The times., 1899-08-20
DO WE WEAR LIVE PLUMAGEa
The Traditional Dici<ey Bird Must
Have Told This Tale.


Truly must one look in out of town pa
pers to learn astonishing news from home
The Omaha World Herald offers case
in point. 1t says:
''Since the Audubon society and public
sentiment have decreed that stuffed birds
are not appropriate ornaments for civil
ized woman, Washington girls OF the
smart set have taken to live birds. Live
birds are far more interesting, they say,
and the plumage of some of the birds that
were too large to go on hats is far more
brilliant than that of the small ones.
To properly carry out this fashion 1t is
necessary to have a variety OF BIRDS oil
gay plumage which are well trained. The
parrot is best adapted to the purpose and
is most used The extensive importation
Of young Cuban parrots has made II pos
sibie to get an excellent specimen for
from 81 to $40. These emerald birds are
generally the nucleus for whatever coilec-
tion is made. They are tanner than other
birds and are less inclined to struggle Tor
freedom. For this reason it is better 10
start with a parrot rather than with a
wilder bird. He seems perfectly satisfied
to clutch the T shaped handle OF the par
asol, which serves as his perch, his yellow
crest bobbing rhythmically up and down,
as if he were trying TO save himself
headache, while his mistress, with easy
grace, carries the closed parasol with the
handle up. II he be well trained he will
need nothing to hold him.
Of course the birds and the fr0ck worn
should have agreement in color. One of
the women who was first to introduce the
fad only appears with her parrot when
dressed in black, with which is combined
the brightest green--a green which exact
ly matches the green of the birds plum
! age. For a costume which red is the pre-
dominant color she has a splendid red
| bird. whose perch is slender baton of
! wood about ten inches long. This slight
| rod is held about as is closed fan. A
delicate chain Of silver aluminium around
! the ankle secures the bird. This is hardly
necessary however, as the bird has learn
1 ed it's duties perfectly. Four birds are
now being trained for the same purpose
A prominent dealer in birds in Washing
1 ton said:
| Il have observed the fashion, although
it is very recent. Going down Seventeenth
Street ] saw a woman in carriage with
two paroquets. / made up my mind ther
that while l did not think the idea was
destined for much popularity, it is not
we'll to be unmindful of such things. Il
there is any call for them shall be ready
to supply the demand"
| The same young man, who, thoroughly
! up to date and alive to the new things
gave his best girl a white rabbit some few
weeks ago, recently presented her with {
| beautiful, we'll trained parrot and greer
| parasol with an especially made handle
But the girls who knew of the gift ar
puzzled to determine whether it is only
thoughtful, clever present, or a deep
Machiayeilian scheme of his to discove
what they say about him.
With the latter possibility in mind, the,
teach the parrot to say. Charlie Is
bright boy and other non committa
phrases. So when Charlie goes to inter
view Polly alone he will probably be dis
appointed in the result.
The custom will encounter difficulties Il
some States il it gets beyond the parro
stage. There are stringent laws in man
States which prohibit the keeping of Ger
tain birds of the forest captive. The par
rot is safe from these. however, and W
may expect to see fair maidens sta!kin
about like Robinson Crusoe with his "a
nous bird.
II think it's awfully silly" said on
young woman, to use a parasol just a
a perch. The parasol part of It is no goo
at all to one. You have to keep II CLOSED
with the handle part uppermost all th
time. But / suppose that the effect in
! tended is that while you were out walkin
g beautiful bird. attracted by your goo
looks, came out of the sky somewhere. an
that you had to improvise a perch for it.
This fancy is in no way akin to falcon
ry, but we may soon hear of hoods an
''tagieS"