The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-18

IN having no tail. and the lack thereof is
the insoluble puzzle to naturalists. Since
So has become the fashion to explain every
thing by the principles of evolution two
theories have been o1ered-one, that owing
10 the limited range and lack of dense for
ests the Original cats had no use for tails,
and consequently they Ohe tails, not the
cgts) gradually atr0phied for lack of use
and became rudimentary; another, that
Clio primitive Nlanx cut OF all their cats
calls ort i'm course Of time developed tail
less breed One thing is ccrta.n-the cats
a there, and they have no tails.
Tlc high bred Chinese cat is a splendid
prof Of what may be done by kindness
and culture. If you were TO repeat TO a
vel 10 DO but untraveled Chinaman the
current saying with us that cats are selfish
creatures, utterly devoid Of affection, he
would be very much astonished and, if the
owner OF n thoroughbred, probably in
Clwant. The Chinese cat appears capable
of intense attachment TO one person, and
AGES Of selection and careful breeding
have brought the species up TO high
standard. The Chinese claim that one Of
these cats (a1d any cat 20 some extent is
valuable clock. In the morning the pupil
oil it's eye is "a broad band; it contracts
REGULARLY tin noon, when 10 is a mere hair
lac. and expands again az regularly till
a..at. So when Chinaman wants to
know the time Of day he picks up his cat
and looks
THE prettiest cat in the world probably
i,tae royal cat Of Siam. 1t is OF "A beauti-
I'D fawu color, with q black muzzle and
liquid dark eye and is Of q most affection
are disposition. For centuries they were
seen nowhere save in the palace of the ST
ONES. king. and TO take one away was a
capital oGenee. At length some were
stolen ana taken 10 Europe but they are
so delicate, probably as a result of centU-
ree ri careful Vctting, that it is doubtful
Il the breed can be perPetuated. Many
othcr fhe breeds are known TO the public,
especially in England, where annual cat
shows have been held for many years.
The United States government is the
proprietor OF some 800 cats, for which a
regular allowance is made in the postofice
department. They are distributed among
the larger postotlices, where much mail is
likely TO be stored. They are taught To
live among the mail sacks, and are fed
only when the supply Of rats and mice
rG.s out. By the way, 10 is a fact not SO
well known as ii should I've that cats are
unsafe creatures to keep in any part OF
city where all the ground is paved or
otherwise covered by stone or brick. The
iu-.irc. Of the creature warns him that his
necessities are dangerous 10 his kind ms
,,c.l ass TO human beings, and whenever
possible DE improvises an earth closet, but
where This cannot be done the result is IN
c11htedly bad.
This IS one Of many reasons urged by
lat peculiar band OF women who traverse
Oh. streets Of New York rescuing homeless
cat, When this band, which now consists
G.. seven women, was first mentioned IN
The press. the article was thought 20 be n
...a. but they ere now recognized section
OtucEcnry Bergh association. They 60
Oft .lfr 40 night, each with a basket Of
tipped liver, chickens feet and other ref
ua mcat. also bottle of chloroform and
fu. c0tmp. The vGgrant cats O. the back
alloys soon learn their voices, and at their
c come i'm joyous groups 10 roll in the
C.r.p aud feed On tie scraps. All the
ST.. and wounded are put to final sleep
with the chl0roform. The last report Of
Tire cat and dog refuge 40 7O4 Eighth
avenue showed that the band is now using
seven gallons az chloroform per month,
and il ten months had treated" 1859
homeless cats and seventy-one dogs. Six
wounded spauoWs, one rabbit and one
opaslm were also cared for.