The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-03
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

How often have you heard some man say about some girl: "Oh, she is a regu- lar Poll-parrot" or vice versa? Many time and oft, no doubt, you have heard some damsel speak of some man as a mere monkey" This is the short way of saying that both are rank imitators.
 When husband speaks of his wife, saying she is as talkative as a parrot and she replies by pointing out that he is as full of tricks as a monkey, you can write it over the door, without fear of making a mistake, here lives a couple who sooner or later will have a monkey and parrot time Everybody knows that this means that their home life is on the level with what Sherman said about war.
 This bird story was suggested by my having spent a weekend in a home Ga happy home) where a parrot had just made It's debut It was splendid speci- men of the green variety, with beautiful plumage, but short tail
 
 The voices of most parrots are gener- ally harsh and discordant, but this one had a soft note and his "all right" (for everything with him was "all rightly was really cheerful. I'm thinking of getting up public subscription and buying him for the purpose of taking him with me to the meetings of the various civic bod les. so that at least ono present may be able to say its all right" when the knocker begins to knock
 The parrot from my boyhood days has filled me with wonder. So has the yen- triloquist. The power of a bird to imi- tate human speech seems uncanny. It's a slight on g. really capable bird to have anyone say of dull fellow, oh, he hasn't got any moro sense than parrot. Some of them in domestication become capable of articulating not only words. but sen- tences.
 They show more intelligence than is usual in birds. They are possessed with monkey-like restlessness and love of trick, and though docile and at times even affectionate, are generally of capri cious and irritable temper, and capable of punishing anyone who takes liberties with them.
 ' I have known some great parrots in my tlme-l mean of the bird variety. recall one owned by southern belle who when the bicycle craze was at its height could be seen daily riding through the streets with parrot perched on the han dle bars. It seems the bird was a fresh air hend and worried his mistress for his daily outing. He used to occasionally fall off, so she thought, as joke. So she threatened that if he ever did it again she would leave him at home The next day he fell. and straightway she uporaided him and said: I'm going to take you back to the house." Now here is what she said he said. You can believe 1t or not, just as you please. With a penitent look he peered up into her face, saying with birdNike solemnity: 'I slipped" Here is new one for the na- ture fakers and moralists. Can bird tell a lie? Some men who are '.birds" do.
 I knew a parrot that had to be sent away, because he became a nuisance. A young man in the family while out hunt ing was accidentally shot and died from the wounds. His mother and sisters, heartbroken, cried out day after day, saying. Poor Jimmie was shot" The parrot took up the cry and for months would shriek and vail out that Poor Jimmie was shot.'
 The parrot is not the only talking bird. The magpie is often tanned and taught to speak, and is noted for its thievish- ness. I do not remember ever having heard one talk, though have often heard young people called magpies for too much talking.
 We are told that to meet a magpie portends misfortune in a journey, and it's thought best to return. How about a rabbit crossing road?') In some coun- tries, peasants make the sign of the cross on meeting a. single chatterins magpie. In the north of England the bird is thus addressed, according to Stauffer: 'Magpie, magpie, chatter and flee,
 Turn up thy tail and good luck fall to
 me-
 The legend why the magpie builds but half nest is worth telling. In paradise the magpie was the only bird that could not build her nest, so she sought help of the feathered tribe The other birds got together the materials. The black bird said: Place that stick there.'' suitins the action to the word, as she com menced the work. "Ah," said the Smag- pie, 'I knew that before.'' The other birds followed with their suggestions, bat saying, "Ah! I knew that before" s But before the nest was half finished the pa tience of the helping birds was worn out Lifting their wings they flew away, say ing: Well, Mistress Mag. as you seer to know all about it, you may finish ths nest yourself"
 Birmingham is suffering from the mer who talk too much and from the mer who know too much. Less talk ant closer cooperation Is the way for us tt build nests for our young.
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