The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17
A STIR In OFFICIAL LIFE
The White House Cat Gives Birth
to Five Kittens.
The Mother u Terror to Rodents at
the MansiOn-Not Apt TO Lose Her
Position With Changing Admins
tratfons-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 Il 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-off 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 blind All
! ley in South Washington and of her rise
through her own unaidcd efforts to the
LOFTY position which she now occupies.
She might be styled a self made" cat
one drizzly, rainy day about a year ago
''Tabby" 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 Rugged the range. At first
the cook was disposed to eject the in
lruder at the end of a broom stick, but
Iabbys pitiful condition appealed to
her, and from the bountiful larder a dish
OF milk and a piece of meat were brought
forth and placed before the starving fe-
Since that day Tabby has been the Of
fetal White House cat. She showed her
appreciation by at once getting to work
and disposing of whatever rodents
CHANGED to Turk about the White House
cellar. Since that time the mouse traps
have rusted and the tenantless 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
ressed 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
/ i'm 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 il, and comfortable homes in re-
| spectacle families were found for Tabbys
babies.
| Yesterday would have been dull day
/ at the Executive Mansion had il 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 i've claim
| ants for each kitten Two of the little
ones are black and white third is black
| with white spots a fourth is black all
/ save three paws, a spot over one eye, ana
| the tip Of its tail. while the NTH is Il
! let black and when full grown Will be
| sleek and glossy like its distinguished
mother Suggestions for names are being
| received.