The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-13
1EeAoIEs FROM BLooMINeDA1E.
A Cat and an AGED servitor who Feel Them
selves ut Home ut Columbia.

A Cat ana an AGED gervttor who Feel Thern-
selves ut Hemc at Columbia.
Many years ago. when the present Columbia
University site was simon.pure country. and
was known far and near rs Bloumingdale. there
came to gladden. the hearts Of the rather ire
sponsible inmates q frisky little kitten which
through the period Of its early infancy was Just
like any ordinary kitten, but as time went on
gave promise of becoming n beautiful and Inn
posing tomcat. AS the years rolled around tho
said Tom, realizing that much was expected
of him, gave up his kittenish antics. probably
feeling that In q competition with the
other inmates the margin of profit In the nature
Of fame was altogether too small to permit him
to enter the lists. As q result OF much ponder
ing there settled down upon him q dignity far
In excess of his station. He took up his fixed
residence at BloominRdale. and for several years
acted in the capacity of janitor and night
Waterman, inspecting carefully all those who
went In as well as those who came out, the lat
ter being q far easier task. What q motley
company was that! And what an opportunity
for the psychological study Of humans present
cd itself to Tom! No wonder no proved wise
beyond all other cats.
But times and circumstances do occasionally
take q tumble, and In the shuttle things some
times get mixed and settle down to a queer
level. One fine summer day the placid Tom.
summing lWSe Win COuteHt, saw u strange
caravan pass out through the gates. and, what
was stranger still, 1t never came back. Surely
such a freak had never happened before. Hero
was food for thought. In the middle Of his
speculations, before his point of view was prop
erly adjusted. for thinking ia q moro laborious
process for cats than for folks. q now and wholly
untried race of people appeared before Tom and
appropriated everything in sight. Wise and in
telligent as Tom was in many ways. not q hint
of the gossip had reached him about the sud
den change Of fortune that had turned out
as they were, he had grown accustomed; had
sent them far away to a new homo and had left
an paTea PtSf Just ' as queen asms; W 2Ssf lad az dm saten c Sna
plete possession and begun TO tear down and
destroy everything. Confusion worse confoupd;
ed reigned for several years. There was a babel
up from nowhere. and picking upthings the size
air / I" as Il they were MeD tossing r1HbSer Sai i1.'s sare n.y.
thought sTom. the old ones never played any
brought up in a Unique school. Far Be It from from
him TO be surprised at what no saw. He learned.
therefore; to watch events and to determine
So ALI during the years that Columbia's new
buildings were in progress Tom transferred his
spending his daye prowling around the e1ca-
yations. wandering through all the sub
i iapsaT proeres ssds" through a"t the difre rem r oolra.
and even to the roofs. But Tom kept
d-luiilklhB- Alu u-lOOhlHk. III "nOl6 IuIuT0
was at stake. and the matter required caution.
Evidently he decided that the new place. though
vastly changed from all resemblance to the old,
For a time it is true. he was N the fence. not be.
ing quite able todecidea question so momentous
a.strolling and witnessed the sophomore cane
rush. Then he felt himself at home. No moro
uncertainty for this cati 1t looked as IL all his
then these new inmates couldn't. be SO awfuily
different from the others. That cane rush
clinched matters for Tom. and he 10 now onr Of
faculty. His special abiding place is the library,
where he stretches his majestic proportions and
suns himself by the hour. He has grown sleek
ut TttA to s'A' BIS irssh' f There seen seem. ,n &c Se a
and the students that the cat is a privileged ami
NAL, q sort Of mascot. whose liberties are not to
be infringed upon. No one thinks of insulting
gentle stroking. He goes his own way. simply
taking notice. but rendering no account to any
one. The task Of providing Tom with three
~janitor, and the hint has been dropped. at least
SO gossip runs, that IL Toms appetite 10 found to
palate. a few expensive tid.bits may be pur.
chased and the same charged to administration.
Another legacy besides the cat which Column.
tor whose early years were devoted to q faith.
enl pf fon iRsmselS Se duI IL. fG Iiks sh %on, unable %sa INTO to
to White Plains. The superintendent appre.
]ciating the faithfulness Of the old man. has re-
around the grounds. Lately pt the eSb% Boys u dis,F wpsd
the trees and parts of the buildings by lacking
up huge posters advertising concerts and other
charged the old man with dereiiction Of duty
and told him he should not have done this work
for the boys. he looked somewhat quizzioaliy for
q moment and then replied:
Och. sure, amt done nothing about 1t. The