Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-04
A CAT STORY.

Woman Whose House was Head
quarters for Hundreds Of the Feline
Race.
From the Providence Press.
Whether un Justly or not. from time imme.
mortal, all maiden ladies' of an uncertain age
have been credited with certain amount of af
lection for animals of the species feline but
never has case been recorded where the pas
sion for cats was cultivated to such an abnormal
degree as it was by lone. lOrn woman" a
number or years ago, in a small town in neigh
boring state. For some years previous to the
year 1883. there lived in a small. lOw-studded.
tumblc-dOWn looking house, situated in an out
Of-the-Way cross road, between the towns OF
Sterling and Lancaster Mass. two maiden
sisters. named COngdon. each Of whom had a
love for cats. and had three or four pets Of this
kind. Finally. about the year above mentioned.
the younger sister died, leaving the elder aged
ABOUT 10 years, alone in the world. From this
time forward. all the love which Miss Congdon
had felt for her sister was concentrated into
LOVE FOR CATS,
and soon her little house became the shelter for
all the stray felInes that came that way q place
where all the neighbors dropped the cats or kit
tens which they wished to rid themselves of
thus they multiplied and increased until it is
estimated that at one time the "lonely old maid
was the foster mother or sort of guardian angel
offrOm 100 to 125 cats, of all sexes sizes
shapes. colOrs and descriptions. And all of
these the old woman loved with a love that
passeth understanding" and would nurse them
In sickness as tenderly as mother would her
child. caressng them in an affectionate manner
and day by day wash them and carefully comb
and brush their coats or make up their beds.
While those who were not under treatment
would run and race up and down the ROOM over
her shoulders chairs, tables, etc.
IN THE SUMNER TINE
the old woman could frequently be SEEN seated
In her old armchair, with the doors and win
doWs thrown wide open. with cats perched
upon her shoulders, cudded down in her lap
and occupying every available space, in every
conceivable position. The cats themselves
seemed to be always happy and contented save
When the larder was empty. and then they
would go on foraSing expedition out into the
fields and woods near the house There they
would catch rats mice. meadow mOles rabbits
etc. which they would quickly kill and eat
Ordinarily the cats were comparatively peace
fully disposed. but at times when they were
hungry, they became very angry and ferocious.
and rent the air with the meowlings, yels and
hOWllngs, so that the
SCHOOL CHILDREN WE'RE AFRAID
to pass the house, and would take hold of
hands and go scampering across the lots to
avoid passing the door. In the winter the cats
were housed up the greater portion Of the
time and those persons who happened to go
past the house at moment when the door was
accidentally opened would find the stench-laden
atmosphere which came from within. almOstsun-
bearable. All cats, gaunt or fat we'll and
strong, or lame and i'll. from the tiniest kitten
to the Oldest gray-beard of tom-cat were be-
loved by ''Mother Congdon' and found shelter
in her house and plenty of food while she could
provide it. She was possessed of a small prop
erty from which she deriveda moderate income,
every dollar of which was spent for the good of
her darling pets. When the weather was good
she has often been seen taking the
CATS OUT FOR A WALK
and at this time she presented very com ical
appearance. Cats were riding on.her shoulders
cats in her arms, cats cinging to her dress. and
cats running beside her or following in de-
mure procession in her wake. At this period of
her life, she is described as being tall and gaunt
with round shoulders and bent figure, small
thin, very much wrinkled face, surmounted by
coarse, gray hair, and heavy, bushy eyebrows
underneath which cleaned keen, stcely-gray
eyes, her whole exterior being like unto one Of
Macbeths witches A few years later "Mother
COngdon" died and all of her property was
found to have been left for the support of her
darling cats. OF her early life but little is
known, nor could the cause of this inordnate
affection for the cat tribe ever be learned as she
turned the cold shoulder on all visitors, and de-
voted all her time and energies tothe almost
endless task Of washing. combing, feeding and
dressing the hundreds OF cats which for nearly
ten wears were her constant COmDaniOns