The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-16
FOR BIRDS ONLY.
.srIECr hCADEIR~ IN oPERA-
TTON IN 4 HARLEM FEAR.

-
49,. Of the Pupus Are Taught 70 Sing,
ran and MARBLE in CiRsses--some birds
Tsks to Talking E~asiiy-Crows Are Very
smnrt-Why Parrots Like swear Words.
sslsct Academy for Birds.
Parrots, C~onkAtooe aud Crows Iaught to
Tai rn twvsrIpiS. CLASSES or PriSats Lessons.
Ring Twice.
NH, slpp IA borne By a shiny hrass plata
.y.r The speaking tube and electric push but
,on which communicate with tho topmost lat
- an apartment house in Seventh avenue,
Harlem, and the place II advertises IL very re-
mnrkable. It was established last year. the
promoter conducting a personal canvass for
runIls. So successful we're his efforts that to-
~ the "select Academy for Birdb" ls ono OF
ths most nourlshlng OF educational institutions
Within the boundaries OF Greater New York.
Long before the visitor has surmounted the
altitude OF stairs which lead to the fiat he IL
made aware Of the purpose to which 1t IL de-
voted By shrlll cries. demoniacal bird laughter.
vhlstlInc and oar-splittlnE trills. As the door
OPENS for his admission these sounds increase
IN volume and effort. for any unusual arrival or
disturbance Is bound to convert the academy
into o feathered pandemonium.
Good morning; have you--used soapp"
.Rubber neck" "Hurrah for Mckinley II
"Klss your little Polll' Break the news to
mother" 1.-THE Lord loveth q cheerful glver."
These are q few OF the salutatlons-cordial.
polite, scrIptural. patriotic. f~ippant, insolent
and otherwiEe-hurled at the astonished visitor
BY tho advanced pupils Of the bird school.
which are inclined at all times to overstep dis
elpllue. Other students. still In the primary
departments. hail the stranger with no MINI
icry, but pour forth Q cataclysm Of those
nucous screecheB first practiced In their na-
tive wllds.
Birds OF various descriptions are on every
hand. Some are confined In the small. fastidi-
ously neat cages which line the walls OF one
room from foor to ceiling. Others, accustomed
70 liberty and Of sufficient manner not to
abuse 1t, are permitted to wander about at
the dictates Of their own sweet. II erratio. will.
Their blend Of colors Is harmonious and add to
the academy a touch OF the picturesque.
The presiding genius Of the academy. the
professor" so called. greets the visitor at the
door with q bland smile and extended hand.
provided he come not at the inopportune mo-
ments Of study or recitation. There is much
about the professor which IL decidedly bird
like. He Is short and rotund. like a plump spar
row. Is blond as q canary, and as dapper and
agile as q cockrobin. His movements. which
are quick and alert, suggest nothing 30 much
as the swift flight OF the birds. and when his
sharp, round little steel-blue eyes rest upon o
prospective patron. and his slender beak Of q
nose shifts business. there is a strong resem-
blAnce presented to that lntentness and lively
interest manifested by feathered creatures ut
the prospect Of q delectable worm. Also. he has
an odd trick OF placing both hands beneath the
hutter very much after the manner of o birds
caudal appendage In a moment OF excitement:
he T rece me Gq to S an i m %E rsns sifOr ! WhPe6; l SAM ann
duly thankful. Competition would injure the
business eonsidera6 bic, How did ! happen to
Of course had always a good stock OF parrots on
teaching the birds to mimic human accents.
and a bird that can talk. whistle or sing Is
you know. So took, to instrueting all my
birds. according to their talents. soon found
t tsit. 91 Win P dFfSsSl lsaF %ith r Sshers t t s Was j Sss
There were few indeed that could not learn
Ing the individual, bird, When / found one
that got along, well with his music but had
thRsnt to :" %voc mR en-" II a a bird rit talked nicely seifS"bt@ but
S Sia n sIon ZEN Ilng m y IiHe lno'! TSis; di serGlHPsa
ton soon bore fruit. and my educated parrots
an time my wife. who assists me in teaching
me creatures, became tired 81 the bird shop
70 s5G me- SF 1Est a eSe to eea siEa e up " ot Rsen pd y GsfuF pSri
rots: cQckat0os. and crows could, be made very
profitable. With thisi idea in mind gave up
where / at once opened the academy. AS you
may remark from the number q birds you soc
e%oatinueSdi the proiessor. that instruetine par
s sSs I MfI, EtSe r. RI birds ndg Is + an art; alttho ou5t It am
structor must study the tastes and bent OF
his p pupil, Just as the competent instruc-
session Of their indTividuai traits Of character
and aptitude; There is as much difference
same sDecies as there is in men and women.
f Attsr you become well acq1atnted with your
find something he will take pleasure In repeat-
ing. Idon't mind telling you in this. moment
OF unoending a professional secret: 4 phrase,
song, verse, or exclamation must strike the
rather eccentric fancy Of . talking bird in order
to induce him to repeat it. l might sit down
away in striv Essf to of for Sau a Bfsf to toy sS Ssry so sSei
thing the sound Of which does not appeal TO
one Ss S SoF "a q i. T Baf the i mo%ens PIN Flv to b HI6e 3
me that hits his fancy. there he is. ready to
r paVes I to on Gar arta q "a q b few rrssetiSs m]0I and pre- Te-
years 10 come.
Parrots. crows and coekatoos take quickest
a. abundance Of RS. The, rattle and roll OF the
strongly To. their ,pyrotechnic enunclation. I
ALWAYS begin with the youngsters that have
V viz w a1tdsm WITCH to sp minis the hso human ,Ps voice
SSharge OF musketry or the lingering explosion
- bundle OF hrecruckers in a barrel. 1t
ca,ches them at once. and then they begin to
sass an interest !p AL my utterances. ! can
inE to teach them are going to succeed or not.
Lnere ls more expression In the face OF q talk
ing blrd than the casual observer would inn
eglne, and 1t is as capable OF showing in
serest or the fact II ID are bored as many
persons; Thus when ], find that a certain
phrase repeat over and over to them Is not
MAKING a hit, as the boys say drop it In
" see You teach birds In classes" put In the
inquirer, is not that a rather difieult under
.nnon the contrary" dis9ented the professor.
Uls the easiest way OF all TO induce the birds
70 talk or sing. Come" he went on. leading
Sne way INTO a second room. in which were q
pumDer OF empty cages and pbrches. Strips OF
heavy ielt covered the ~creviceS OF the doors,
winch were sheathed in zinc.
This Is a classroom" explained the bird
mani and Ia rendered as noise proof as IL is
PSSslole 70 make Il for a twoiold reason. First,
shc exercises 81 the birds incite. others In the
SutsE rooms that are not engaged In recltations
70 nistracting voluhility. and. second. / have
bring In class b." ~
EmIlv 1hn. na--.