The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-10-25
THE.LEARNED CROW OF KOKOMO.
How He Talks, Laughs, and Plays Mis-
chievous Pranks-A Story VOuched for
by the Mayor of the City.

How He Talks, Laughs. and Plays Mis- lis
by the Mayor of the City.
from the Indianapolis Journal
Kokomo, the county-seat of Howard
County, has long been known as live
city in more senses than one. But it has
a distinction of which [ was not aware
until spending a day there during this
week / refer to its having as one of
its citizens a feathered biped, male
crow, which is probably the most learn
ed of its species in the United States.
was the guest Of Col. Richmond, the
Mayor of Kokomo, and every fact stated
by him was amply confirmed by others
who have been daily observers of what
am about to state. .<t 10 s-z
Pa As | was on my way to the excellent
high grammar school of Kokomo,
where I had been invited to deliver lee
ture on the &C Physical Geography of the
Amazon my attention was diverted
from the conversation with Col. Rich
mond by seeing beautiful glossy plum
aged crow sweep beforeus, and sudden
ly alight in the door-yard of Mr.. Ken
needy, only "a 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 Oick) was a 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
to the grammar school, and was gen.
eral favorite with all the children of the
town. Man has been considered the
only laughing animal, but here is an
exception, for Dick not only laug his, 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
ture on his own hook, / made more
particular Inquiries concerning the his
tory and deeds of the learned crow of
Kokomo. Col. Richmond informed me
some two years ago, when on visit to
his farm (only a short distance from
Kokomo), perceived a young crow
which had evidently prematurely issued
from the maternal nest high in the trees
above. Mr.. Kennedy took pity on the
gawky fedgling, and carried him home.
He proved such yoracious 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.
ner BY Mrs. Richmond to sswalk right
out OF this.'' This expression was not
lost upon the bird, for one day visitor
scouting to theA house, and finding the
door open entered the hall without fur
ther ceremony, when he was saluted by
a gruff voice in very decided English:
e." Walk right out of this.' And ever
since that day many a tramp and many
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. took
down from no less than four persons the
phrases that Dick had been heard re-
peatedly to utter. y.
Each morning during the term he
goes to school as regularly as the chill
dren, and usually goes to the room
where Col. Richmond's son and daugh-
ter are. If in the summer time, he en-
tiers by the window and perches upon
the teachers desk E" only this,'' and
something more, for he surveys the as
semblage, with due gravity, as if on in
spection. Very often his exclama-
ton is "bad 4boy,'' and more rarely
"good boy During the coolest
on the window-sin outside until satisfied
that all is right, and then, as in summer
time, he flies to spastures new" Let
me say that he seems to understand the
school bell as well as the children. At
recess he is sure TO come back, doubt
less attracted by the sound of the merry
voices. 1t is particularly at this time
that he displays his love of mischief.
He has frequently been known to come
swooping down upon the play ground
and snatching off the straw hat of boy,
has gone sailing off with it, amid the
shouts and clamor of his unfeathered
playmates !; and when at such times re-
ceiving objurgations of the boys, he will
retort by calling out to. them, in most
ludicrous manner, = Very bad crows"
1 am very sorry to say that Dick is not
gallant, for the scampwill sometimes fly
off with the light has or bonnet of little
girl, and alighting upon some fence he
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.
1t grieves me also to say that Dick is
thief, or to be more polite, is addicted