The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-12-14
THE CATS IN CONVENTION.
TUE 0UADRENNIAL GATHERING At
WEST BROADWAY AND CANAL STREET.

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN--.Sr: For
years there has existed among the morning
newspaper ompositors q tradition to the effect
that every leap year feline convention. o
mighty gathering Of the cat clan. Is held In the
vicinity of West Broadway and Canal street.
In his frequent nocturnal trips through this
neiGhborhood many a typo has looked well
about him. during the significant period, hop
irg he might establish proof OF the truth OF the
legend. I am ono Of these typos and now
set tho ythical tale upon the enduring podes-
tai OF actual fact.
1t was on one OF tho mellow nights which
havo succeeded Thanksgiving this present
season that was making my way homo
ward shortly after 2 o'clock A. NJ. Tho night
was clear tho air almost ms soft and balmy as
that which chases the neecy clouds across a
June sky. and far above tho city the silver OF
the stars was picked out In glittering embroid-
cry against the autumn heavens. Fresh
from tho noise and heat and glare OF
the scene OF my recent labors the mild ra-
dance Of tho night came with soothing innu-
encc, and us / crossed City Hall Park. leaving
behind mo the lights and bustlo OF Printing
House square. l barred my brow to the gentle
breeze. From Park place my route lay up
through West Broadway This thorougbfnre
which from the earliest dawn till after nightiall
at this hour silent and deserted. save for the
occasional passage OF an almost empty street
car. the tinkle OF whose bells rang not un-
musically in the unusual quiet. Canal street.
another artery OF tho cty's life. throbbng
nightly during the daylight hours, now lay
calm and pulseless in tho EMBEDDING arms Of
night and II was doubtless this absence OF
other distraetins sound that attracted my at
tention. rs ncared the cross-town avenue. to
q shrill and most unhuman voice. coming
Something impelled me to investigate the
source OF. the curious, cry, moment and
had II good view Of tho space upon the other
side II was n narrow. badly paved court be-
tween the rear OF liquor store on the one side
and the back windows Of u rickety tenement
house on the other In the clear starlight but
little OF 1t was in tho shadow. and what was
my surprise to see the enclosur packed with
cats. posed in various attitudes. and with their
attention SO thoroughly riveted upon an eX-
ceedingy large and black cat seated upon an
ash barrel in one corner that my appearance
and subsequent movements were wholly I'M
There were big cats aud little cats. fat cats and
thin cats. black cats and white cats, cats gray
formed tabby cats and tom cats. Maltese cats
and tortoise shell cats. with an occasional
anf9ra ssnG s long ing
plebean company in which it found itself. II
N was the S voice Of the big tom on the ash
and this cats, further address soon APP
prlsed mo of the nature Of tho gathering at
assisting. With prolonged air OF astonsh-
ment and an exclamation OF incrsdulous won,
der 5ooE in the The Legend Of
mu,tered to myself. Cats ' do hold co ,r
tons once in four years at this spot and am
their uuadrennia gatherings" | settled N.Y.
self in n comfortable positi in the shadow and
WSfsnsa GseTr vent on Old
Tom WAS evidently Chairman. and so aryield-
ed tho floor to no one. although clamors TO be
recognized were heard from various quarters
OF the assembly.
What we need is reform" continued tho
Chairman. bristIing his tail elo1uenty. The
Cats must rally and rescue. We must organ
IL III u psss must, be ms M s r ss
take the floor and let us hear what he thinks
about it, = broke off the old fellow suddenly,
whiskers and looked amicably about him.
think no began slowly. that our most
what from his eSHs o He nss at
hotel much fraquented by politicians. and he
tended for deiverance at n torch!ight process
We take life quietly there. 1t is not. may say.
considered good form to be garrulous and
noisy, l pass much Of my. time in sober
thought. and from my point Of view SEQ no
caus" for disquiet among our race"
and shrvnesd Ih tem sneak ea
1t strikes me-" she said that more than
one Is prc)udiced by his surroundings. What
can an upper Fifth avenue cat know OF the
condition of the majority Of his race, for to not
BILE region. am plain blunt tabby from Har-
lem; want neither senseless sound nor glut-
TO DOWN to ss ms and pnss
some resolutions conforming the existence of
hsm Snow bseS BY
cat stand in scaling these tall apartment
houses? And. besides. there is nothing get.
at-abe when we have risk.d our nine lives by a
trip up the fire escape Tho lanitor. and death
TO all Janitors. say great applause from tho
moves all the available pickings. and cats are
nowhere, Now. What are you going to do
A somewhat startled silence fell upon the
assembly; then slim. dudsh young member
rose with laneud air, and making move
Of adjusting an eyeg ass. drawied out: ''''0'
Nay !, ask II tho last speaker is wife and
No" snapped out Tabby. thank goodness.
MwAh; though. So" %urmnred the dude;
than once the fact that the female roformer is
The silence which followed this retort was
broken by the cry Of Chairman Tom. who, from
ms ash barrel. briskly maowed Order.
ord h Tor the want Of something better to say.
ness. whcreupon an educated elderly
cat stood NJ and cleared his throat
audience. and the words - A college cat" PASSED
quickly from one 70 another. When absolute
SILENCE prevailed, the gray whiskered cat began:
My friends, in the early history Of our spe-
cies we were race of sacred animals. On the
distant plains of the. Nile under tho shadow OF
the towering pyrami DIS we grew and fourishsd
We we're consecrated TO Isis. mighty heathen
goo ana 10 me moon. Which tho men OF that
our honor and praises and sacrifices offered
IN our name. But stretch ns from the land OF
Egyn, beneath the eternal and immovabls '"ye
OF the Sphinx. down through the ages To the
ycinity OF West Broadway and Canal street in
New York sensation is an immeasuruble in
terval of time and distance. The years and
centuries have seen tho decadence ofour kind !;
have seen us maligned and prosecuted. Hear
hear In lieu OF marching honOred and tri-
umphant at the head of victorious armies We
skulk in back courts and alleys and sneak ig-
ANONYMOUSLY through narrow ill smelling pas
sageways in pursuit OF food enough to. satisfy
our now meagre wants. My frends.' he went
on, his soul rising, ought this to he? Task the
moon. the stars. AJAX the night wind. ask 80
all. ought this SO to DO ?"
While he paused for reply and smacked his
chops for fresh Start, an irreyerart. diss-
patnd- looking mouser jumped to his feet
), This is al very. we'll, but not TO the point"
ne said. briskly. Besides. we have heard il
all before, and are likely to hear IL nunin prnf