The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-28

ish and English, according to which Ian
guage their tongues are best adapted TO.
Many parrots have decided nasal utter
ance. These / teach French words, and to
those that have cultural tone, German.
and so on. The female parrots talk Italian
better than the males, as their voices are
more musical.
Il make speciality of teaching my par
rots patriotic phrases to suit the nationali-
~ of the customers they are intended for:
Such, for instance, as 'Vive Ia Republique!'
or 'Hoch! bon Jour- and so on. also
teach them political party cries, well-known
proverbs and maxims in different Ian
guages.
Birds that can quote from the classics
or from the works of some of our best
known authors are high priced. One that
taught to SPEAK seyet "a f nhan
only recently for $685. The bird was Of the
common black cockatoo species,
Parrots are admirable imitators of ac-
tors. An intelligent bird had up until a
few months ago could give an exact tm-
tation of Joseph Jefferson's voice and
speak several of the sentences in his role
actor who is pretty good mimic taught
the parrot. 1t took him about four months
but his patience was well rewarded. George
time heard of the bird from member OF
his company and he came in and bought
1t for $50. He said he was going to give
the parrot to Mr.. Jefferson. Most actors
have liking for parrots, particularly for
the good mimics
Large retail business houses and man.
ufacturing firms are also good customers.
sell them what / call my advertising par
rots / have, for instance, sold to the
large independent cigar stores throughout
the country several parrots s. that bats have nave
So-and-So's cigar and the like. Others l
have taught to puff certain well-known
patent food stuffs for some or the food
manufacturing concerns. who lend the par
rots out to the shops that sell their spe-
cialty.
some of the parrots are diabolically
dunned the only slow paying customer /
ever had His bill was for bird seed and
it had run for seven months. Whenever l
would say TO him-and L said it pretty
often-'Well, won't you let me receipt your
bill to-day?' he would always put me off
with the same excuse. He was weli-to-do
and l knew his credit was good, but the
delay was annoying.
Now the parrot was a marvel at pick
ing up stray bits of conversation IL heard
around the shop and it had an all-round
vocab ulary. Well, one afternoon my slow
pay customer came in to get some feed for
his birds. / happened to be busy at the
time with number of people and l asked
him If he would take a seat for a few min
uteS. Just as soon as / mentioned the
word seat the parrot, recognizing the
man, at the same instant called out; No,
boss; receipt receipt.
THAT was too much for my customer.
He settled then and there and ever since
he has persisted in paying cash down for
everything ne DuyS-
Another parrot L have in my place here
that one you see in the corner over there
lis master of repartee. 1t threw a pref
ty hot one at me the other day when I
asked it quite on the spur of the moment
where it was born. In free America! ii
replied. Then. why you I'm that
cage?-
But here the dealer was forestalled for
the retort came in shrili voice from the
parrot in question. Because a big bum
Dutchman put me in-in-Got polly on the
brain-Bum- M
Then the dealer laughed and said: 81
once had another parrot-a Goffins-which
/ sold for $3.50. AS the purchaser was
leaving the place, he turned and said to
the parrot, which was to be forwarded TO
his address,
Now, polly, I'm your master; what shall
l do with you, eat you up?'
And, quick a flash, the parrot made
good. Yes; pollys got brains. il said