There’s several things I could say about this pic, but I’ll let you think your own thoughts.
There are many things to like about Costa Rica, but it’s the monkeys that get most of the attention from the tourists. On several occasions I saw small groups of people gathered beside the road pointing cameras into the rain forrest or at a solitary palm tree. In Costa Rica that means they had spied a group of either White Faced or Howler monkeys, two of the four breeds that populate the country. Howlers are easy to identify because they, well, howl. I mean they really howl. There’s no mistaking it. And the White Faced monkeys are likewise easy to identify because they have, well uh, white faces. If only all naming conventions so…..uncomplicated.
Actually, as you might expect, there’s more to the story. What we gringos call White Faced monkeys are referred to in the native tongue as Caras Blancas, and scientifically as cebus capucinus. If you look them up in a book you will see the name White Faced Capuchin monkeys. OK, I know you got the white faced part, but what’s that about capuchin you say. I’m glad you asked. As you all know, the Spaniards brought little to the new world other than violence, sexually transmitted diseases and pinto beans, but they did bring the Spanish language and the Catholic religion. Both of which contributed to the name of this cute little critter. As the white mantle of hair around the head and neck of the monkey reminded them of the inordinately strict order of Fransican friars named Capucin, they sought to reek some comic revenge on the church and the Pope who were both far enough away not to resent the joke by referring to the moneys as caras blancas capuchins.
Another indirect connection of interest is that the Capucin Order derived from the Order of St. Francis. I don’t know why this is of any import other than St. Francis of Assisi is one of the few saints whose name I would recognize. Although St. Francis was born of a wealthy merchant family and baptized Giovanni di Bernardone, he became one of the most holy of holies in christendom. After a youth of some social indiscretion, his papa thought him to be “french” in is outlook on life and renamed him Francis. Hmmmm, youthful wild oats in the 12th century. Go Frankie. Francis fumbled around the village of Assisi for some time as a nominally good preacher….no, he didn’t sell prayer rags, but he really made his bones, preacher wise, when it became known that in on one of his itinerant preaching trips he came across a flock of birds upon which he layed a regular Elmer Gantry type sermon. Yes, I said, a flock of birds. Now that I think of it, that’s not so different from the preachers I knew back in the day preaching their best to a group of disinterested teenage boys.
Francis, like many preachers that we all know, couldn’t leave well enough alone. To wit: he also became more than a little famous, or infamous if you choose, by his somewhat incredulous tale of having met a wild wolf (is there any other kind) on one of his preaching circuits and being menaced in the extreme. Not to worry, Frank pulled out his pocket sized cross and waved it, I assume he didn’t hit the wolf with it, and presto changeo, the wolf was tamed, never to threaten another soul. Not surprisingly, Frankie soon developed a rep as being really good with the animal kingdom. It is further reported that over the years he developed a warm and caring relationship with his only retainer, a donkey. On his deathbed, Francis thanked this loyal donkey for his years of faithful service, wept, and then died. Nary a mention of monkeys though. Now I don’t know exactly who I might be thanking when I approach my time of crossing over, but I’m pretty sure it won’t be anyone from the animal kingdom.
As for Costa Rica, other than the cute little monkeys who can indirectly thank St. Francis for their name, the really fascinating thing is that Costa Rica has neither an Army nor personal income taxes. How great is that. Maybe they should try to export their brand of democracy to us. Now there’s some nation building I’d be in favor of.
