MR. SMART
THE EDUCATED MONKEY It's a myth that monkeys, after human beings, are the second smartest animals on the planet. They are, in actuality, the smartest. Thousands of years ago, the monkeys met and decided to lay low and let humans do all the work. When you see them in the wild or in a zoo, it's all a big act to keep you from learning the truth. In fact, they don't even like bananas. Which brings us to a story about Mr. Smart The Educated Monkey. In the 1920s, one monkey decided to reveal himself as the equal of human beings. He donned a blue suit and red bow tie, and visited New York City accounting firms looking for a job. At first, the people just laughed at him. But when Mr. Smart demonstrated his command of mathematics, they sat up and took notice. One savvy firm hired him on the spot, and Mr. Smart guided them to great wealth and prosperity. But, alas, our story does not end there. The other monkeys could not allow this renegade to ruin the cushy world they had created. Working behind the scenes, teams of brilliant monkeys manipulated the banks and stock markets of lower Manhattan. Their handiwork caused the devastating Stock Market Crash of 1929 and created the Great Depression. Like countless others, Mr. Smart fell into financial ruin and disgrace.  Sadly, no one knows for sure what happened to Mr. Smart. But in one aging photo of a Bowery organ grinder, you may notice an unhappy monkey in a tattered blue suit performing stunts for some street urchins.
Naturally, we didn't tell you this tale just to depress you. We are proud to offer a commemorative MR. SMART THE EDUCATED MONKEY tin toy. The remarkable device is a working reproduction of a vintage tin device. Strange as it looks, it is actually a functional and accurate multiplying machine. Here's how it works -- Mr. Smart is poised above a pyramid of numbers. When you point Mr. Smart's feet at the numbers on the bottom, his monkey hands move and show you the multiple of those two numbers in a little window. It's a lot simpler than it sounds -- and a lot more fun. The tin toy measures 5-1/2" x 9" and comes in a nice gift box. Even if you don't purchase one, we hope you'll remember this brave and brilliant monkey, who dared to claim his rightful place beside mankind. | 
