, 1872-12-10
CATS.
The Show ut the Crystal Palace.

The Fourth Cat Show at the Crystal Palace
was pretty and pleasant spectacle. On raised
platform, which occupied great space between
the marble basin and the centric of the building,
stood q long range Of light, strong, commod!ons
pens, each handsomely furnished with raised
cushion Of crimson baize, 2 deli basin Tor pur-
poses OF refreshment, and a aelecton OF nne
gravel in g kind of lane al the buck, whittier the
exhibited tenant might retire to scratch, tread,
or mediate, whenever publicity should become
wearisome to him. These pens wero occupied
by OBS cats. for whose comfort and safety
arrangements Of the most admirable and
ingenious kind were made. Whatever tho vicis-
s1tudes OF herdships Of the Journey, the c0na-
peting quadruped who had once reached alt.
Wilson'S hands, and had attached to his neck his
little leaden label, whereby his Identity was
torial embraces secured, wa5 o cat to be con
s,ratu1ated. For the furry family twenty gal
Ions Of milk and twenty pounds Of meat we're
provided per diem their temporary dwolllngs
tended with the serupulous cleanliness essen,
tiaI to the happiness Of every weu-reGalated
cat. There were no casualties, and the
only mistakes we're made by exhibitors VINO did
not comply with the rules forwarded to them
(ru1es which were drawn up with perfect dis
tinctness), and whose cats wero wrongly class1-
fed or debarred from competition, in conse-
quence.
4 few Of the most beautiful Of the compete
tors have appeared ut one OF more OF the former
shows. Among them is No. l, Class l, {. short
haired tortoise-shell he-cat, who has had the
honor of disproying tho prevalent belief that no
such animal existed. He is grave and beaut1-
fu h an af If qf s oq unep
the lower Lip. He seems to know that he l5
no. and unique specimen End yet he is not
unduly proud, but betrays lively interest IN
the admiring crowd, and come curiosity respect
ing his immediate neighbors three very hand
some tortoisesheu-and-whiten ne-cats, who seem
shy and unused to public life. The male cats
are calm and contemplahye their toilet for the
day has been carefully made before noon they
females arc very lively, and such Of their NUM-
Der as are not engaged in m aternal duties are
stretching themselves and looking about them.
It takes como time to discern this differ
ence, however; for the line OF he-eats Is g. q
long one, and several aro go beautiful that the
visitor fingers before them, following their
graceful lines, their rich coloring their soft si-
lent movements, with delight. The brown tab
bies are especially beautiful. No. 10, who has
carried off the first prize, and wears his blue
bow so gracefully,-just blending it with his
rich brown-aud-black. fur, in which not a white
hair ia to be seen,-is, Of coureo the finest; but
there aro many who nearly approach him IN dark
sleekiness. There is not among them that vari-
ety of names which newould wish. They all sug-
eest the home1y, comfortable, intimate love, the
nicely of care with which they are regarded and
in most instances their collars or neck-ribbons
are assorted to their coloring with delicate ap-
feeble. Bobby, Toby, Billy: Tom, Zig, even
Tiger-theso are not impressive appella5lons,
md Wl1skerandos is insulting to its truly noble
looking bearer. That sRlenda d. Drown .n;oa taDpy
and by name which must naturally dwindle
down to " ANDY" g. Crystal" has no meaning,
and Dick is too familiar for grand creature,
with eyes like great topazes, and SHINING biack
indolent grace. The red tabbiea are very
handsome, and their eyes are large and golden
IN color but they do not look 80 soclable az the
others, and the largest and handsomest lies down
in his house, and refuses to tumble to the admir-
ing audience. The variety OF countenance and
shape of face among the cats is very curious, and
it grows on ones perception as one passes down
the long line. The visitor is not distressed by
Of imprisoned wild animals: Only two Or three
Of the c4ts looked as if they did not like it
only one was jumping at the bars in any
earnest. There WAS 2 good 20 H., deal ct
play nnef be Rdy ptfena mater sgd
there was hardly any noise A1noug the silver
gray tabbies, both male and female, are many
remarkable handsome faces. And No. 81, q
black-and-white he-cat, Of perfect form, evenly
whiskers and white-topped paws, has such an
expression Of sagacity thahone turns to the cata-
logue confident that he is mot for sale." OF
course, not ; and he lays his paw gravely against
the fact No. IS is perfectly black, with soft fur,
like satin for sheen. No. 46 is pure white,
with sad face, as Of & cat Who though
only year old, has outived ponps and yanltles
and does not care for shows or bows. He wears
his ribbon carelessly, and let's his nose droop
IstlesE1y towards the cushlen edge. Not 30 q
nciehbor Of his, aged six, who has reached mid
die life, and likes it.; who is q registering brig
and, with rusty face, unutterably knowing;
g caat whose home-life is plainly untrammellcd
by restrictions, who has o lntch-key, and who,
il by reason Of town residence he does not
ssknow where the wood-pigeons breed, /" is IA
1niliar with the best preserves Of sparrowa.
the wires, gives his head 3 shake, twitches his
ears with 3 click, and lies down, having said
plainly; AZ don't mind this for three days, you
know, Just to oblige them at home but it
couldn't last" Among the short-haired he-cats
Of unusual color is q handsome creature named
eA1nontil1ado," who lives at the Crystal Palace
and has an amusing air OF at~homishness. "Hat
hal" he seems to say as he Gcks his lips and
blinks. stIf we're to be let out, should be all
right. No one would be alarmed there would
hadn't to be brought here in basket, with .
'1G1s i've css i es@o asssIDeE myself ny ss and
I know where: the milk cans are kept
ments disturb his profound calm ; and, when
lady ratified her parasol against the bars, he
shrugged his shoulders as naturally as If he had
been born in q Parisian cafe, and did not even
glance in her direction.
Among the short-haired female cats there are
two red tabbies, the only specimens ever exhib-
tied Of animals almost as rare as the st Tortoise
shell Tom" They are both exceedingly hand
some; and, OF course, form . distinct class.
But they are Of unequal value. ttzoonie," the
first, aged four years and three
months. is the proud mother Of if
ty-three Kittens and her price is prohibito-
~, $500. The second has no name, is four and
a-hah months old, and may be purchased for
ire guineaa The cata are divided into forty
eight classes, q variety very surprising to per-
Sons who have not studied the subject, and very
interesting to trace in the difference and re-
eemblance between the ahort-haired and long
Haired animals. The former occupies one side
h Of the raised ao platform ths latter, in CORE
while the pens at tho end, facing tho crystal
fountain, nt;jn, ,s;e1 Mero occupied by numbers Of
eyes and playful restlessneas as, coatrsst"gg us.g
with the Preponderating expression
OF reserved and watchfnl eravt1,
among the elders On either side. Tint manv :
cat there had story it was easy to sec; but in
some instances the story Was told. One pen was
ooor7rio3 nv 1sp17fifu3 hall c},o -