The record-union., 1896-06-14

be identified with particular species
of feathered creation, which it would
puzzle a naturalist OF the highest or
der to decide, whether or no 1t were
mart demon or more than half human
The parrot is a very interesting feature
of the household and ofttimes great
pet, and more than once has he made
his presence known 10 a gathering in a
manner anything but comfortable to
his owners. 1t is occasions of this sort
that make it difficult sometimes to de-
termine Just what degree of intelligence
t. ascribe to Polly, i'll her opportune or
disastrous use of language, and just
how far that intelligence extends. A
Chinaman holds the bird in holy awe,
believing it to be possessed of an evil
spirit, and small wonder, if those speci-
mtns of her kind whicn have come un-
der my observation may be taken as
example.
There was parrot who belonged to a
family in the same reighborhOod where
! lived as a child, and as 1 was associ-
ated with the children of the family in
one way or another almost every day,
The parrot grew to know me WELL and ii
a manner that would seem to indicate
that he knew just what he said, would
greet me on every occasion with Hello.
Polly" and on seeing me don my head
gear to go home would say Goodbye,
Polly" AS a child l would ever talk
with him just as if he understood every
word, believing implicitly in the depths
OF my childish heart that he did. The
family of Steinman, residing on l street,
across from the Free Library, possess
a precocious pair of these interesting
birds, that are no end of fun to one who
car catch them in communicative mood.
They seem to understand that they play
the part of rivals In the favor of the
family. One can sing the Sweet BY
and By" in a truly operatic style; the
other not being possessed of any vocal
ability makes it up in most effective
whistlins, but as neither can seem to
acquire the accomplishment of the other
feeling of intense jealousy is thereby
created, which is most interesting to
witness in its results. Polly A will be-
gin airily to sing I'm tho Sweet BY and
By" watching wickedly from the tail
Of her eye the effect on her rival in the
other cage. Polly II, in desperation,
pipes up on Yankee Doodle in a shrill
whistle that startles the echoes. en-
deavoring with might and main to
drown out her detasted rivals dulcet
tones. Pandemonium results for a
space that would give one hysteria to
listen to.
There is no question as to the par
rot's ability in learning anything one
has the patience to teach him, indeed,
too often the creatures pick up house
hold words and phrases, spoken
thoughtlessly in the bosom OF one
family that it would be much better to
omit in polite society, and which Oft
times create CONSERVATION when Polly
airs her unsuspected accomplishment
for the first time, for the benefit of peo-
pie who are not always on familiar
enough footing with the family to war
rant it, and whom the hostess would
on no account whatever have enter
tained with an insight into little fam
lily habits and customs, which Pollys
nimble tongue indiscreetly unveils TO a
callers sometimes too ready under
standing.
An amusing story was told me lately,
which has a bearing on this subject,
by a friend who for many years was a
resident of the City of Mexico The
having gone to Mexico to fill position
offered him, he was new to the customs,
language. and in fact everything con-
cerning that portion of the country.
AZ il is not uncommon with young
men In the earlier period of manhood,
nv friend. while still a pilgrim and
stranger" to the land of his adoption,
feu desperately in love with pretty
Spanish girl of good family, whom he
met at gathering in the home of a
mutual friend. Being so lately de-
butante to Mexican circles, he could
only manage enough of the tongue 10
serve him at table or in finding his
way about town with the aid of signs.
But love is a language unto itself, and
is more eloquent than any spoken
tongue on the face of the globe-a lift
of the eyelid, a dimple-you know the
signs. Well the course OF true love
ran smoothly enough, the Donna Espanol
teaching him day by day her soft Span
ish words, putting on a pretty affecta-
tion Of impatience and severity, while
the gentle scolding administered al
his ludicrous mistakes but made the
lessons more interesting. One ill
fated evening, as they walked together
In the Plaza del -, the screeching of
q parrot in high -faluting Spanish filled
the little lady with ill-concealed de-
light, and the young man vowed in his
heart that 1t should be hers before she
was twelve hours older If money could
procure it, so badly in love was he.