The San Francisco call., 1906-08-19
Wonders Which
Are Accomplished
by a San Franciscan
Who Understands
His Feathered Friends
Wonders Which
3y Agnes Foster Buchanan.

TX white and red; birds that sing and
birds that only taik-Aristo-
. - phanes surely never dreamt of
such when he wrote his immortal COM
4edy. Probably the same varieties ex-
listed IN those days Of ancient Greece,
but # has remained for an Englishman
with a coclcney accent to enter hith-
erto practically neglected neld-neg-
lected because OF its almost insur-
ineuntable difficulties. The result is
that James williams OF San Francisco
has now under his control probably
the finest band OF trained birds in the
country. At his command they turn
sonersaults. they carry arms. they die
and come to life again. and, wonder Of
aIl wonders, they actually read and
speIll
In the makeup Of williams. the bird
trainer. the divine attribute Of pa
thence is more than mere factor. It
IS predominant, ever-present. The
birds feel It and respond; the visitor IS
conscious Of It and marvels.
Way out toward the beach Afr. VIII
Iiams has built his aviary and training
room Here, every morning before
dawn, when the curtain of night still
hides q sleeping town. Mr.. Williams
begins his labors. Then by the time
the FIRST gray streak penetrates the
blackness the birds have become ac-
customed to his presence and the Won
derful work Of teaching proceeds.
Z. First Of all he has whole dock of
Icsnaries which run around and do his
bidding as though they were automa-
tons. And yet it is more than that,
= too; the intelligent CLEAN of the eye.
the inquisitive sidewise poise OF the
heed. look sometimes as though the
= thinking machine inside was weighing
the matter over-to obey or not TO
+: kbey-to stay or to fly away. And ther
{the question. II It be a question, is set
i tied as birds and beasts in captivity
generally settle such things-in obedi-
ence. Occasionally. only occasionally
there will be an adventurous SOU
among them who decides TO wander
. but the wandering OF the captive bird
ends IN disaster.
For years the public has been accus.
toned to seeing "Betsey Jane" tumbi'
over into a tiny black conn when tbs
true aim Of Jesse James" ends hei
career The last kick, too. has becom'
part of the programme wnicA. nj
longer creates wonder. 1t is the curse
lof familiarity.
Paddy and frankie Ryan" are tw,
korgeous pAroquets and fully con
scious OF their Celtic garb and names
and very high and mighty even witt
their trainer. Association with thei
less. aggressive neighbors sometime
pals upon the emerald Ryans.
Take little walk with me" whisper
Paddy to frankie. and of they go whel
Mr.. williams is watching .Biddy Coch
rzne" carrying a gun IN the shape o
tiny match stick. A word from hin
brings the wanderers promptly home t
roost.
BIRDS PERFORM A HANGING.
Among the paraphernaIia of tn
gymnasium Is q tiny gallows. complet
IN every detail, even to the pulley
upon which the hangman's rope runs
The rope, by the way, is only a goo
stout thread, but by its aid Katy Oar
lin" is supposed TO expiate her crimes
Just what those crimes may be no on
seems to know unless It consists s.
being the prettiest bird IN the &vtsfy
The jury must have been composed Q
her own sex; the opposite would hav