The daily gazette., 1877-12-20
TWO HUNDRED CATS.
AN INTERESTING CAT SHow-TOMs
AND Tables ON EXHIBITION.

AN INTERESTING CAT SHoW-TOMS
AND Tables ON EXHIBITION.
From the N. Y. Sun.
A cat show is now going on at the
American Museum, at which over POO
cats are exhibited. The peculiarities of
some of them are thus described
"Russan Joe" is a tall, sleek, hand
some animal, with long, deecy hair,
spotted with jet black, and an eye that
for pellucid clearness rivals that of
Spanish senorita. He is dignified
beast, and in his performances moves
with aristocratic slowness and genteel
languor. At one end of the platform on
which he stood was small cannon, with
an ingenious arrangement of lever and
fuse intended for firing, and at the other
large bird cage containing Java spar
rows, paroquets and canaries. Joe was
to fire off the cannon, and then lie down
among the canaries without eating them.
AT the word of command the cat drop-
ped his theatrical attitude, and ambled
nimbly toward the firing apparatus on
the left. He pressed the cushioned lever
with his right paw, but the fuse only
smoked and refused to go off. Joe turned
his head and looked askew at it in dis
dainful manner, until after quarter of a
minutes suspense, the cannon went of,
Joe not moving a muscle during the
whole operation. Joe weighs IL pounds,
and, with one exception, is the hand
soonest cat in the exhibition. He was
born and trained in Paulowski, twenty
one versts from st. Petersburg.
"Molly," a handsome Maltese, three
years old and weighing nineteen pounds,
lay curled ap in the corner of cage not
far OF. When stirred up, she yawned,
licked her chops, and purred placidly.
In the next compartment was "Chinese
Pete" the only representative OF the
Flowery Kingdom in the show. He is a
dirty white in color, with almond-shaped
eyes of cold, glittering green. A won
dering Celestial from a neighboring cigar
stand eyed him with a hungry and PEE
culiar look that spoke volumes.
"Jim," an intelligent black and white
brute of the mixed variety, has attained
the distinction of saving the household
of his master from being burned to death
by the simple expedieht of scratching
with his claws on the parlor carpet. The
incident occurred in October, 1875. His
owner live in South Brooklyn, and has
ISJcCIeu al OIer OL pow IOf uln'
"Dick." No. 100, is entirely black,
with green eyes, No. 130 was born
without teeth and carries food to his
mouth with his paws, after the manner
of monkey. This habit has rendered
those organs unusually soft and flexible
as well as sensitive to the slightest
touch.
A twenty pound table cat, of mixed
color, the property of Sir. John Morris of
Brooklyn, has many admirers. Her
strong points, are her beautiful glossy
coat, and curious yellowish, green eyes,
which she keeps all but closed.
"Lillie," No. 100, has eyes of different
colors, the right eye being green and the
left white. She is one year old, weighs
five pounds, and is one of the especial
pets of the children.
"Dicky James" is handsome twenty
pound tiger cat, with powerful teeth ana
claws, broad arched back, and fierce,
glttering eyes. OF his abilities as a
serenader there can be only one opin-
ion.
The beauty of the show par excellence
however is "Dick, the Ratter." No. 226,
a Maltese colored drab cat, with coat
as soft and sleek as the most costly fur
a bright black eye, regal posture. His
capacity is said to be four rats minute.