The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-11-16

tel, at first, to fear; then to change of
diet and, at lash To d6stlute Inability
Of course there was great disappoiiit-
ment. Beauty's cage hung at the din
| ing room window every visitor was in
admiration of her spotless plumage
and faultless shape; and, of course,
everybody sympathized in the disap-
pointment at her irremediable defect
" What pity it Is she does not
talk" remarked person one day at
dinner. "She would be worth her
weight in gold"
"She almost cost it as It is" said
pater-families. "The creature il a
cheat. Fine feathers don't make fine
birds; certainly not fine parrots. l
paid ten guineas for her. and she cannot
say a word"
''Ah, but think the more What s
the use of talking if you have nothing
to say? came in clear articulate sounds
from the cage, to the amazement of
family and guests.
That settled forever Beauty's supre-
macy.
Happy as this reioinder was, it by no
means gives n full idea Of the intbllt-
gence of the bird She would not
learn what you tried to teach her, and
she would learn what she ought not
Her owner, Dr. Hall, one day peremp-
tOrily discharged servant. After shut
ting the door OF the study, the latter
exclaimed. in anger:
ON himl pg. Hall Is a great ras-
cal :"
The bird heard and caught the words
and could never be made to unlearh
them. Dr. Hamilton Roe, waiting one
morning iii DR.. Halls ahte-rooin, OBJ
served Beauty and jocllary said
| "WhO are YOU!
4" Beauty, DR.. H0ips trumpetcr-ro
to tool" replied the bird; but, imme-
diately becoming grave, and edging con-
tidentially toward the side Of the cage,
she added, il a lower voice: "D-n
him! DR.. Fats q great rascol!'
Whether it is possible to entirely
eradicate bad habits in parrots is
doubtful. Captain Simpson, well known
by transatlantic passengers, used to
duck his paroquet in the sea every time
it swore an olth. This seemed to cure
him of using profane language The
creature really connected an oath with
dowse in the water and gave up the
swearing. One day, in "a furious storm,
a man was washed overheard, and with
great d 'fficuty was recovered. As
soon Us he was drawn on deck and eff
forts were being made to resuscitate
him, Polly kept hopping around the
circle, shaking her head from side to
side and saying gravely, you've been
swearlng-yOu've been swearing :"
| This reminds me of what occurred in
a clergvmsn's family, in Exeter, Eng
land. The Bishop of the diocese had
been holding a confirmation, and was
lunching at the rectory with several OF
his clergy In the middle of the re-
past one of those dreadful pauses in
the conversation took place. No one
seemed able to break it, when, to the
astonishment and dismay of all pres
ent, a most horrible swearing tongue
poured forth a torrent of blasphemy
and abuse upon the assembled guests !
Every one looked aghast at these I'M
usual sounds, which, for a minute or
two, continued uninterrupted The
hostess, however, hastily rising from
|
and discovered the offender in the per-
son of a gray parrot, purchased that
morning from travelling bird-dealer.
| This habit of using profane and filthy
language is generally caught by parrots
on their sea-vOyase from the sailors.
| When good Queen Charlotte visited
Admiral Hawkes. ag-sh1p, to congrat-
1llate him on his great victory, she was
attracted by gray parrot which hung
in the forecastle The bird was sing
ing Good save the King" Every
word and note was given with such per-
feet accuracy, that her Majesty, sur
prised and delighted, requested clos
er interview, and, during lunch, the
parrot was consequently swung III her
cage on the quarter No sooner
| had she reached her place of honor,
however, than she forgot all her good
manners. A torrent of immOdesty, nm
fit for royal, or even plcbian ears, was
sciOus of incorum, was hurried back to
the sailors quarters.
As rule, parrots do not learn to
speak by rote. A phrase repeated a
hundred times will often never be learn
ed, whereas sharp word, an angry
expression, or quick retprt is caught
instantly. The clerk of st. Stephens,
Paddngton, a stupid, obese old fellow,
tired in vain for years to make paro-
quet say "Good night and "Good
morning." but the bird, within hear
ing of the church services, reproduced
exactly the droning LET us pray" and
=,
Son, and God the Holy Ghost" of its
master. When the old official died, his
effects, the bird with the rest went to
the rector. At morning family prayers,
after Scripture reading, when all were
dcvoutly kneeling, the paroquet's cage
hanging in the room, the parish clerk
| at once seemed to have risen from the
dead. At the end of the Lords prayer
there came his devout "Amen :; NJ" in
the Litany, once and again, the dron-
ing voice responded, Good Lord de-
liver us; T." and, at the conclusion OF
| the Venite, Glory be to God, the
Father" etc All this, ludicrous
though it was, did not disturb the
worship. But shortly, as if possessed
with spirit of mischief. Polly began
| w 1tSbou,t IIceSSdttly anu HIOSU lHCoI-
rectly, until children, mother, servants
and even the good rector himself were
convuled with laughter. The family
devotions were broken up in confusion,
and the departed clerks travester was
ever afterward deprived of all social
means Of grace under the rector's roof.
1t is said that macaws are the best
takers of the whole species, providing
they are reared from the nest. And
not only are they able to talk, but