The times., 1901-03-24

and efficient servants Of the Government
But as this happy result could only be
attained by providing the family with
proper suSteGanCe, the authorities began
gr8NeIy 10 consider the question Of ra-
tioRs. II was duly recommended that n
s74all allow lnce should be made each
mguth for mills and meat and more
over, that cat service should become
permanent feature OF poStoftice work.
The total amount paid by the Govern
ment for the maintenance of postoInce
cats has never been computed KequeslS
are made by the individual postnlaSteiS )
who are in need of such service, and
y no are unable or unwilling to support
the cats from their own private purse
And indeed. to show that the latter
could scarcely be expected. the fact may
be fnstauced that the bill for cats meat
for the New York POstoffice alone
amounts to $50 a year; for the poStOfficc
at Akron. Ohio, for the same period, SIC;
for the Richmond (Na.) PostOfiice. $16
and for that OF St Paul, $40. The need
has often been urged for cat service
in the Washington Postoffice. especially
when the seeds are sent by the Agrfcul-
tural Department to the various sections
of the country. At such times the depre-
dations of the rats and mice. who evil
IDENTIFY regard the seed samples as de-
signed for their own special benefit, are
most noticeable.
The money for the rations of the cats
is paid out of the sum appropriated by
Congress yearly to the Postotfice Depart
mcnt Tor miscellaneous requirements.
MANY governmental 3u1hoTltleS. an close
touch with the concerns of the office. are
unacQuaiuted with the fact that cats are
provided for in the service.
A prominent official of the Treasury De-
partment, who was approached by mis-
take. Supposing the matter to come under
his special province repudiated the very
idea that the Government should employ
cats, with SCOrn and contempt. And yet,
in no public instance, perhaps. does the
celebra ted observation of Scripture, THE
laborer is worthy of his hire. apply with
such justice as to the official cats. They
not only work overtime, but all the time,
and are currently believed by the watch
men of the respective Offices wherein they
are employed to sleep with one eye open.
The extension of the feline service so as
to embrace all public buildings wherein
are stored documents of value has been
urged in divers quarters. 1t Is contended.
for instance, that the Pension. Land and
Indian Ofice would be greatly benefited
by an efficient corps of ratters.
The Government cats are said to be ex-
ceedinSly dccoroUs and well-conducted
animals. Upon the arrival of their feed
payday, they congregate in a body, and
give vent to a gentle and melodouS
new, while their expressions and at
titudes denote the most Intense eXpecta-
tion. a watchman is despatched to a
purveyOr, and upon his return with the
prOVender he is surrounded by the cats
who evidently regard him as the head of
the office, as they habftually show him
the greatest respect while the postmaster
they treat with Indifference. They are
cOmp7nionable and friendly animals,
generally speaking. and wander up and
down the corridors of the buildings
where they perform their duties. making
friends with everybody. They are sleek,
and well-to-0O in appearance. But it is at
night that, throwing aside that grave and
dignifed reserve not unmixed with sieepi-
ness which chaTacterizes them during the
day, they combine business with pleasure
in a most remarkable manner. With one
eye on rats and the other on relaxation.
they indulge, according to the accounts of
the night watchmen, in a sort of witches
carnival. Indeed, some watchmen, eVi-
IDENTITY with a tinge of superstition in their
character, have experienced some dread
at seeing their eyes glowing like carbun-
cles in the darkness, and listening to their
uneartniy Caterwaulings. But they per-
form their duties faithfully, and are eff
cient in keepeing away the rats and mice.