Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-01-28
suIcide OF q Mockinr Rird.

Wisconsin State Journal
1t is popularity supposed that man is
alone susceptible 70 those keen be-
reavements and depressions Of spirit,
which IN so many temperaments lead
to suicide. But that this s~upposition
is erroneous, public chronicles have
often had occasion to point out; ele-
plants, horses, dogs and cats have
often astonished beholders by commit
ting deliberate, cold FLOODED suicide.
but it remains for us to record the
first known suicide Of a bird. Birds
have committed unintentional suicide
frequently, by starving themselves to
death, pining away under captivity, or
beating themselves to pieces by fling
ing their frail little bodies against the
bars of their cages but a genuine,
outspoken, intelligent, deliberate sui
eide of a bird, has, we think, never
before been recorded.
A well-known society young lady in
this city has long been the solicitous
owner Of a pet canary named Jim. and
a very loud-voiced hooking bird.
which rejoiced in the euphonious cog
nomen of Bob. Some weeks ago the
canary was moved from another room
and his cage hung up in Bob's~ especial
window. The latter soon began de-
voting his spare hours to f~uritiyely
glancing at the new bird, and cult
waiting a charming canary MARBLE (.
Bobby's friendship soon became unite
marked, and although Jim seemed to
not thoroughly reciproeate the affee-
ton of his ashy-winged neighbor, he
would occasionally sit on his perch
and hold an animated friendly dis
cussion with him. On such occasions.
when he could monopolize the atten-
ton Of the yellow breasted warbler.
Bob appeared to be in the seventh
heaven of delight; he would Jump up
and down on his perch, and chirp and
whistle in the liveliest manner-no
human lover could more clearly indi-
cate a passion which was soul-stirring.
The fair owner of the bird, with
that kindly sympathy which is the
especial charm of her sex, thought it
indeed a pity that cruel bars should
separate this Damon and Pythias of
the feathered world so she opened the
door one day, and Jim few into
Bobby's spacious cage, and was suf-
fered to remain. But mark the re-
suit. Plato has said that man was
but a featherless biped, minus his
quill; then truly is a bird but the
feathered counterpart of the biped
man. The loved Jim became the mas
ter, and the lover Bobby became the
slave. The former reigned supreme.
and the latter was plucked half-naked
inside of a week but despite his mis-
fortune, he suffered it like a martyr and
appeared only too glad to have jim
display attentions-even if those at
tentions were of a murderous charac-
ter: Yesterday they were separated.
Bobby Immediately began to pine, and
struggle hard to get over into the ca
nary's cage, but in vain.
The tragedy occurred last evening.
just before supper, while the family
were in the s~itting-room awaiting the
dining-room bell. A red pepper was
suspended in the center of Bobby's
cage, by a slip-noose he was seen to
reach forward on his perch and pick
the pepper to pieces, 50 that it fell to
the bottom, leaving the open slip-knot.
He then sat back, and after indulging
in n of his sweetest canary MARBLES.
put his head forward right in the
moose, and, jumping from his perch,
was in another second hanging by his
neck and kicking vigorously. His
movement had been watched with
some interest, but this denouement
was unexpected, and with a cry
BObby's owner rushed forward, and,
opening the door of the cage. extri-.
Gated the Auttering mocking-bird.
But it was too late he gave his last
gasp and stare and was dead.
Who will deny that Bob committed
suicide?