The morning call., 1892-12-17
THE CAT TALKS.
Didn't Like Pork and
Beans and Said So.
The Hermit Like Existence of a
Woman Who Says Her Cat Speaks
Three Languages.

High up in one Of the tall buildings on
Market street is where Miss Brown lives
with her sable-eoated, remarkable cat and
gives lessons in voice culture.
The cat is remarkable because, as Miss
Brown AYERS. it speaks in three distinct Ian
guages.
a CALL reporter, hearing the strange tale
OF feline conversational powers, paid the
little teacher OF voice culture a visit re-
Gently and was assured by the lady that
the cat could and did talk.
mot by articulation as we do, of course"
said Miss Brown. "but in her own peculiar
way, which. to me- at least, is quite intelli-
gible.
when l say she speaks in three Ian
guages don't mean that she speaks French,
German or Italian, but that she has three
different ways of expressing the same thing.
But first let me tell you Kittie's history.
"She was found on the sidewalk near the
entrance of the building, by a tender
hearted little pupil of mine, who, because
the elevator-boy would not allow her to be
brought up in the elevator, carried her all
The way upstairs.
Poor Kittie was in bad plight indeed.
Some cruel person had kicked her about
and almost killed her, and one eye was so
badly hurt that. as you see, she has but one
remaining.
''Of course kept her. 1 never turn any
thing away from my door in distress, and
now she repays me by love almost human.
II am sorrY she loves me so much" con-
tiDued the strange little woman. because
she, at least, will miss me. But that has
nothing to do with the story of her talking.
That wardrobe" she said, pointing to a
little white oak piece of furniture in the
corner, "is kittie's home. She lives on the
top of it and sleeps there.
We'll. it is near the door, and whenever
60 out she remains on guard there until
return. and when [ Come in she always
drops down on my shoulders and kisses me
three or four times.
That is one OF her ways of expressing
pleasure at seeing me which never varies.
Now you 60 out and come in again in a
minute or two and see how she win act"
The reporter did as directed, and on re-
entering the room was some what astonished
TO see the black cat perched on the top of
the wardrobe with its back arched high. and
it's one eye glarng in was plainly indieat-
ing that hostilitieS were in order.
Since her cruel treatment when a kit
ten." said Miss Brown. "she has never
shown anything but antipathy 10 any one
excepting myself and the little girl who
brought her here.
''In the matter of food her likes and dis
likes are shown in more ways.
"For instance. she has a very marked
aversion to polk and beans. Now FL show
you how she acts"
The lady brought plate of pork and
beans, and called puss, who at once lett her
perch on the wardrobe.
"Kittie. want some pork and beans" said
the little lady.
The advancing cat paused instantly and
sat down.
Come Kittie. and have some dinner"
Kittie showed her dislike to the fare
offered by retreating under a chair in
very detected way.
Now that Is Two ways she has plainly
expressed her dlsapproval of pork and
beans. Now see the third"
Miss Brown advanced toward the chair,
holding the plate toward the cat, who,
when the undesired dish had approached
near enough, voiced her disgust by pro-
longed dismal howl, ending abruptly in
spiteful spit, and with elevated back and
bristling fur she retreated once more to the
top Of the wardrobe.
3 "Fhere" said the peculiar little woman,
triumphantly, as IL the accomplishments OF
her pet had been called into question.
Isn't that speaking in three languages 2"
Then there are many other things she
likes and dlslikes, and Of which she ex-
presses her feelings just as plainly.
II call her genius, and money would not
tempt ME 10 part with her, because | am an
old woman now. ara since / became a
woman have never known friend that
really loved me till this waif. manned and
crippled by mans brutality, was brought to
me.
No; was never married, and like nv
cat. am tempted at times to declare war
on the whole race Of man.
Good by"
And the reporter left. wondering at the
hermit-like existence of little Miss Brown
and her talking cat