The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-02
MISS THURSBY'S MINO.
A BIRD OF DISCRIMINATION AND
LARGE V0C4BULIRr.
No End to sis whins ana Pets and Converse

NuNNAN w w
blondes ana Ch~ildren-Speci-
mons or his Convcraation-His Past.
There is a wonderful bird in this town. It not
only speaks, but converscs, and in so doing
shows a good deal of intelligence. In fact, tho
little songstcr has human qualities, both good
and bad. lie Is a mino bird, q native Of East
India, and belongs to Miss Emma Thursby.
Mino is q bird with a history. Ho was born In
India, where and when nobody knows. but he Is
certainly past what is middle age in man. Vic
has travelled all over the world, and, Judged by
his knowing winks and mods, he knows u good
deal more than he cares to tell.
In the last years Of the old Emperor Williams
life tho American singer was a favoritc at tho
court of Berlin. Every afternoon at . she went
to sing for tho Emperor. When he went TO
Baden. Baden her music had become so much a
part Of his lifo that sho had TO go there, too,
and there met tho German Ambassador TO
China, who was at home on a visit. Mino had
been his travelling companion n great many
years and had made several trips around the
world with him. Ono day after Miss Thursby
finished singing the Ambassador, knowing how
much she admired tho little bird, said to it:
"Mino, hereafter you are to go In and out Of
Miss Thursby's windows and never come to
mine again"
Tho bird obcycd. He understood that no had
bttl given W Allbo llhIoDy, hlu bh"o '"'
called her mamma. Although he was let out in
Berlin whenever he asked for liberty, not once
did he return to his old masters quarters. Since
then he has travelled with his mistress wherever
she has gone, and she always gets an order TO
take him in the parlor car with her.
When a Sun reporter went TO Miss Thursby's
apartment on Gramcrcy Park to interview Mino
it was a balmy afternoon and the bird was more
interested in being allowed to fly out of the win
dow than in showing of. Upon being formally
introduced he eyed the visitor from head to foot,
but did not nod. He pcrched himself on the win.
dow sill, looked up into the blue sky and down
on the budding trees, then turned TO Miss
Thursby and said:
Mamma, please let mo out; I won't stay
long" in the irresistible voice of a child.
Poor dear" said Miss Thursby. II wish I
could let him out, but i don't dare here in New
York. although l always did in the cities Of
Europe. He would be stolen inside Of an, hour
here. because he is passionatcly fond OF children,
begin. to talk to them. or course. somebody
would pick him up. One day he was stolen, and
we've never let him out in town since. Fortu.
natcly. the hall 10y saw n man pick him up and
run away with him. He came up, and told me,
found him in n saloon on Third avenue enter,
tanning a party of men. 'Havcn glass Of wine
some one else. He's forgotten to say those things
now since we are a temperance family:
free as q child. and he enjoys il. Ills best friends,
next TO me, are DR.. and Mrs. C.S Longstrect.
He calls Mrs. L.ongstrect mamma; too, and has
spent several winters with her. OFTEN he says:
Please take me TO see mamma l.onGstrcet.'
All the time Miss, Thursby talked the bird
looked first at her and then Et the visitor, listen
ing TO every word respectfully.
Tho mlno bird is closely allied to the Startling
as a pigeon md is far more graceful; His plum
age is a shiny. grayish-brown. and he has a
His pNaS r hppntifIl and he has long. heavy
gen, look. His bill i is EriE h yol !T 2 "siDr
funeral song She explained, and we don't
know just what it meons."
What T. answered Mino.
BE n good boy" coaxcd the mistress: sing
81 wan, to go out" answered Mino.
PLAY, the banjo then" urged, Miss Thursby,
in that languishing voice which young, parents
use when they want their first born to show uf,
but like the average first born Mino wouldn't.
p, "oh; he i, is 50 stupid today" NXsI"5m' d Mis- Mis-
for you. il You only had a golden: haired child
the banjo, Mino, please do she pleaded.
Then Miss Thursby, picked up a metal paper
cutter and began to beat a tune on " biz china
duckcd his head, pulled out his feathers and
Take your high notes; urged Mis-, Thurshy,
for ali the world as if the inside OF his throat
was strung ike a 6a4jpi. 4 parrot VII imi,1,e
tween high and low notes and Gircs each nj will.
Then the bird though, he would have some,
and gave several digs at il With his bill. lie
looked amazed when she showed no fear. and
tossing his head exclaimed: GO away
The visitor did not move, and the bird seemed
to think II minute and then said, "Gchc veg AS
this NINA o; in Ge fT,, H. had No effect; Mine Nina
surely understand French, 50 he called out:
"Hc is so astonishcd that you are not afraid
of him" said Miss Thurshy., 81 wish he would
talk more. Cough, Mino. she commandod; but,
and hid. He evidently likes 10 be begged to do
things. Sing, then begged Miss Thurshy.
nHh after making : Great ,En ado cnm 3GGat 1t {ho 6iitlS
too late Nine conyIlded 10 be good and
rs he found that Miss Thursby was going 10 shut
him up in his cage and hurry away 10 a musicale
that she asked, and as she and the visitor dis
appeared he called out: Mamma; mamma,
piMSi Mrs. Let 'gs fS ae Says l that foS Min rii IS one %nsH Of tho
most interesting guests she ever entertained in
her home; He is simple in his tastes, living on
mocking-bird food and insects, remarkably
healthy and very aIcctionate. When he gets
angry; though. he is angry all through, and
Mino = a perfect litiIo c2a.% said Mrs LonE.
coast. Miss Thursby brought him out TO stay
with me while she went to Alaska. The chill
drcn in the neighborhood heard of his talking.
and, of course, were very anxious to hear him.
i asked n number of poor children III to see him.
and the bird looked nj them once and then no
didn't know that they were there. They didn't
exist for him, and not once did he open his
mouth. But the minute children OF what he
considers the proper grade come on the scene his
tongue is lOOscned at both ends. He absolutely
refuses to obey n servant, and is always very
supercilious in his bearing toward them.
"Oncc when Mino was visiting me a naval
officer called and hearing him singing IA
Chinese funeral song in another part OF tho
house he said TO me: You have II Chinese scr.
want IN Distress
No said /, TINT is n mino bird
"I don't know. ! answered.
Docs he ever use bad words I he questioned.
Ono | answered cmphatically. 1t is re-
markablc, but Mino uses only the choicest Ian
gnagc.' Then he called the bird to him. Mino
came and bowed before him. and the officer
spoke 10 him in u foreign Language. Mino
Strengthened Up and answered glihly something
I'd often heard him say. The officer laughed
lish devil
-. mn hid o,n,Ert 'Ifpnun S,,ppnpnJl,. lac tI,n