themes of freedom, companionship, and the human condition, often through the lens of unusual relationships, as exemplified by the interactions between an escaped ape and an idiot in the first tale. At the start of the first story, "The Resurrection of Little Wang Tai," we are introduced to Romulus, an anthropoid ape who escapes from a circus train, experiencing the thrill and confusion of newfound freedom for the first time. As Romulus explores the world around him, he encounters a gentle, child-like inmate of an idiot asylum named Moses. Drawn together by their shared desire for freedom and connection, Romulus and Moses embark on a whimsical adventure that eventually leads them to a graveyard, where a poignant scene plays out involving the burial of a young girl named Wang Tai. This encounter deepens their bond, illustrating the complexities of companionship across species and mental capacities, setting a tone for the themes that will unfold throughout the collection.