178 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



any other creature living ? We will not say 

 it, — but if we did, every word would be truly 

 spoken. 



We cannot help smiling at some of the 

 letters we receive on this subject. The 

 writers, evidently most truly amiable, evince 

 so much charming ignorance that we cannot 

 be angry with them. They " want their 

 little friends to love them, but don't know 

 how to set about it." If we knew any nice, 

 affectionate young lady, and wanted her to 

 love us, — how should we set about it ? We 

 always meet the case in this way. W T hy, 

 by delicate attention ; showing our delight 

 by constant propinquity (that overpowering 

 argument in matters of the heart), and by 

 tendering little offerings of affection. This 

 is the talisman. 



But it is not always that animals or birds 

 are so won. The eye has much to do with 

 the subjugation of certain of the larger 

 kinds. The eye speaks the wish of the 

 master. The eye enforces the commands 

 of the master. The animal sees, feels, and 

 instantly obeys. We have been in the 

 stables of the late Andrew Ducrow (at 

 Astley's), when two horses (between which 

 we were standing) on hearing his voice, 

 trembled to the very foundation. They 

 quaked through fear. (He was an awful 

 brute to them.) We have noted his eye ; 

 we noticed their eyes. There was " a mys- 

 tery " to us, no longer. This is Mesmerism, 

 properly so called. We may introduce the 

 word now, harmlessly ; for all the world are 

 opening their eyes to its power. Its quon- 

 dam bitterest enemies, are, whilst we write, 

 amongst its firmest adherents.* 



Our lady readers will not need to have 

 recourse to the " eye," when taming their 

 " pets." The " heart " is everything with 

 them ; and we must confess, it is the best 

 " argument " of the two. Never yet was 

 affection foiled, if it had the smallest par- 

 ticle of good material to work upon. We 

 could be eloquent on this, and bring proofs 

 inexhaustible. When others have failed, we 

 have "gone in — and won ! " This perhaps 

 ought to have been a " confidential commu- 

 nication !" Our remark, however, does not 

 necessarily apply to the " higher " world. 



We have spoken of the " eye " as a power- 

 ful agent in taming an animal. We are now 

 about to prove it, by relating a few particu- 

 lars that have come under our notice, con- 

 nected with a very wonderful and a very 

 clever grey parrot, the property of G. 



* "What first induced us to give our undivided 

 attention to this subject, was, a conference held 

 with John Amor, Esq., of New Bond Street. 

 We improved our opportunities daily; and to 

 this gentleman we are greatly beholden for much 

 valuable knowledge — since confirmed by re- 

 peated experiments. — Ed. K. J. 



Trotter, Esq., a gentleman residing in the 

 Isle of Thanet. The fame of this bird has 

 travelled far and near. Being anxious to 

 satisfy ourselves if Fame was always a 

 fibber, we have seen the bird and judged 

 fairly. Fame, in this case, has redeemed 

 her character. The grey parrot is an 

 admirable performer. 



The parrot rejoices in the name of 

 " George." He has been in Mr. Trotter's 

 possession fourteen years ; and never was yet 

 known to utter the word " Polly." In this, 

 he is a solitary exception, it is believed, 

 among all his tribe; neither does he shriek, 

 nor scream. In all respects he is a mirror 

 of perfection. When we saw him, he was, 

 like an ordinary parrot, seated on his perch 

 in a large cage. His master's voice reached 

 him, and their eyes met. A sympathetic 

 chord ran through the twain. 



" Give me your right foot, and kiss me," 

 said the master. The foot was presented, 

 the kiss was given. The same request was 

 made for the left foot, and the kiss ; and with 

 the same result. There were many attempts 

 made to persuade the bird he was " mis- 

 taken " — but he knew better. He also 

 passed and repassed his master's arm, by 

 stooping, when requested so to do. Every 

 command was a law, instantly obeyed. We 

 were much struck at the obedience shown, 

 and the perfect power that was possessed 

 over the bird. 



" George " next went through a very 

 curious and entertaining series of experi- 

 ments. He lay down at command as " dead." 

 He was then taken up, an apparently lifeless 

 mass, — thrown backwards and forwards, 

 hither and thither, upwards and downwards. 

 Still, no motion. He was then ^-mesme- 

 rised, and once more " himself again." 

 Then did he go through a long exercise with 

 three tea-spoons. One he held firmly in his 

 mouth, and one in each of his claws. He 

 was then held up by the hand of his master, 

 and performed a dance, — first on his head ; 

 and then on his feet. It was a dance — a la 

 three tea-spoons. A tune was whistled to 

 him ; and he kept time to it.* This and 

 much more. In all that we have related of 

 " George," it must be borne in mind that 

 the " eye " alone has been called into 

 exercise. 



Then he is a first-rate dancer, — full of 

 fun, full of attitude; and as for " talking," 

 there is no end to it. This last, however, 

 he will do only ivhen he pleases. The " eye" 

 here has no power. His most favorite ex- 

 pressions, are — " Prince Albert ! come and 



* More correctly speaking, as the bird was 

 shamming to be " dead," he passively danced, 

 under his master's guidance ; the tune being men- 

 tally remembered, and repeated on a, future occa- 

 sion. — Ed. K. J. 



