Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-12-20
About Parrots.

About Parrots.
From AppletOn's JOurnal.l
They tell a good story in Newgat'
street, London, of q parrot, or two par
rots rather, gray and green one, be
longing to Morley, a tradesman in the
Old Bailey, j1st opposite the prison
which is vouched for as true in the
strictest sense. The man had a won
derful bird sense" and his power OF
training birds became famous through
out the metropolis. He had taught his
green parrot to speak whenever knock
was heard at his street door; but when
the bell of the same door was rung, he
had taught the gray parrot to answer.
| The house, still standing, has one OF
those projecting porches that prevent
the second story from being seen from
the pavement. One day person
knocked. who's thereY asked the
green parrot. The man with the
leather was the reply. The bird an
swered, IAN right" and then became
silent. After waiting for some time,
and not finding the door opened, the
man knocked again. Who is there"
again asked the green parrot. Who's
there?" cried the porter outside. It's
/, the man with the leather. Why
don't you open the door? All right
repeated the parrot, which so enraged
the man that he furiously rang the bell.
go to the gatel shouted new voice,
which proceeded from the gray parrot.
ITO the gate" repeated the man, see
ing no gate; what gate?" Newgatel
Newgate;" responded the parrot. The
porter was enraged; but stepping across
the street, to better answer what he sup
posed to be the insolence Of the house
maids, he saw that he had been outwit-
ted and leased by a couple of parrots.
The same Morley had been employed
by a gentleman, who had heard of his
knowledge of birds, to purchase for him
white cockstco. The price was Of
less Importance than the health, DISPOSE
ton and breeding of the bird She was
to use no bad language, be subject to no
fits of passion, have been trained to be
handled BY women and children, and to
be Clearly in her habits. Morley took
great pains 10 please his employer, and
at last sent him home. perhaps the most
perfect specimen of the breed ever seen
in London. OF pure, snowy white from
top of crown to tip Of tail; without
speck of lead, gray, or crimson on a
single feather; free from all signs OF
cross with paroquet or macawi and in
shape, attitude, bearing and action as
distinguishabIe as a blooded horse
Beauty" as she was called, stood I'M
rivaled. When she was sent home there
was perfect satisfaction; the employer
was pleased, as he we'll might be; the
family of daughters in ecstacies Of ad-
miration; aud Morley richly remunerated
for his trouble. But the bird would not
talk. This was attributed FIRST to fear;
then to change Of diet; and, at last, to
absolute inability. of course there
was great disappointment. Beautys"
cage hung at the dining-room window
every visitor was in admiration OF her
spotless plumage and faultless shape;
and, Of course, everybody sympathized
in the disappointment Of her irremedia-
bic defect.
what a pity it is she does not TALK
remarked a person one day at dinner.
"She would be worth her weight in
gold"
She almost cost it as it is, said
paterfamilias. "The creature is cheat.
Fine feathers don't make fine birds, GER
tainly not fine parrots. paid ten
guineas for her, and she cannot say one
word
"Ah, but ! think the morel What's
the use Of talking /! you have nothing
10 sayR came in clear srticulate sounds
from the cage, to the amazement Of fam
lily and guests.
That settled forever Besuty's" su-
premacy.
Happy as this rejoiuder was, it by no
means gives a full idea Of the intelli-
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, enc day peremptorily
discharged a servant. After shutting
the door Of the study, the latter ex-
claimed in anger:
"D-m HIM DR.. Hall is great rss-
calr'
The bird heard and caught the words,
and could never be MADE to unlearn
them. DR.. Hamilton Roe, waiting one
morning in DIR. Halls ante-room, Oh.
served Beauty" and jocularly said:
Who are your
Beauty's DR.. Halls trunpeter-ro-
to-to-too" replied the bird; but, imme-
diately becoming grave, and edging con-
fdentially toward the side Of the cage,
she added, in a lower voice, On him :
DR.. Halls a great rascall
Whether it is possible to entirely Grad
icate bad habits in parrots is doubtful.
Captain Simpson, well known BY trans
Atlantic passengers, used 10 duck his
paroquet in the sea every time Il swore
an oath. This seemed to cure him Of
using profaae language. The creature
really connected an oath with douse
in the water, and gave up swearing.
One day, in q furious storm, man was
washed overheard, and with great diff
Guilty was recovered. As soon az be was
drawn on deck, and efforts were being
made 70 resnscitate him, " Polly kept
hopping around the circle, shaking her
head from side 70 side. and saying
gravely, You've been sWearing-you We
hapn ewearinrW