The Washington times., 1902-08-03
Regular Schedule Of Prices
for Summer Care of
Household Pets.
MOST CHARGED FOR PARROTS
Canaries Can Secure Home Comforts
and a Daily Bath for Only Twenty
five Cents a Week - No Insurance
Policies Issued.


room, and bath is a somewhat alluring
announcement. For the sake OF the
peace of mind of some impecunious,
money saving individual who might be
tempted to jump at the prospect of
cheap living, it must be said that the
announcement has reference to birds,
and not human beings.
1t has lcng been the custom here for
owners of cats and~dogs to put their
pets out to board for the summer when
it is not convenient for the owners
themselves to keep them. The bird
proposition. however, IS new and
wholly interesting ore
Several years ago. and, indeed. up to
very recent date, it became a part of
the program of home leaving for the
summer fer the wife to stand on the
rear platform OF the train and admonish
her good and faithful spouse about look
ing after Dick. the canary. AS long
as the form of the reputed head Of tho
house was visible to the wife's eyes
her voice would go floating through the
air in warnings to him not to forget to
give Dick his bath every morning, and
to see that he had sufficient seed to
keep him from starving. to say nothing
of the caution to be observed in not
allowing his cage to hang out in the
sun
A Social Recognition.
All these admonitions are now in the
dim. distant. and fast receding past. AL
though the custom OF putting birds out
to board is a matter of convenience with
humanity, it marks the recognition of
social requisites In the bird world. Why
as well as its master or mistress? Why
shouldn't Dick go a-visiting and en-
large the circle of his acquaintance?
True, he may not have the privilege
of inviting these same friends to join
him In house party, and offer them
round of entertainments peculiar to the
bird world.
But several weeks spent away from
home, in new surroundings and among
lot of congenial associates will do much
to improve his natural disposition. and
give him an altogether exalted opinion
of the generosity. and nice discrimina-
tion of mankind.
Bird boarding institutions have been
established here in Washington in or
der TO meet the requests OF residents
who have no means of caring for their
pets in the summer. The birds are
boarded at the cost OF 25 cents a week
with as much to eat as any fond mistress
ever allowed them. and a nice. cool.
clean bath every day.
The price for boarding differs accord
ing to the bird. A canary is able to
rat 1.ura Of n
cred brothers or sisters, chiefly be-
cause it requires less attention. tri5-
ute To the little songsser. The pro-
pens.ty for impertinence of the mocliins
bird adds 10 cents to the cost of its
weekly summer outing, and in the case
OF a parrot, which is liable to tell tales
out of school. spread all the scandal
available, and do much damage by word
of mouth. the bird bcarder asks 30
cents.
Bird Stores for Boarding Houses.
Nearly all of these boarding places are
bird stores or establishments presided
over by people who have had experience /
in caring for birds. so there is no fear in |
that The pets will not be properly looked |
after The visitors are each given a sep |
arate cage and are kept in another part !
Of the store from the others. This does |
not mean that they are isolated, for they |
have plenty of company in each others |
society. They have a special attendant. |
whose only duty is to care for them, and |
the only difference which they are al |
lowed to notice from their real home life /
Is the absence of much pettIng and bird |
-alk of the description not as yet an
alyzed or translated.
Some of the birds remain only a week,
,thers little longer, and there are still
many which are left there for the entire |
summer. This means much leave taking
On the part of the birds themselves, and
, continual making of new acquain-
ances There is probably lot of gossip
ndulged in which the trustworthy at
endant. either does not understand or
las SO much of the spirit of loyalty i'm
,ued within him that he will not reveal.
However. the birds are to all intents
happy and enjoy every moment
,f-their outing. They chirp and sing as
nerrily as If they were within the sacred
precincts of my lady's boudoir. and when
hey leave their summer home they are
Is far and healthy as becomes nice,
bird after money has been
pent to give him summer vacation.
Proprietors of these bird boarding
places will not insure birds life. for
Is a rule owners of pets set such high
-alues on them that were they to insti-
ute a system of insurance 1t is doubtful
hat they could stand the cost even If
,uly very few birds died. So the risk
S with the owner, but so carefully are
he little pets attended to that they stand
Is good, and in many cases better. chance
L T..