Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-16
BY Mile. futile.
T has been liberal education to
train my eight parrots.

train my eight parrots.
Two years ago |. like most Of
mankind. looked upon the green birds
with the red eyes and enormous
beaks as slow, stupid, stubborn
creatures. jokes in the bird Kingdom
But when reverses came 10 me and,
flung suddenly upon my own re-
sources, was advised to give draw
ing-room entertainments with my
piano, aided by my parrots. began
to train my neglected pets. my own
education began.
While l sought to educate my par
rots they educated me- discovered
that instead Of being slow they are
thoughtful. Instead OF being stub.
born they are deliberate. They do
not refuse to obey your commands.
But while you are studying them
they are studying YOU. Parrots are
not governed by instinct, but by rea-
son. They think things out They
are the greatest character students
in the animal kingdom
A parrot has as large a brain as a
mans in proportion to his size. and
he uses it 5 well.
Despite his actions and appearance
to the contrary, the parrot is ex-
ceedingly sensitive. 1t is this trait
which has given rise to his bad repu-
tation for the three sullenness,
stupidity and stubbornness. Some
one orders a parrot 10 do some thing.
The parrot looks at him and thinks
1t over. tlt is chara ctcristic Of the
wise person that he thinks before
he speaks. 1t is characteristic also
Of this wisest of birds.
Scientists who have called on me
to study my methods with my par
rots have been amazed that | have
never used the stick. have an
swered: Fine human beings do not
need the goad. If Il fine animal is
beaten he is ruined. have trained
my birds by patience, affection, ap-
preciatiGn. Impatience, harshness
carelesspess would ruin them, make
Of them criminal birds. | depend en-
tirely upon these characteristics
shown in the voice.
The parrot reads man or woman
by the voice. That accounts for the
fancies taken by parrots to certain
human beings. They read unerring-
~ character as revealed in the voice.
Next to the voice they are sensitive
to colors.
Parrots have strong dramatic in
stinct. 0Polly, after watching a big
policeman stroll past our window
every day for a week. began of he!
own accord TO initiate him. Like
any. other actress. she first studied
har no RI hpc ~, ~
struts, pounds the floor with a club
and marches vaingloriously in per
feet time to the air we Won't Go
Home Until Morning"
Caruso is a great musician. Nc
parrot has ever equalled his talent
In this respect. Like the man fol
whom he is named he is peerless
He sings in three keys, high soprano
contralto and baritone, then a med
ley Of the three. He sings in any OF
these distinct keys "The Star Span
gled Banner and improvises airs
that are really musical. ] developed
Caruso from what was regarded as
hopeless, a sQuawky parrot. There
is no need of any one having {
squawky parrot That he sGua wks i!
the fault OF his owners Catiently
train him out OF his bad habits, a.
you would child. In the case O
both child and parrot spare the rod.
~ Paderewski could entertain an an
dience for two hours himself SEATED
before little white and gold bah,
grand piano. decorated with electric
lights, he plays almost any popula
air you demand and ACCOMPANIES Ca
ruso's solos. Besides the piano h
plays the horn and drum He give
excellent limitations OF animals II
whistles popular airs and delights il
initiating the police whistle ,ha
regulates traffic at Times Square i
New York. He can spell his ow
name and is an expert az gun drill.
My octette OF birds have good hal
its. With one exception Polly think
he must have a cup Of strong COTE
morning and night. ! expect by p;
thence to break the habit, for bird