The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-04-14
A REMARKABLE PARRoy.
IT Takes an Interest in About Every
thing That Goes ON Near BY.

thing That Goes ON Near BY.
Charles f. kapp owns parrot which,
he says, is the most intelligent biped in the
city. The bird is magnificent specimen
OF the South American parrot, with fine
yellow head, rich green plumage, with red
tipped wings and gray bill. He answers to
the name of Charley. A reporter who
called on Mr.. Kapp was greeted with
Hello, stranger. Peek-a-boo; see you.
Have you wiped your feet?" spoken in tones
almost indistinguishable from the human
voice and delivered by the parrot with a
knowing wink and cock of the head.
Take u seat, gentlemen. Charley's glad
to see you," continued the bird, and the
wonderful specimen of the feathered world
continued with running fire of comment
during the whole of the reporters visit.
Charley is quite young bird, being only
two years old. Mr.. Kapp bought him for
trifie about eighteen months ago from
the steward of a Panama steamer. Since
then Mr. Kapp and his wife have reared
and trained him and taught him all he
knows. Some time ago Kapp was offered
$500 for the bird, and knowing that his
wife wanted new piano he told her she
might sell the parrot and get the piano.
but she said she would not part with her
feathered pet for two pianos.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Kapp sit down to
breakfast in the morning, if Charley has
not been attended to he will shout: "Ah
there! Charley wants a cup of coffee"
Charley wants acracker," Charley wants
his cage cleaned" After partaking of his
breakfast, coffee and crackers as ordered
he is generally hung out in the morning
sun in the front of the house, and there he
commences his regular daily exercise by
calling all the neighbors by name, and
then many of the school children who pass
by and whose names he has learned until
he has got quite little crowd around him.
Then Charley starts in to amuse them by
singing all the popular songs of the day,
such as "Oh, what a Difference in the
Morning, "Little Annie Rooney" "Razzle
Dazzle" ETC., until his audience goes wild
with laughter and excitement, which seems
to communicate itself to the bird, who
then takes a delight in ordering them all
off to school, telling them, you'll all be
late," etc.
The next subjects he works upon in his
daily performances are the Inherent ped
dlers and his limitations of the various
shouts, such as rags, sacks and bottlesl'
"Glass put imp and Strawberries straw
berries" must be heard to be believed. So
must his almost perfect limitations of chick.
ems, cats and dogs, and he calls all three
and whistles, news, banks and talks to
them. He will also greet strangers pass
ing by with; Hello therel how do you
do" Il see you; you are just my SIZE"
"I'll steal you if you don't mind" and
"I'm going away now; goodby, by by"
Charley, however, never uses bad Ian.
guage, and if any of the precocious youths
who listen to his entertainments make any
profane remark he will never repeat it, but
retort: "Rats; you're bad boy" go on
away, you naughty boy"
The parrot once nearly got Mr.. Kapp
into hot water. He was taking Charley
down town on Haight street car, which
stopped to admit a stylishly dressed young
lady, who was about to take her seat in the
crowded car, when Charley espied her and
Immediately sang out: "Chippie, get your
hair cut, hair cut, hair cut! Chippie, get
your hair cut, hair cut short" The girl
flushed with anger and the passengers
roared with laughter, but the young lady's
brother, who was standing outside on the
rear platform, came inside and was about
to take summary vengeance on Mr.. Kapp,
from whom he thought the remarks had
come. His anger, however, changed to
laughter when he discovered that the
offender was only bird. The big brother
returned to the rear platform, Charley
shouting "Rats" after him as he disap.
peared through the door.-San Francisco
Chronicle.