Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-04-05
DEEP.vOICED DON CRIST0BAL.
Captain Sparks Recalls One Of the Re-
markabIe Points OF . Noteworthy Par
New York Sun.

"Fine bird?" observed Capt. Sparks, on
board his new schooner, the Belinda w.
"You may well say so, and in support
of that opinion you can quote me. That
part is one of the likeliest birds I've got
hold of in an experience of nigh on to
forty years."
The creature in question was rasping
with its beak one of the rods in its cage
in way that indicated unusual robust
ness, and was muttering, in depraved,
catarrhal tones, something about plug
tobaccer."
"One of the hkeliest?" the reporter
repeated, with the stress on the first
word.
EYES," said Capt. Sparks; 81 always
make an exception in favor of Don Girls
tobal. Don Cristobal had more points
about him that entitled him to emin-
ence than any other part l ever saw
but his biggest thing was his voice. Did
you ever know a part that talked
bass?"
81 don't know that / ever did"
81 reckon YOU didn't. Nor l either
till came across Don Cristobal. 1t was
in the summer of-let me see-'57 or '5S, u
the captain continued. I'VE were be-
Gained in the Caribbean. At anchor a
little way off was an old Spanish brig
There seemed to DE hardly any one alive
on board, but set out one forenoon to
pay the captain visit-providin' any
such parsonage could be found. As we
came alongside deep, rich voice wei
coined me with:
"'Doy listed los buenos dias.'
Remarkable pleasant voice, 1 thought
to myself, as 1 looked but hardly the
words in which one shipmaster usually
welcomes another.
Como esta listed de salud? asked the
voice.
"'Bastante bueno; Y la de- was re
plying, sort of involuntary. when 1 stop
ped short to see who was talkin' with
Not solitary soul was to be seen; blu
thinks 1, somebody Whereabouts is in
clined to be friendly and I'll 60 aboard.
"As soon as l got my head above thu
rail the voice began again:
"'Senor, bebo la salud-' and Their
perched on the gunwale of one of thu
boats, saw big solemn lookin' part.
Je-mimy!' says l to myself, 'wh,
ever heard a voice like that on par
before 7 and while l was payin' my res
poets to the cap'n the bird kept on will
its talk. He seemed to have recollec
lions of old associations come to him
which appealed to his sense of the ludi
crous.
"Polly get cracker!' the bird pipe,
as though mimickin' an ordinary pol
part, and then roared, 'Quita de ahi
Que desperate!
"All the cap'n could tell me about tn
bird was that sailor brought it aboart
at South American port, and said tina
a stranger had given it to him. Tn
cap'n came to the conclusion thas it ha,
been stolen from some wealthy family
1t knew a great many words, and Away
spoke in that deep, voice, except whel
mimickin' another part that talked En-
glish,
81 made up my mind that woult
have that dart if l could get it with an,
thing short Of piracy On high seas, an,
when / went back to my ship i tool
along the bird, and sent back bar'l Q
the best Medford rum. The part tool
kindly to seafarin' life, and the lonee
he was at sea the deeper his voice grew
II was ridiculous to call such bird Poll
and so he was finally named Don Cristo
bal-partly because he was such an ex
perienced navigator, and partly becaus
the name seemed to match bis voice
As he grew older and more exposed 7
the howlin' gales of the sea his word
fairly rumbled. He never learned En-
glish nor any other Spanish words bu
, those acquired, apparently, before b
was taken on board the Spanish brit
He died about seven or eight years afte
l got him, and was buried at sea.
, "Pity? Yes, Don Cristobal could hav
earned good wages as an instructor i
, Spanish pronunciation. Nobody but
Spaniard or part can get the SPANS
, twang in perfection. though pride my
self on being able to make pretty TAI
imitation of it-thanks to Don Cristobi
but haven't his voice, by any means
II