"A Quaker hates a parrot"

[Joel S. Berson]

A correspondent asks:

>In Way of the World, Witwould says that Lady Wishfort "hates
>Mirabell  worse than a Quaker hates a parrot or than a fishmonger
>hates a hard frost."
>I can see where a fishmonger would hate a hard frost, but why would
>a Quaker hate a parrot?
>The only reasons that occur to me are that Quakers value silence and
>parrots are said to be noisy, or that a parrot who spoke might
>repeat  words no Quaker should know.

Any thoughts?

Joel

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