Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-23
A SMART OFFICE CAT.
How She Made Her Way on n Norwich
NeMspaper.

A Norwich Conn letter says: Every
newspaper has its Office cat, and the B,A.e-
Tin. Of this city, is no exception TO the
rule. Thereare many remarkable cats IN
this town. but none that can equal THIS
one. except in beauty. Mig makes no
claim to beauty; she is only plain, every
dav cat II is now several months
since she made her first appearance
in the Office. She walked into the
counting-room ono rainy afternoon, q
sOrry-loOking wreck. She was chased out
and swept ont, but all IN vain. her per-
sonal appearance was againstho but ind
inc il impossible TO get rid of her she was
taken on trial. She confined her wander
ings the first week 10 the business Office,
aud soon had onscOnced herself In the big
drawer of the managers desk. When she
had recaiued q part Of her vitality She
made her way upstairs into the COM
poeing-rOom. Her reception there was
chilly. but she did not mind that
She finally struck mp an acqualnt-
ance with the foreman and the two
became really "chummy." She enjoyed
his society SO much that nothing could in
duce her to leave the room. She became
personally acquainted with the intricacIcs
of his desk and distinguished herself by
turning copy-watcher. When a lot of Pre-
pared copy had been put upon the spindle
for the compositOrs Mig" would wind
herself around the hook and lie there
on guard. When the foreman would leave
the room and one of the compOsitOrs en-
deavored TO soldier" for fat" and not
take the top sheet, as Is the custom,
Mig" would look indignant and give him
a scratch.
She finally became ambitions to affiliate
with the editorial staff. There We're many
difficulties 10 surmount, however, before
she could do this. TIL door 90 the edito-
rial department was sealed against her
But she finally hit upon an ingenious plan
which proved successful. There is a small
hole cut through the wall between the
composing and editorial-rOoms, with hd
hanging on hinges on either side, thus
forming "A small box through which the
copy is passed. The toreman's desk
on the one side and the night-edtor' 5
desk on the other stand Immediately
beside this box. which ia about two feet
above the top of the desks. When She had
completed her deep-laid scheme " Mig '
awaited a chance TO try it. The first night
that she saw the foreman prepare TO go out
she knew that the moment had arrived.
Stealthily approaching the hole. she stood
up on her hind legs aud endeayored tOOpeu
the lid with her forepaws. After many I'm
successful trials she cano 10 the conciu-
sion that it could not toe done. and sine
Law down 90 cOucOct another scheme. Aiter
some thinking she arose and again APP
preached the hole, this time with rush.
She bad her nose pointed for the lid. which
was open about an inch no the bottom,
and, Jumping for the box, she held ON
with her claws. while she raised the nd
with her nose. and IN this way passed into
tho box. the cover falling with SIAM the
usual signal for more copy The editor
opeuod his side to nut 10 i'm. when the cant
Jumped out upon him, and for q moment
there was an exciting scramble. Bat the
cat was allowed 10 remain. From that
time she has made nightly excursions
through the copy" hole from one room
to another.
Mig" is a versatile and contemplating
cat. She catches COckrOaChcs as well
as mice. and distinguishes herself ln
many other ways. You cannot sit down on
her. and her even disposition is something
wonderful She has lain sprawled out on
the floor IN the composlng-rOOm near tie
stand where the type for the paper is placed
until il is ready 10 20 IN the forms, and
compOsitors have stumbled over Der and
pied" galleys of live matter without %
murmur. "Nig's mind IS now bound up ln
her two little kittens. and She is
devoting herself 10 educating them. She
had five. all jet black, but three of them
have disappeared. She keeps them i'm the
editorial-ro0m also. An effort was made
three times % transfer them 10 the press
room. but Mig" brought them back up
stairs each time, and they were then all
lowed 10 remain. The three are great ta-
yoritas. II is as much as o mans life is
worth 10 harm hair on their back, and
mig" and hertwO otspringare considered
among the brainiest cats IN the land.