The times., 1901-03-17
A STIR IN OFFICIAL LIFE
The White House Cat Gives Birth
to Five Kittens.
The Mother II Terror to Rodents at
the HansiOB-SOt Apt to Lose Her
Position With Changing Admins
trations-Sketch of Her Career.

When the President and Mrs. Mckinley
return to the White House they will find
five new and strange faces there TO greet
them, for an important event took place
yesterday at the Executive Mansion. Way
back in dark corner of the store room
in the basement Of the house. nesting in
a warm and soft bed made of an old coat
and other cast-of garments, is a quintette
Of pretty little black and white kittens
Their eyes are not yet opened to the day
light, and their meow is low and feeble
yet they were the centre of all interest
yesterday at the Mansion. There is no
prouder feline in all Washington than is
Tabby, the mother, and she guards her
offspring with jealous care
Tabby has had a somewhat check
cred career. She is by no means aristo-
cratic simply because she is the White
House cat, but on the contrary is ex-
tremely democratic and plain in her
tastes and habits. She does not belong
to the Angora tribe and has never in
sisted that blue blood coursed through
her veins. On the contrary. she seems
proud of her humble birth in a blind al
ley in South Washington and of her rise
through her own unaided efforts to the
lofty position which she now occupies
she might be styled ''self-made" cat
"Iabby' leaped the high fence palings
about the White House grounds and stole
softly up TO the kitchen door and awaited
an opportunity To gain admittance. She
had all the appearance of an unsuccessful
once seeker whose influence had failed to
land the coveted job She was lean and
hungry looking. Finally she gained the
kitchen and hugged the range Al first
the cook was disposed to eject the in
truder 1T the end of a broom stick. but
LaDpy plllIul condition appealed to
hef ana from the bountiful harder a dish
Of milk and piece of meat were brought
line.
Since that day Tabby has been the Of
hcial White House cat. She showed her
appreciation by at once getting to work
and disposing of whatever rodents
chanCed to Iurk about the White House
cellar. Since that time the mouse traps
have rusted and the tenantess rat holes
have become filled with dust.
Tabby did not feel. however that her
appointment had been confirmed until one
day. when the stairway was unguarded
she ran upstairs and was petted and ca
TcSsed by Mrs. Mckinley. Then she felt
confident of her ground and she now be
lieves that her tenure Of Office is for life.
once before Tabby gave birth to kittens
in the White House and the unfeeling
servants intended to drown the helpless
little creatures, but Mrs. Mckinley, who
learned Of the threatened execution. for
bade it, and comfortable homes i'm re-
spectacle families were found for Tabby 5
babies.
Yesterday would have been a duh day
at the Executive Mansion had it not been
for the birth of those five kittens. The
event was the all-absorhing topic Of con-
versation among the idle attaches of the
house. and there are at least 1--WE claim
ants for each kitten. Two OF the little
ones are black and white, a third is black
with white spots a fourth is black all
save three paws, a spot over one eye, and
the tip of it's tail. while the NTH Is a
jet black and when fun grown will be
sleek and glossy like its distinguished
mother Suggestions for names are being
received.