Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-06-03
A REMARKABLE PARROT.
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 a 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 feet2" spoken in tones
almost indistinguishable from the human
voice and delivered by the parrot with
knowing wink and cock of the head
Take 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 q cup of coffee"
Charley wants a cracker, Charley wants
his cage cleaned" After partaking of Lis
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 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 bottlesr'
Glass put I'M" and Strawberries! straw
| berriesH' 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, barks and talks to
them. He will also greet strangers pass
ing by with: Hello, there! how do you
| do2" Il see you; you are just my size"
IN steal you if you don't mind" and
Pm going away now; goodby, by by"
Charley, however, never uses bad Ian
guage, and is 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 a Haight street car, which
stopped to admit 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.