Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-05-29
HANEPARROTS SOULS?
IMPLYING AFTER-LiFE FOR OUR
DUMB" ANIMALS.

The Opinion of she Author of thu
! ssSecret Political History Of the
War of the Rebellion" - Ha
Thinks all Superior Intelligence
Has n Future.
DIR. Fayette Hall, OF New Haven
Conn.,, who lately buried his famous
parrot, "Polly Hail." in a silk-lined
casket, has been interviewed by the
New Haven Register. and this is what
he thinks of the future OF all intelli
gent animals:
al have often been asked the ques.
ton, Do you think that parrots have
a future have death?' My answer has
been that believe that all superior
intelligence has future, and that
such intelligence is the same, whether
in the human race, in animals or
birds, only in different degree, and
that some birds and animals have an
intelligence far superior to many OF
those brutes in human form who have
the care and management of those
same helpless unfortunates who are
subject to their brutal treatment.
q have often thought that there
might be many OF the so-cslled hu-
mans who had no future. and that
there might be more truth than fiction
in the old saying, Such a one is
heartless,' or Such one has no soul.
And even provided they had, they were
so small that they were of very little
use in this life, consequently not worth
saving, as we cannot see OF what posi-
BILE use they can be in the next.
"Why should parrot not have q
future? They are gifted with superior
intelligence, they have committed no
sin, they have broken no law of God
or man. Can it be that none OF Gods
creatures have future except those
who are of depraved natures, those
born in sin and iniquity, who require
q sacrifice of blood drawn through an
innocent victims agony and death.
We are aware that such is the teach
ing of our theology, and that the
whole human race are born in that
condition.
"My own idea OF the possibilities of
future life are derived from nature
and natures laws.
II am endowed with reasoning fac.
ulties of my own and l have at least
the same inherent right to think and
reason for myself and to form my own
conclusions that another has to think
and reason for ME.
"And must confess that those con-
clusions are very much at variance
with the orthodox teaching which 1
received in early life. But to return
to the subject in question, as to the
parrots future. That to me is q mys-
terry OF which I know nothing and
which only the future can unfold. But
if there is future for one intelligent
creature, which l have no reason to
doubt, l believe there is for another,
and that the parrots are certainly en-
titled to their share OF it. That they
are endowed with intelligence we think
will be conceded by all who have had
them in their possession and studied
their natures. There is no hypocrisy,
falsehood or treachery in their lives.
They are full OF love and affection and
true to their friends; at least such has
been my experience with two who
have been my constant companions
for IL years, and l can demonstrate
my position no better than by giving
a description of some Of their charac-
terlstics, doings and sayings.
"The especial favorite which is the
subject of this statement was presented
to my wife IL years ago by a dying
friend, which OF course added interest
to the beautiful present. Previous to
that time l had paid but little atten-
tion to parrots, only as had often
watched them many years ago in their
native habitat, in the forests OF Peru,
in their graceful evolutions with all
their bright and beautiful colors fash-
ing in the sunlight, which now seems
strange, as l was always a lover OF
birds and animals OF almost every de-
scription of which domestic use or
household pets could be made.
"Of course, being placed in contin-
ual contact with the bird, my atten.
ton was soon attracted by the remark
able intelligence displayed and We soon
became friends and companions.
"Polly coon became very observant
and watohful of all my movements,
while engaged in my professional oper-
atoms, and took great interest in the
patients who came to have teeth ex-
tracted, and just at the moment when
she thought it the proper time, if they
failed to scream for themselves, she
would scream for them in perfect
imitation of what she thought the
scream should be, as she had heard il
from others, although differing in tone
and intensity as she thought the time
taken in the operation deserved.
"She was of course perfected in all
the little parrot accomplishments
such as initiating the barking of the
dog, the Growing of the rooster, and
the calling and whistling for Fido to