The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-06
FINE CATS IN HIGH FAVOR.
TRAINED ONES TAKING TIE PLACES
OF DOGS Al PETS.

llshment In Sixth avenue. Just on the border oil
one OF the busiest shopping districts. there is
usually to be found doing In the rays OF In
dian summers distant sun a lazy Brazilian
monkey In whose long, motionless arms Us al
fectionately squeezed or ouddled n slumbering
tabby cat. The floor OF the show window, be-
ing covered with sawdust. affords an excellent
surface for the gymnastic antics OF a dozen kit
tens. foolish, absurd little clowns Of all sorts
and conditions in the feline social scale and q
part Of the stock In trade OF the bright little
establishment, which. as designated by a
golden sign above the door. is q Cat En-
porlum."
Once inside the visitor is readily convinced
OF the signs sincerity and appropriateness for
the walls are lined from floor TO ceiling with
small cages through the bars OF which peer
blinking. yellow Sits Of eyes. surveying one with
that dlsdainful and altogether supercilious air
which only oats OF high degree or assured posi-
ton In the feline world can assume. SurElnG
over the floor. the old-fashioned counter. and
che proprietor's narrow desk in the one shad-
owy corner Of the shop is a food of furry juve-
niles. and the welkin rings from morning to
night with a pandemonium OF splitting, walls.
yowls, meows. love means, and the stentorian
bowls OF belligerent challenge. Three or four
monkeys. brothers and sisters, perhaps, OF the
sleepy chap In the show window. from a larger
cage gaze out upon the turbulent felines and
exers themselves desperately to capture the
disporting kittens as they fly past the bars.
The visitors entrance Is usually the signal
for a mad. concentrated kitten charge. Pell-
NELL they rush upon him.. investing him from
every strategic point. They assault his boots.
They Chamber up his trousers legs. They cat
apult him from the counter, hurting them
.Jelves upon his neck and shoulders with a fran
tic energy which soft purrs convince the visitor
is meant as a friendly welcome. But 1t Is the
work Of some moments for the.proprietor OF
the emporium to divest the visitor OF his nu-
merous little membranes.
Scat. little pests l' he orders. switching here
and there with his hands amonE:the clinging
kittens. will you never learn good manners
in spite o! your traininRl"
so you train cats, do your"
Thesproprietor answers the question with a
stare OF mingled surprise and reproach. "Of
course" says he. else why should 1 call this
place q cat emporium. A cat is the easiest
thing in the world to teach parlor manners.
tricks and odd things in genera" he continues.
sweeping the kittens out of the shop with q
broom and into an adjoining room. the privacy
OF which is guarded by a faded tapestry hang
ing. Talk of dogs-they haven't one-tenth
the sense OF cats. when rlghtfully taught and
developed. And it's too bad folks have neglect
Gu anu ueSplSeu tUt pOOE CdJ eO lOuB. Ec
she's an intellectual creature. and when a cat
learns anything 1t is never forgotten. People
are gradually waking UT to the fact OF a cats
being 30 smart. and as a household pet it bids
fair to GUST the dog In short order"
rs there o demand for cats at PRESENT."
asked the visitor.
Course. otherwise the emporium would be a
failure returns the proprietor. Everybody
Is buying cats nowadays. and you might think
iths odd folks would spend money for such
thing when they are to be had for the asking.
but It Ia the high-class. well-bred and trained
animal they want and are willing to pay a good
price for. Common cats are just like monErel
dogs. You can get u bunch Of them for moth
ing at any time. But oats OF superior breeds
cost money. and some Of them scrape close to
the $50 and even the 500 mark.
Here Is q beauty the like Of which you prob
ably never saw BEFORE says the proprietor.
unlocking one Of the cages and stepping to the
middle Of the shop. Just you watch him when
I call his name. Come. Ivan"
Instantly the unbolted door flies back. there
shoulder, Of the proprietor and rubs It's head
large body and short legs. but It's most dis
tinRqishinR characteristics are an immense
wo a4SIs meme fsIIeR sG d t 3 Rsss fall cat" explains the
proprietor. placing the animal, on the counter
and running his fingers through its NAME. and
He is a most affectionate fellow. too. despite
the common story that such cats never show
anyway to say that cats are not as afSeotfonate
es dogs. They seldom exhibit as much love
f Fece 4 Se sny pe SsfaSs or "a Attention. Il StSs as seldom they
thisRussiancat can do.a species, mind you. whic
tfio things about them. say can do nothing"
the proprietor continues Indignantly. lust
DO oo You aI DO SI When you o. want va mhiffF' wan ""A'
The big cat prifks up its ears as the PRO
There" eTelalms the cat man triumph
OF milk. which # speedily drains and then re-
turns to Its cage.
perfSosrT@ ea 1s: :oitfle * s0@"f says Ss't the hef p 5rs pfSRS.
didactically. 1T makes them eager to learn
and insures their constant willingness and
"A cat soon learns to answer to its name
and : sat to gone only lyo whe ct t sR9k e v to; III I'll s Eni you
ias saSa'i = lew Of g'4 these Sc e"is; The Ssit Doors oois a are
soon unbolted and the cat man takes his posi-
by a one! fsea Up p ~ sleskI. .n wsll E 'eare shSSsF M Ghe
upon the ,proprietor's shoulders. and then
Leaps LssNpa,s aSilel E to the sva iGGr tod to dispe s Ese AR 2 pair OF
fBs sef TO The si shep. T He aal nsS a sd @oSa t 4 shir Tas z
man 5SsiSIe dEEg p to tie ieof toF a sSampef
fully demonstrated and the proprietor is de-
lighted at the visitors EXPLANATIONS Of won
I'm tell you why I teach cats to jump upon
mo from their cages" he says con1dentially,
TT lmpresses them At once with The idea q
hoticed, cats like to rub around persons they
ike and who are pleased with such attentions.
but II they are repulsed 1t is hard to rid them
of suspicion, and fear p the persons who cast
them of. Even the kittens, which are Just as
Of the old cats book. as ! train them to do.
when they are too obstreperous for the, shop
andsI want.to:get rid of them. Il never think Of
picking them,up in.my hands and putting them
far as personal contact goes. 80 l keep q
broom In here. and whom there Is too much OF
them / sweep them out. They dislike the
broom. as you can see, by the way they brlstle
ct the sight of.it. but they have no fear OF me.
What sort Of sats, are the easiest to traipl
Well. that Ia q difficult question to answer. 1t
depends more or less on what you wish to
teach them. Some time ago a great turn on the
variety stage was done by a pair OF boxing cats.
Agreat many people wept 70 see It and thought
and marvelled at the oleverness of the owner OF