The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-01-12
THE BULLFlNCH.
A Stroll Through an Academy Attended
by Clever Songsters.

tnE O0ILF ttSSts
a Stroll Through an Academy Attended
by Clever Songsters.
The bullfnch is singing bird, and
academies for their education are estab-
Iished at Hesse and Fulda, whence all
Germany, Holland and England re-
ceive supplies of the little musicians.
These birds bring from one to ten dol
lars, according ito their cleverness IN
singing, as freshmen, sophomores and
graduates.
DR.. Stanley truly observes that no
school can be more diligently attended
by its master, and no scholars more
effectually trained to their calling than
seminary of bullfinches. As a gen.
eral rule, they are formed into classes
of about six each and kept in dark
room, where food and music are adj
ministered at the same time, so that
when the meal is ended, if the birds
feel disposed to tune up, they are
naturally inclined to initiate the sounds
which are familiar to them. As soon
as they begin to initiate few notes
the light is admitted into the room,
which exhilarates their spirits and in
clines them to sing.
In some establishments the starving
system is adopted, and the birds are not
allowed food or light until they sing.
When they have been for some time
under this course of instruction in
classes, they are committed singly to
the care of boys, whose sole business it
is to go on with their education. Each
boy assiduously plays his bird-organ
from morning until night, for the in
struction of the bird committed to his
care, while the class-leader goes his
regular rounds. experimenting the
progress of his feathered pupils, prais-
ing or scolding them according to the
improvement made. This round of
teaching goes on unremittingly for no
less a period than nine months, by
which time the bird has acquired firm
ness, and is less likely to forget or
spoil the air by emitting passages or
giving them in a wrong place.
In some cases the birds have been
taught to whistle three different airs
without spelling or confusing them,
but in general, a simple air, with per-
haps little prelude, is as much as they
can remember. In this respect the
nightingale differs. 1t never repeats
itself, like other birds; il improvises it's
passages, and If it ever resumes the
same, it is always with new accents and
added embellishments. 1t MARBLES in
its dreamy sleep.
The birds exhibit different degrees of
capacity. 1t has been observed that
the more easily bird acquires his les
son the more readily he forgets it. The
same observation has been made in
reference to children. 1t is essential
that the birds should hear no other
musical sounds than those it is intend
ed they shall initiate. They are such
close imitators that if the bird organ is
somewhat out of tune the unpleasant
effect is perpetuated in their song.
Boys and girls are so much at the
mercy of vicious teachers. Their lam
guage and opinions are tinged by COM
panionship. The road from the school
of the street to the university of the
prison lies in easy gradations.
"Unless you see the bullfinch sing"
says Mr.. Wood, ''you miss the best
part of the performance. He puffs
out his plumage, winks his eyes and
makes comical contortions with his
head. No boy could make his maiden
speech at the academic exhibition with
more pride and pomposity than that
which attends the song of the bullfinch
in his scarf of glossy black velvet and
vest of bright vermillion. Philadel
| Dhin Gail.