The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-10-12

called for him necessarily with the ut
most inquietude. She recognized his
voice at q distance, and seemed on each
fresh meeting with him to feel increased
delight.
This animal" says Sonnini, .'was
my principal amusement for several
years. How many times have her
tender caresses made me forget my
troubles, and consoled me in my mis-.
fortunes! My beautiful and interesting
companion, however, at length per-
ished. After several days of suffering,
during which never forsook her, her
eyes, constantly fixed on me, were at last
extinguished, and her loss rent my hear
with sorrow"
As cats are of the same race rs the
lion, tiger and wildcat, and possess
similar traits, in modified form, they
retain so strongly the traits which they
inherit from their ancestors in wild
state that they can never be said to be
fully tanned or trained to give up their
habits of thieving and desire TO lead a
wandering life. If this be the case,
they are not to blame, and though, in
consequence, they are not as inter-
esting from every point of view rs dogs
and horses, they are none the less use
full in their way, and should not be i'll
treated.
They are often interesting after they
reach the stage of great grown cats, "a
an instance of which we relate the fol.
lowing anecdote: "A cat belonging to
clearinghouse always fastened to the
hall on hearing the bell, to get its accus.
toned meal; but it happened one day
that she was shut up in chamber, and
it was in vain for her that the bell had
sounded. Some hours after, having been
emancipated from her confinement, she
fastened to the hall, but found nothing
left for her. The cat thus disappointed
got to the bell, and, sounding it, endeav-
Ored to summon the family to second
dinner, in which she doubted not to par
ticipate."
Some people carry their fondness for
cats almost to an excess. A friend OF
ours has always been fond of the feline
race, and has been known to keep twelve
and fourteen at time. More than that,
to have names for them all. to which
they all responded. Although her fond
ness for them decreases as she grows
older. she still retains half dozen, and
has had the oldest for seven or eight
years.
There are many different varieties Of
cats; some are interesting as kittens,
some more so as cats; the finest among
these are the Maltese and Angora cats.
As an instance of the possibility OF
training some of these to other employ.
ments than catching rats and mice, it is
said that years ago the Greek monks OF
the island of Cyprus trained eats to
hunt and kill serpents, with which that
island was then infested. This is q
very rare case, as they incline to de.
stroy animals much smaller than them.
selves, and in that respect are said to
be much more patient and perSeverine
than dogs. They have not the fineness
and delicacy of scent possessed by the
dog; consequently they hunt by the
eye. They do not pursue, but lie in
wait and surprise their prey, and evince
their love of cruelty in the fact that
they do not Immediately kill it, but toy
with it vivaciously for length of time.
Like all other animals they have bad
and good habits; let us look always for
the good.-CecN Hampton HoUard, in
The Household.