The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-10-13
CATS OF TIE CLEVELANDS.
4 White Maltese Tom the FaVOTite Of
the President.

The Big Feline Very Affeotionats and a
Constant Companion of the Chief
Magistrate-M Mrs. Cleveland Brings
Mrs. Carlisle Two Chubby Cape Cod
Kittens From Gray Gables-The Pair
Descendants of a Race of Felines Fa-
nous for Their Epicurean Tastes and
Prowess in Midnight Brawls.
Washington. oct. 12.-Mrs. Carlisle,
when she returned from her recent visit
at Gray Gables, brought home with her
two chubby Cape Cod kittens. a gift from
Mrs. Cleveland. The vicinity of Gray Ga
bles abounds in yellow cats of a peculiar
species. and when Mrs. Carlisle visited
there, Mrs. Cleveland. knowing her fond
ness for all members of the feline king
dom, secured a couple Of these yellow
beauties Of the cat tribe, and presented
them to the wife of the Secretary of the
Treasury. These cats, which grow to be
Of enormous size, are peculiar to the
country along Buzzard's bay. Their fur
long, very soft, and glossy, and they are
beautifully marked in deep golden rod yell
low and white. The most peculiar feature
Of this breed of cats is their feet. Ma
ture has blessed them with an additional
to be very formidable creatures in battle.
In addition to being good 'scrappers,'
these cats are great hunters, not only for
birds, but have been known to plunge
into shallow pools formed at high tide
and catch fish. The shores of Buzzards
bay abound in soft shell crabs in season,
and the soft shell clam is also abundant.
The Cape Cod cats are extremely fond of
clans and crabs. They do not wait for
man to catch crabs and CLAIMS for the
qualification of their peculiar appetites
but go out along the beaches and Skin
mish for their food on their own account.
The kittens which Mrs. Carlisle brought
to Washington with her are about half
grown, and those who have seen them say
they are real beauties; Just too cute for
anything"
Mrs. Cleveland is also very fond of
handsome cats, and since she has been in
the white house has had several very
fine specimens presented to her. One of
these, an immense Tom, a pure white
Maltese, is the especial favorite of the
President. When Tom arrived at the
white house he was at once taken to
the boudoir of his future mistress, Mrs.
Cleveland. When released from the box
in which he was transported Tom was
trifie wild, and jumping from the box
altghted on an escritoire, upsetting bot
tie of ink and playing havoc generally
with pens and paper. Mrs. Cleveland had
but shortly before seen the play Jim the
Penman," and was struck by the read
mess with which the cat took to pen and
ink, and decided to name her new pet
Jim the Penman, which has since been
shortened to the diminutive Jim" Jim
soon became accustomed to his new sur
roundings, and seemed to take a great
fancy to the President and this mark
of faVoritism on the part of his catship
appeared to please Mr. Cleveland. Jim
was at once taken into the Presidents
confidence. He follows, it is said, the
President about the private apartments
of the mansion like a faithful dog and
is permitted to enter the private sanctum
of the chief executive, the holy of holes,
from which even senators and members
of congress are excluded except they en-
ter upon special invitation via Secretary
Thurber. The great white Maltese may
frequently be seen perched on a corner of
Mr.. Cleveland's desk blinking his yellow
eyes at the President as he sits there
grinding out a message to congress, sign
ing commissions of successful candidates
for federal Offices, or writing a letter to
Chairman Wilson or Representative Will
son, not for publication, but which new
ertheless generally find their way into
public prints. When tired of watching
the President at his labors he HES him
self to the embrasure of the great win
dows which look out toward the south.
and curling himself in a great white ball
in a sunny spot calmly throws aside the
cares of state and sinks into peaceful
slumber.