The Bessemer indicator., 1893-02-25
CATS BY THE HUNDRED.
MRS. ROBERT JoHNsoN'S BIG
FAMILY OF PETS.
Aristocratic Toms and Tabbies-AnSora
Eenutics Who Have Nothing to DO
Save to Look Pretty and
Eat Good Things.

Mrs. Robert johnson has 200 cats,
and each one of them has pedigree
that extends back over many genera
tions.
As Mrs. johnson has several mil
lions of dollars her patrician cats live
in style beiitting their long ped
igrees, says the San Francisco Exam
iner.
They live at Buena Vista, Mrs.
Johnson's country mansion near
Sonoma. and it takes three servants
to care for the pussics. Everyone Of
these cats is real Angora, and the
most exacting part OF the duties of
the three Japanese who look after
them is to sec that no wandering
nighthawk Of common fence-haunt-
ing, misunderstanding tom or tab
by shall gain entrance to this feline
paradise. There are fences high and
tight to keep these out and to re-
strain any vagrant tendencies that
may have descended to any of these
petted beauties from some outcast
ancestry.
There are about 5000 acres in the
grounds about Buena Vista, and the
residence stands in the center of ten
acres OF flower pots and lawns. The
house is reached by winding avenue
shaded with ornamental trees and is
seen to stand on the crest OF u slop-
ing knoll. Seen from the vcranda
the beds OF flowers and velvcty lawns
vie with Golden Gate park on small
httt1
short flights OF stairs leading down
to tiny lakes, on which snowy swans
and ducks disport themselves in COM
mon tenancy with myriads of fancy
fish. Rustic bridges span many lit
tie brooks, and inviting seats abound
beneath sturdy oaks and towering
eucalypti. There is also pond of
warm mineral water, fringed with n
thicket of bamboo, and tho fragrance
from lemon and orange trees abounds.
Such are the surroundings in which
these beautiful cats live in luxury.
They are fed three times a day. not
on horse-ilcsh or neck-becf, but on
nicely cooked meats, or fowl or fish
or game, with the richest of cream.
"Madame is i'll and not allowed to
see anyone" scys the housckceper,
"but l will see II can gain her con-
sent for the cats to be brought out,
and will you please rest on the YER
anda until | return. Strangers, you
know, have never been allowed to see
them. Only intimate friends are
given that privilege, as u rule; so if
you succeed you must feel highly
complimented.
Madame was gracious, and the visi-
tor was introduced to the favorites.
For though all these cats are OF the
very highest, there is still among
them sort of ultra-aristocracy.
There is no use trying to describe
those cats that lie around on rich
divans and stretch themselves on soft
rugs. In the first place the dcscrip-
tion would be too monotonous, for to
the casual eye there is great SINH
larity between one Angora cat and
another. To the eye that knows them
and loves them. however. each has a
perfect individuality.
They seldom fight among them
selves, because as soon as their eyes
are opened they receive vigorous
lessons in the art of keeping the
peace. While they are yet kittens
and are rollicking on the floor. the
Japanese, who have peculiar gift in
the art of instructing cats, teach the
kittens that they must keep their
claws sheathcd in tho velvet, else
they will go supperless to bed. So
when they grow older they learn they
must not fight.
The biggest cat in the collection is
Grandfather William. He is an old
white fellow, with all the dignity that
age and career of age and peace can
give n tomcat.
The Japanese boys say he knows