The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-08-24
THE CATS OF BROADWAY.
Pet Astaais In the shops which are Petite
&c Customers nnd Keep the Mice Away.

&c Csssomsrs nnd Keep the Mice Away.
mo shop is complete nowadays without a
cat" said Broadway policeman. My beat
along the upper part Of Broadway takes me
right through the shopping district. and whom
go home at night have to walk down Sixth
avenue. so that have pretty fair opportu-
nifty to watch the oats. The first case that
ever came to my notice was about two years
ago whom went into furnishing goods store
on Broadway to buy collar. We'll. sir. went
In and asked tho man for some collars. and he
dumped lot on tho show case. big Maltese
cat which had been lying on the door mat trot-
ted back to whore stood jumped on the coun-
ter and then on the show case and walked de-
liberateiy to where the collars lay. She WAS
u beautiful cot. with big eyes and soft gray
coat She sat down quietly. looked up In my
face. and watched me while ! selected the COL
lar. Every few minutes she would put out her
paw and gently touch whatever collar seemed
TO have In my hand. Finally. when l Ind
me-. she gave tho bundle ssnte pat with her
paw. then bounced back on the floor again. aud
shopkseper told mo that every customer who
came In received the Same treatment from tho
Snd Inv Mates. XIX SS M from o
him 70 tho door when no left which was a bit
OF rotteness that the cat mover showed to
Every drug store on Broadway has its pet
Thsrs ni cno t1a %" ss
Tie winter time. Wien | first .aw that chi
four times sssrs aitsrnoon Tor weaG. but
mover thought Twas alive. 1t lay in one posi-
ami never changed its position durin. the NJ
ternoon. l stood watching II onco for y long
time through ! the window and the clerk IL tho
s sS Sand aH sS them wont
They say they are very useful about drug
stores. as they keep tho mice AWAY from the
ssrbs and .ng ThsrS Il biz hsSk
T. beauty; too AccordNinE : t. my mind Il
ebony. 1t is u young cat. but 1t has already
the piacs ~ It has a comfortaGic corner in tho
doorway. where 1t sleeps IN the day time. and
At nigh. It lounges around the soda fopn mt
will move about on tho shelves among delicate
bottles ana line glassware. but 1t has never
brokon thing. lfyou 20 into the shop more
than once it will recognize you. and after that
will always, come forward To mect you. This
and rubbing it, head When they 70 IN tho shop
and the result Is 1t trots out naturally to meet
its friends That cat is regular master OF
"On tho corner above there Is q big yellow
cat which IL growing old and lazy. 1t IL grcat
IhNOTll" Will lhuy anu wueu tucy
| come in to give al order and sit down in u
chair the cat always comes along. JUMPS ny IN
| their laps and purrs nffectionntely. There In
hardly shop along Broadway that has not y
| pet cat. and every one OF the shopkaepers eau
| Tell you fine stories about what his cat can do
know for n fact that there are some very
| clever cats In those shops. They are bettor
| thnn dogs. because they keep tho rats and
mice away, and do not Interfere with the Gus;
it costs little or nothing to keep them. I
avsnue. near Thirty-third street. which has
| laid out u place for itself near the front
! door. The butcher sprinkles his floor
| with sawdust three times day. and every
| time he does 1t the cat hops up on the window
sill and watches tho operation closely; Whom
cred. the cat hops down, selects II spot directly
In the middle OF tha wide doorway. and begins
| slowly 10 clear II spot there. 1t begins by moy-
| Ing Its paw around In nsmall circle and finally
| brushes the sNwiust away until q cenr space
| IL left This spot Ia about two feet in diameter.
| and always perfectly round Tho carpent ter
couldn't make u more accurate circle. 1t Is In.
when the cat has got every bit of snwdust oil
| this particular spot It lios down with its nose
toward the sidewalk, and dozes. II y man or
| woman comes In and kicks tho sawdust into
the charmed circle tho cat carefully brushes 1t
"Thase Amt very exciting stories but they
| are truthful. l might tell you about y cat
which went w to the seventh story OF burn
| ing building and carried . sick man down the
| water pipa safely to the street. or give you
| many other fairy tales. but you wouldn't be.
| ieve them. aud so what would be the use
| had rather toll truthful story and hnve 1t be-
| loved than . large tale that no ono credits"