The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-24
The Hill Cats Of BROOKLYN.

III this matter Of tho cat migration to that
part OF Brooklyn known rs the Hill. there
are some facts which have not yet beer
placed before the public: and Of these
facts few must be known before opinion
is finally made UP and engossed. 1t is
pretty we'll known that In its supply Of cnts
the city Of New York Is as far ahead OF the
rest Of the country Us New Jersey is in its
supply Of mad dogs. These cats have been
observed for some years. have been made
the subject OF numerous interesting mono.
graphs. and have created much opportunity
for benevolence. But In Brooklyn the cats
have not hitherto risen to o sufficient I'M
portnnce to be written about or even
thought about.
The first note Of warning was sounded
some time ago from the direction Of Will
liamsburgh. where it was said that an army
Of cats had arrived and had quartered it.
self. without so much as by your leave. to
the great annoyance Of the public peace.
| And now comes a wall from the Hill to
the effect that its peaceful doorsteps and
neighborhoods. its calm and hitherto undis-
| turbed areas, aud its hitherto select and
| garbage-strewn vacant lots. are the daily
! and nightly scene Of revelry and disorder.
But the Hill. in considering its own mis-
fortunes apart from the misfortunes of
other parts Of Brooklyn. has not appreci-
ated their full extent. After long and
careful investigation it may be said that
the Hill district IL the very head and centre
Of the army OF cats which has sprung up
in Brooklyn: that It's cats outnumber the
cats OF any other like area; and that they
excel IN size. in daring. in wldncss. and in
all points except beauty. any cats known in
these regions. Further. it is safe to add
that a certain street called Cambridge
place, between Greene and Gates. is in the
heart OF the storm. having n ca population
Of amazing density.
For the information OF those who have
not the time to investigate this subject
exhaustively. it may be we'll to say that
the cats We refer to are not those which
make up part OF every regular household.
They are not the well-mGnnered and we'll
kept animals that are to be seen in sunny
corners OF window stills. or lazily sleepin:
before CRATE fires. The cats now in qucs-
ton are the surplus. the homeless. friend
less. nameless individuals OF the tribe.
Surely in one short block. in a quiet
TO he studied to advantage. There are
many special mysteries Of life. death. and
birth In relation to these cats which no man
has been able to explain. And here. where
they are so numerous rs to be under con-
slant observation. where hiding places are
few and food exceedingly scarce, all the
hitherto pulling questions should be
solved. Some progress has been made in
this direction. as wc have learned by talking
with residents of the neighborhood.
The Hill cats OF the nomad tribe are en-
tlreiy different from ordinary cats. as those
who have noted them in New York have re-
marked. To begin with external appear
ahcc: they are. for the most part of black
or dirty brown aspect. slngularly lax and
Indifferent IN matter" OF the toilet. This may
arise GrolI the uneven way in which hair il
distributed over their hides. owing partly
to the Indifference OF nature and partly to
the exceedingly stirring and warlike lives
they lead. The tail, which in cat Of even
ordina'r easy fortune Is plume Of some
beaui". srnns TO be the most disreputab.o
feature OF these eats, being Of a snail and
Glcn'c. growth ut best. and often entirely
lacking through IL, bcin. the last part OF u
cat to leave ".,.. door ii closing rapidly.
In tho matte Of eyes, also. the standard
proportion "r two to y cat IL not maintains
Ell. although 50 far rs has been observed
us yet this i, due to no oversight OF na-
turc. Altogether tho Hill cat is an unsiyhtly
creature. ne little pleasing to itself in
appearance ms 1t Is to those who look
upon 1t. And when it is remembered that
IN passing along that street by day cats of
this Kind are to b" sean everywhere and that
at night tho pedestrian Is ullright,d again
by seeing balls of fire garnS in tho dark
corners of easements. sometimes one ball.
again two. again three. varying in shade
and lire, adding oddness OF number u tie
terror OF the glow then one understands
what this infcstation means iron. u spec
taculur STANDPOINT.
Ii this were the worst. il might he borne.
But ii is tho unpleasant habits, ar mental
of these cats tln. maize t'r!n
In New York airi Ia Other
parts o' Brooklyn man rroiais 4. nuisance
with severe measures. BAT these cats so
iouruins upon the Hill. knuwtnal they In "a
to do with tenlcr and meek human b,pg3,
who hate the sight of sifi 'r.lS md death.
who hesitate to shoot cats on nttp,wi,i. do |
thfW uhh!np"' lNiecu, lhe !''ii,niiri ~, IT, !
Hill people toward the cats is rX..a ordinary, |
Only now and then tnc!n come, 10 |
some boarding house Il hardened prr.un !
who fires NJ them. on kick ,lien ar I,
hurls articles Of furniture after t!,rm Su IA !
rrnel persons have been found To br rx- |
In~lingly Enthusiastically in the matter Of !
paying their board. and are accordingly |
treated with GOODNESS. The cats. therefore. |
Increase in daring, and. althuu.h thry !
do most OF their prowiin,; al nisAt. they do |
not hesitate to show themselves by day and |
to carry on whatever pleases their fancy.
While the tender and gentle people OF the
Hill do not tind 1t In their hearts to Kill