The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-11-03

The recent demise of & somewhat noted
parrot, of the gray African species, very
much To the SORROW of his owner, a resi-
dent OF Congress street east, recalls some
anecdotes of the bird chat we have heard re-
lated by his owner, that would seem al
most incredible were they not well at
tested Among others the following good
one vii, suffice to prove the wonderful ST.
gacity of Polly, when ne chose to be smart !:
His owner was teasing him playfully one
day, when Polly caught one of his fingers
and bit it quite severely. Scolding him
little in response he used the words You
old rip, he AYERS, the first and only time
he had ever done so. Some few days after
this occurrence, some lady acquaintance
of the family called to see and make Polly's
acquaintance, as they had heard of him and
his exploits OF course his mistress, hav-
ing heard the object of the visit, was quite
anxious Ia have him show all his good
points. Bringing him into the parlOr. she
commenced her efforts ut an introduction
to the ladies by talking to and cOaXing him
to throw oil his natural reserve i'll company
and show some of his requirements. But
all this would not answer to induce him to
make motion or utter asyllable. Ills mis-
trcss not succeeding. the ladies undertook
by caresSes and cOaXing, To draw him out
but Polly sits back upon his perch without
IN apparent shadow of interest in the AT,
fair. AT last the ladies, becoming tired of
their efforts, rose to depart, when one of
them, indignant mt his treatment, went up
to his cage to bid him goodbye, with few
words in condemnation of his treatment of
ladies who had called expressly to see him
Polly listened patiently to the lecture
! "a
his perch, put his head out through the
bars until his bill was in close proximity
to her face, and then in his loudest. plain
est. and most indignant tones, roared out,
You old ripi' You old rip" 4 stam-
pedc from the parlor was the instantaneous
effect of that speech.
Them striking popularity of this par
rot was that he had no sing-song phrases
to be constantly repeated, whether in or
ont of place, but his talking, both answers
and questions, were opropos To that time
As an illustration, he always recognized
his masters step. and would instantly call
out to him, How do YOU do, old boy
and being answered Pretty well. y his re-
Spouse was All right" On seeing his
owner putting on his hat and coat to
leave the house, he was sure to call for his
parting salute with Goodbye, old boy"
Come and kiss me goodbye" Identity
ING and always calling by name every
member of the family without any mistakes
is an instance that we never have heard re-
lated before of any of the bird species. If
wanting his food or to see his mistress, he
would address the servant, " Bridget
where's Mrs. H." If the reply was " Gone
out " he would then call for any other
mcml'er If the family that would answer
his purpose, and always correctly by name,
and when they were not present.
These are but very small sample of his
sayings and doings. His vocal, and es-
pccally his initiative powers, were equally
/ well developed He would whistle part
of the Silver Lake Waltz as well as the hui
man voice could render it, Laughing.
crying, and the perfect imitation of other
birds and animals, and peculiar voices of
| all kinds seemed TO he his favorite pas
/ timc-DefroH Free Press.