Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-09
THE MOCKING BIRD.

One Of these wonderful little warbleTs
pipes his clear strong notes near our win
dow. and strains his little throat with
melody the live-ong night. Some tribute
ia due 20 so delightful a Charmer, whose
constant serenades have given such mail
loved pleasure. The variety Of his notes,
ranging through the whole gamut Of the
woodland songsiera, is a source Of never
falling wonder and admiration. From
merry to moody, from grave to gay, from
sentimental to sorrowful, our versatile little
friend climbs aid descends the scale Of
song with a nimbleness Of movement, and
a grace Of touch quite equal to the most
celebrated trillers of the divine art He is
an ornithologicai polyglot speaking with
accuracy, huency aud elegance all the Ian
guages Of all the birds, from the lark or
linnet TO the bald eagle of the cliffs. Guided
by his shrill accent, at times, you are ready
to vow that he is a genuine layblrd "on a
swinging limb" until he skillfully turns
his treble into the well-knOwn call Of the
catbird. The sparrow's chorus, the doves
COO the pheasants whistle and the crows
cav are initiated with equal excel
lence. His roundeay is certally one
of the most curious as well as
entertaining performances in all nature.
With equal talent, as capacity, to impro-
wise most. excellenc concert, sans opera
costume, he has some outrageous bower
for his stage, the cathedral aisles Of the
forest for his auditorium, the lustrous
moon for his chandelier the never falling
stars for his drop-lights, the ever-changing
panorama ofthe clouds and tinted sky, and
shifting light and shadow Of landscape, for
his scenery, the whole feathered world for
his drdmutis persona, and Natures self for
lis uBwearying theme. He is at the same
time basso, alto, soprano. tenor and chorus,
and his concerts are free alike from gas
and clink of gold, from fashionable folly
and upstart pride, and from envious criti-
cIsm.
After listening to his meliAuous matinee
lit vas after high meridian, in state Of
half slumber, we fell TO considering what
parallels might be found ia nature, APP
peaing 10 the other senses, as this warbe
does to the hearing. The geranium among
plants, with its diversified and multiplied
scents and perfumes, initiating great va
riety of objects, is a hooking plant to the
sense of smell. The chameleon is a mocker
of colors deluding the sense Of sight with
Its changing and evanescent hues. Here
our dreamy parallels in nature ended.
But among our uufsathered biped gene
rations there is a race Of Knockers which
strikingly tvpify our little companion of
the night, in the essential feature of being
able to counterfeit all moods all princi-
pies, all creeds, all parties and all nation
alities. Here, however, the similarity
ceases. They differ from our American
nightingale in the absence of simplicity
and natural gift. Their performances are
acquired by the most seductive art. Their
hues are borrowed from the object on which
they feed, and are carefully worn for pur-
pose. Their perfumes are distilled in the
alembic Of interest and gain. They can
pipe any note, assume any color, give forth
any smell. In the late civil war, Federal
occupation found them humble courtiers at
the headquarters of the commanding Gen
eral, sueing obsequiouslv for favoTs, per
mits and privileges. They were clothed
in unexceptionable blue, smelt strongly of
mackerel and Goldfish, and warbled plain
lively the duicet notes of the glorious
Union. and the 'Star Spangled Banner
concluding with the famous quicbstep OF
Yankee Doodle
No sooner however, was the song of
Gentle Peace Returning heard falling
with pleasant cadence upon the public ear,
than our cspricious chameleon was seen
habitually costumed in Confederate gray,
his favorite fancy colors, for change, be-
ing the tri-colorcd emblems Of the Conted-
eracy. Our redolent exotic then began to
exhale the odor Of the orange blossom, the
magnolia and the rose instead Of the vile
scent of Goldfish. And now our versatile
hooking bird has lost his voice for the ma
tional airs Of the Union, and sings, in sea
son and out Of season, 10 an amused and
laughing audience, those sad and long
suppressed martial airs which the "lost
cause" has contributed to our lyric litera-
allure, and the musical repertoire, of
Dixie" "My Maryland and the "Red,
White and Blue."
We trust that this sketch Of the human
geranium, chameleon, or hooking bird, as
you please, mas not be considered personal
by any Of our every day acquaintance who
promenade the purlieus of our city, appear
Eid-gloved and smiling at our fashionable
assemblies, seeking the favor Of fair women
and the respect of brave men, and who
haunt the promiscuous gatherings OF our
tradesmen and merchants on change, them
selves leaders in transactions of large eE-
tent. Ii SO. we are pleased 10 correct the
unjust suspicion by our sincere and decided
declaration that this geuUs is a m0aSt5Tm
ko7reRdsim, never found in the polite and
refined circles Of cities, and that this rdrd
dris in tclTiS is Matched in the neighborhood
Of ancient Carthage where Punic faith
originated, never incuhating more than one
egg to brood, and that speckled, spotted
and changesble
If We can, however, discover the pres
enoe of such an animal in our city or " ITS
dependencies, as they say in the metrop-
oils, we shall make haste 10 endeavor the
capture of the valuable natural curiosity,
for the benefit Of the Smithsonian lnsti-
tute, with instructions, when its demise
shall occur, TO stuff with good straw and
embalm the specimen in pine top wsisky
for the instruction Of the future American
antiquarian. ANY duplicate captured will
be forwarded to the Geological Garden Of
London. The same Of the human chame-
leon. A specimen Of human geranium,
sent TO us by any Of our subscribers will
be shipped to the Great Exposition at
fars, TO be afterwards permanently de
posted In the Jardin des piantes.