The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-17
rBE rArURsE BTsroRK OF rnB
CUCEOU
Rssresue-. 81 = Ns,srsn.t Nave I-tsr..t-
t-E Re-uits.

xeereattess 80 Naferatist Have Hstsrest-
tsE Re-uns.
To TIE EDrroR OF THE sux-Sir; In TIE
SUS OF last Sunday. in your Natural History
oithe Cuckoo" with your very interesting and
ediiJlng digressions upon the resemblance Of
the bird TO a certain class OF politicians infest-
ing high piaces-unlike the American ground
cuekoo-you gave credit 20 Representative
Boutelie OF Maine for the original application
OF the name OF the bird TO certain persons in
our politics
This is the way historical illusions are
started. I do not believe even bfr. Bouiclle
that gallant. unres;ing. and unterrlhed do
fender OF the flag will claim originality in this
art a'luslon. II was really ntst employed by
Senator Morgan OF Alabama in a speech by
him on the repeal Of the sherman act delivered
in the Senate on the 18th Of october. 1893
tConorcssioHdi Record. Fifty-third Congress
vol. 3. =. 2.sl2. lines 80 to 81. incIuslveL This
was away lack yonder in the extra session
called by the President to restore prosperity to
the country.
Speaking OF his vain efforts TO ascertain
whether Senators had taken the pains to read
the statutes to get their bearing upon the
question ut issue. senator Mo-gan went ON:
The trumpet had sounded. the forces were
mnrshalled. the clock In the White House had
struck. and the cgckoos here oil put their
form us Of the time of day"
Whereupon the innocent galleries laughed.
even as do little children at the cuteness OF tho
ingenuity that could construct 90 ohedient
automstons. like those described ~ tho Ala.
All this Tor months nntedatel Mr.. Boute'le's
remark in the House. made during the present
ss alert New York "s senS. the Chef 2aeS
utive- Dir. Boutelle. in tone OF Innocent dep
ss the te Clock In Ss
struck yet" whereat the feathers Of the little
man from the Emrirc. state were ruflied. and
In a4nl n In ell
face OF anybody who calied him a cuckoo" Wv
Your story would obscure hny. claim or we'll
lie II was. on the floor Of the House. who. with
the rare aud melodious imita,ivcness Of q
eaci i" Wh' n that same e New York speeimen
ot the cuculns congressionnlis had enunciated
he hour Tbs offer, CXnlHq r, OF hoy the
Gle around Mr. Boutelle. chirping about tho
The recent unique application oiihis word
10 timely: 1t is instructive and inspiring TO the
aeduisitive mind: It encourages research In or
tion 81 ones Vocabulary. TO say nothing Of an
Increased force Of illustration in public SPEAK
culus journslisticus. or the cucuius depart
menticus or any other Kind Of cuculus cuss
But anent the cuckoo's natural history and
:, We are told by good authority that the bird
s notorious for its parastism, having the
depositing Its eggs in the nests Of other birds.
causing its young TO be reared by its foster
eas Kso cres are ony heari Tnrne
the mating season Ias emanates from the
filmed by the SenateL"
The cuckoo has been used in literature from
venlent in .Othello,' for instance: III thou
ure and me a sport as a Chief Executive to his
Cabinet officers after an alleged anti-Adminis-
In ANTONY and Cleopatrn We are told the