The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-10-12

Now Ne Talks. Laughs, and Plays Mis-
shievous Pranks-A story vouchsd for
~ the Mayor Of the City.

k0kOmO, the county-scat OF howard
County, has long been known as a. live
INV IN more senses than ono. hut Il has
distinction Of which | was not aware
until spending day there during this
week. refer 10 It's having As one Of
M citizens y feathered biped, male
crow. which Ii probably the most learn
al Of its species In the United States.
| was the guest Of Col. Richmond, the
Mayor u Kokomo, and every fact stated
|by him was amply confirmed by Others
who have been daily observers Of what
Il am about TO state.
As was on my way 10 tho excellent
high grammar school Of kokom0,
where had eninvitcd to deliver lee
lure on the :. Physical Geography Of the
Amazon,- my attention was diverted
from the conversation with Col. Rich
mond by seeing beautiful glossy plum
aged crow sweep beforcus, and sudden
N alight in the door-yard Of Mr.. Ken
|nedy, only short distance from us.
|Col. Richmond informed me that Dick,
the blue-black son Of a corvus, was the
property and pet Of his children, and
That he (Dick) was character well
known in Kokomo. In other words
that this crow was learned, could speak
many words, could laugh, was filled
with mischievous pranks, and daily went
10 the grammar school, and was gen.
eral favorite with all the children Of the
town. Man has been considered the
|ony laughing animal, but here is an
exception, for Dick not only laughs, but
he knows how TO have the laughing
come in at the right place.
After delivering my lecture During
which Dick, outside Of the High School,
could be heard delivering another lee
lure on his own hook, l made more
particular inquiries concerning the his
tory and deeds Of the learned crow Of
|Kokomo. Col. Richmond informed me
that his fathcr-in-law, Mr.. Kennedy,
some two years ago, when ON visit to
his farm (only short distance from
perceived young crow
which had evidently prcmaturcly issued
from the maternal nest high in the trees
above. Mr.. Kennedy took pity on the
gawky fledgling, and carried him home.
HE proved such voracious bird, and,
withal, was so constantly crying, like
the horse-leech's daughter, "Give,
give that Mr.. Kennedy, TO be rid Of
the crow, gave him to his grandchildren,
the son and daughter Of Col. Richmond.
These three were soon intimate play
mates, but Dick, becoming too familiar
with the hall or entry Of the house, was
frequently told in a very emphatic man
her by Mrs. Richmond to "walk right
out Of this This expression was not
lost upon the bird, for one day visitor
coming to the house, and finding the
door open entered the hall without fur
Their ceremony, when he was saluted by
Ia gruff voice in very decided English:
|"Walk right out Of this And ever
since that day many tramp and many
d respectable person has been ordered
BY Dick from Col. Richmond's door
way. No pains had been taken to edu-
cate Dick. He is a genius, and educated
himself in many phrases, some much
more emphatic than agreeable. 1 took
down from no less than four persons the
phrases that Dick had been heard re-
peatedly 10 utter.
Each morning during the term he
goes 10 school Is regularly rs the chill
dren, and usually goes TO the room
where Col. Richmond's son and daugh-
ter are. II in the summer time, he en-
tiers BY the window and perches upon
the teachers desk; "only this,'' and
something more, for he surveys the as
semblage, with due gravity, as If on in
|spection. Very eften his exclama-
|tion Is "bad boy" and more rarely
|" good boy" During the coolest
months Of the year Dick seats himself
on the window-sill outside until satisfied
that all is right, and then, as in summer
time, he flies 10 pastures new" Let
me say that he seems to understand the
school bell as well rs the children. At
recess he is sure to come back, doubt
less attracted by the sound Of the merry
voices. II Is particularly Mt this time
that he displays his love Of mischief.
tie has frequently been known to come
swooping down upon the playground
and snatching oifthc straw hat Of boy,
has gone sailing off with it, amid the
shouts and clamor Of his unfeathered
paymates and when at such times re-
ceiying objurgations of the boys, he will
retort by calling out to them, in most
ludicrous manner, "Vcry bad crows"
am very sorry TO say that Dick Is not
gallant, Tor the scamp will sometimes fly
OF with the light hat or bonnet Of a little
gil, and alighting upon some fence 10
will deliberately dissect this piece Of
millinery in order that he may obtain
the feathers Of South American or
Asiatic birds which adorn the bonnet.
4 grieyes me also to say that Dick i q
thief, or to be more polite, il addicted
Y kleptomania, for he has often been
known 70 run along 4 clothes line and
steal all the smaller clothes pins and the
lighter articles like pocket handkor-
chiefs and stockings. But Dick does
not confine his mischief 10 children.
ne Y great consumer Of young chick
ems, and Col. Richmond tells me that
he has seen Dick, with malice prepcnse,
watch a cat with the greatest attention
until pussy's attention was directed TO
II, 49,. ...l. ~ ~