Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-09-26
Chicago Has Shakespearean Parrot
Windy City Believers In Rencanaion See in This Bird the Soul
OF Disappointed Acor-Hamlet His Favorite Play But He
Likes to Quote from Others

in an effort to find from what quarter
the startling cry emanated.
All were treasured when william"
as he was now To be known, was seen
putting out his feathers and strutting
up and down the front of his cage re-
peating: What no, within! A dream
itself is but shadow Nay, look not
SO upon mel" and so on with further
phrases from the immortal bard, de-
livered in the purest English. with
many gesticulation of head and
wing.
The studious man quickly recovered
his equanimity, his notebook and his
glasses, while the keeper picked up his
Jaw, spat nonchalantly and the two
Joined forces and proceeded to investi-
gate.
mo doubt the bird has been In the
possession of on actor and has uncon-
sciously committed the lines to men,
DRY while hearing him rehearse, the
knowledge lying latent until some for
tuitous concourse OF circumstances has
brought 1t to the fore. and" learned
ly began the studious man.
This theory was Immediately refuted
by the keeper. who, consulting a book,
found from the records that the bird
had been bought from Swede who
could neither read nor write, even In
his own language, let alone English.
The bird had been in his family for rs
years, his grandfather having bought
him. for an old horseshoe from a deaf
and dumb Cuban, who Is years before
had traded a string of glass beads for
him to a native of Venezuela, who had
caught him in his native forest by
batting a trap with bit OF the g1lded
back Of an old book.
No advance from the first decisive
though somewhat hasty conclusion
was made by the many experts who
studied the problem, until some
/ thoughtful believers In reincarnation
advanced the opinion that here is
bona fide example of the truth Of their
teachings.
Long ago. It Is held by the sticklers
for this theory, poverty-stricken hut
talented actor wandered for years from
one end of England to another striving
to gain hearing before the footlights.
Kept from his rightful place by the
jealousy of companions less talented
but more ingratiating than he, he kept
ever Rugged tc bis breast. inside his
shabby coat. beautiful copy of Shake
speare with a gilded cover, every word
of which he had committed to memory,
Wandering one day by the seashore,
porting over his beloved book, by
chance his foot hit against stone; he
stumbled, the precious volume fell
from his grasp into the sea and was
lost forever from his view. Shortly
after the unfortunate actor died and
his restless spirit found a home in the
form of some beast or bird.
Forty times since then had he been
transformed. but never had he found
voice until he was lured to this parrot
by the subtle influence of the bit OF
gilded book cover that in his ancestral
forest had attracted the bird; this was
washed by the waters of the Venezue.
Ian shores and found there by the her.
NIT after long years.
A most ingenious theory is this, and
one in which no one has as yet found
a flaw. As to what time will do in the
matter of refutation or confirmation
no one can tell In the meantime tbs
wiseacres rest somewhat content Will,
awaiting further developments.