The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-06
CATS OF HIGH DEGREE.
,s or MRtROPoJTr<N FS-
LINES REARED IN LUxURf.
,nbered In Will--Blgh Living
Makes Them Cynical and Brings
fashionable lila.

what a torrent OF abuse is popuidI'S /
,.,orcd on poor Tabby For one plea |
'.....l in favor Of the dog. there nave
: I'D 10 date one hundred urged !
Inst the presence OF the cat Sci
49, cruel" "thieving." never ialthiul
-. c.-sors.' "unintclngent," "unornameh-
e., because simply a pulinS miniature
~, the orisinal user"-these and dozen
..r.- contrasting dement's have been
,.,.el against the feline beast until the
..,.rs OF stray darlngs have grown to
-.rtrdcd more or less as cranks.
>... York conta IS a number Of highly
..-.fi, cats. pampered beauties,
H.'@ ,.bolc bearing and habits so 10
We fsat proper treatment in early
.. .., cause an evolution in cat ma
,..rcamed % by the observer OF
,s.I suffer animals. and threatening
.-.amcat and sagac:ty 10 invade me
l precincts ot dosdom.
a.. has just had cat show. After
...v aesthetic showing of dainuly
,..b.,S. and superb monster gen
members OF the family. the decis-
..s t..n reached that the breeding
... ts A matter worthy OF practical
90 Zion we'll bred cat can be JOY
... e.c. ana. as proved on exhibition
r. ANYTHING but a stupid animal.
~. there's no foretelling in this new
~.,te but that few generations
'o' ka ne feline 'miou" quite as
''"' .. 4s the dogs "bOw-wow."
S'e ~, me ladies-gentlemen have
..,,s-fr,S. tco-who have pampered
...s often receiving more care than
60. b..res. are having an eXuitant
800 81. ,s-t nlE. and New Workers es-
I...v Who are always susceptible
.,. r~lish dictum on animals, are
...-- every anti-cat friend with Il
I'D yol So.
PERHAPS the pet cat Of New York who
,t.h.5 The widest experience Of life, de-
,s--.,- from a London vagabond into
f-. -osm0politan lady. is "Choppie.
ro-ss ,y Mrs. Basil Hall at the Murray
HU Hotel
A.. Was brought out in London and the
r-rtsh craze was for everything Japan
t.s a. plainuve bedraggled kitten crept
,.. night into the hallway OF the house
v.-h Mrs. Hall was occupying for the
.rson. Mrs. Hall told her maid 10 take
t- down, feed her. and then let her go;
l.t 'he kitten crept out OF sight as soon
d, fed. and was not heard OF until next
morning. when she was found happily
r.~rInc on the hearth rug of Mrs. Halls
dressing room.
She was not TO be got rid of. The only
thing 10 do was to smooth and clean her.
SIC wasn't pretty. but when furnished up
she looked appealing and wise. Before
long she appealed so closely 10 Mrs. Han
that not only her present, but her future
luxurious happiness became a matter 10
b. assured. she grew into a petted com
panion, and greatly 10 the disapproval
N the lawyers has been provided tor
handsomely in Mrs. Halls will.
She was baptized "Choppie" TO Mt the
r~availing craze from a character in the
book Little People Of Asia Immediate
lv she began TO travel over Europe. She
has had her little divan and cushions
her special China outfit and her meals IN
the private apartments Of the leading
hotels OF Europe from Paris TO ST. Peters
burg.
Six times she has crossed and recrossed
the Atlantic, and her seventh trip VIII
De made to Europe in May. Inc nrSt
Question put d steamship line by MIS-
Han is whether or not she will be per-
rnltted 70 have "Choppie' in her state
room II told no she goes on another line
The Brlush-American, French and Ter
man lines have been proud 10 carry
"Choppic," and their captains swear by
her as a most ladylike and exclusive cat.
She hates milk. She loves warmth, ana
makes her home at the Murray HUI Hotel
al Mrs Halls parlor WINDOW, on Top VI
the radiator. which has been cushioned
and DRAINED for her use. She feeds on
cream-Won't touch milk-and on most ep-
icurean morsels from her owners Ia
bic As cats unlike dogs, are rarely
plunged into a bath, whatever may De
said 20 the contrary, "ChOppie' does her
own washing. After meals she scrubs
herself vigorously until her white breast
and forepaws look like swansdoWn. linen
she gets her becoming neck ribbon and
bell on or. fl il Is after lunch her hand
some silver collar because to this Mrs.
Hall attaches a chain by which Chop
pie" is led dogwise to the carriage Tor
her afternoon airing.
The ease and grace with which "Chop-
pie" views the passing thronS through
the brougham window is a perfect lesson
IN department. She is a cat Of delightful
SAVIOR faire and shows in every lift OF
Ter paw and blink Of her eye the IN
fuence Of good society and travel.
Cats like these. richly fed and in
dulEei. never thwarted and always open
ly admired are all cynical and are fire.
ouent sufferers from indigestion. Their
owners dose them for their physical IT'S
and castor oil is a popular cat medl-
cine. while catnip IS always on hand
Their cyuicism is incurable, and is mani
tested in a superior distrust Of humanity
i1 general and a studied oblivion Of their
own kind who have not been brought
up IN their own luxurious environment.
When these cats were kittens their tails
were never pulled Nobody ever said
"sn-" % them. They never entered at
au area gate or darted in the murky
i ght through a sloppy gutter. The roof
4lau Us a far OFF. knless sound TO
W-m and Of the ash barrel field OF
plenty they know nothing. Nobody has
ever told them that the long. lean. hair
lees patched starvelings Of which they
t~ctmes catch a glimpse might with
e4'e be brought TO just as fine condi-
l'-s as themselves. and so, needless OF
WssUIres. what they usually do when
tH ss- them is hiss
I-s Stone Hodde. OF No. So west Thir-
Nfcia street. has another pampered
%, limbo. an immense, kingly animal
me lifting and falling OF whose paw
'tl7" weight moral and physical. THOSE
avs are oppressive OF absolute cat gem
'-s. and are never lifted unless with
Spe,hc meaning OF warning. entreaty.
or dszIprysl
Ilinp' was born to fine fare. has never |
t'l on ANYTHING but a carpet. nor drop |
pa 10 Step on any but the most lux
4ii'-s couch in the house. He owns II
.+ rvs lmper0us cat way. His mistress !
b-'aaer p1ryeys his special bits Of meat I
WIN care The metallic hair brushing
1'+ arrangement OF his numerous col {