Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-21
CATS OF HIGH DEGREE
DISPLAY INTELLIGENCE OF A
SUPERIOR ORDER.
Senator Depew's Pet and Its Accom-
plishments-Trio Of Smart Ones
Entered for Prizes.

Washington's ultra swell cats are in
state of great excitement and are printing
and grooming themselves for a test of
beauty and smartness at.the annual contest
of the Washington CatsClub, to be held in
the Masonic Temple i'm the early part Of
December. There has been already a great
purring and caterwaulipg over the chances
Of those who are to enter the show, and it
Is even said that the various cats in many
households have fallen out and are not on
purring terms, to say nothing Of having
shown great signs Of Jealousy over the Sc
lections of cats TO compete for the many
prizes that have been offered. The beauty
contest is the event Of the year In the
social circles of catdom, and for four days
they will hold sway over their admirers.
The prizes which run from silver cups,
oil paintings, palms, center pieces, lace
handkerchiefs, to belt pins, pocket books,
sofa pillows, mirrors, silver spoons ana
loving cups, bid fair to bring on some ex-
citing contests, and it is safe to predict that
the fur Will fly from some of the fair
Tabithas when the judges have announced
their decisions The list of entries for the
show has already assumed large proper
lions, and the prospects are that the ex-
heretofore been held. Some of those who
will show handsome specimens are Miss
Eleanor l.. Burritt, Miss Ethel champion,
Mrs. Upham, Mrs. Jessie A. Burritt, Mrs.
Lydick, Mrs o. E. Duffy, Mrs. Fred Ever
EFT Smith, Mrs. Knowlton, Mrs. E. X. Neel
and many others; Messrs. Frank Jenkins,
Z. S. Schmidt, Frank s. Johnson, Senator
DepeW and others.
There are cats in Washington so intelli-
gent that it is hard to believe that they
have not the power of talking. Many of
these have been entered for the show, and
are expected to carry off prizes.
Clever and Tricky.
Senator Depew has a handsome gray cat
that bears the name of Tom" 1t Is not
known whether or not he is named for the
Senator's distinguished colleague from New
York. but 1t can be said that Tom is clever
and tricky and devoted beyond measure to
his master and mistress. That Tom can
think can scarcely be doubted. He is very
sagacious and frequently outwits his mas
ter and mistress.
Tom has learned a trick that Is often
shown to guests at the Depew nome. Under
the dining room table is an electric bell for
the purpose of summoning a servant. When
ever Tom Is fastened up in the dining room
ne Immediately jumps on this button and
pushes 1t with great yigor until some one
arrives and let's him out. Whether by acci-
dent or otherwise, Tom has learned that
whenever the button under the table was
pushed some one entered the door, thus
opening it.
Mrs. Frank s. johnson has short-haired
cat she calls Virginia" which Is famed
throughout the neighborhood for its love
for bicycling and snowballing. Virginia is
able to retrieve like a dog. She will catch
ball deftly and will shake hands with a
visitor when directed TO do so. The children
nave taught her how to play hide and seek
with them. Virginia can also unlatch and
open door without trouble.
MIR. e. s. Schmidt Is said to be the proud
possessor of three cats which are believed
to be capable a]7t OF reasoning; Punch VIII
hoWi assent when asked if he wants the bot
tie, kiss visitor upon direction and per-
form any nufnber-sei 3.5tErer quaint tricks
behind her brother In astuteness, and Prince
henry, another cat belonging to Mr..
Schmidt, Is also fond of the nursing bottle,
Will give kiss when requested and raise
his Nght eyebrow as sign that he desires
TO be kissed In RETURN.
Hobson's S, Intelligence.
Richmond Pearson Hobson.'' a pure white
cat belonging to Mrs. Reddington. is full of
tricks. All one has to do is to speak of
tricks and "Hobson," for short. is ready to
snow on. The query '.Wheres your dad?"
SENDS MIN, all a-quiyer. to the nearest win
DOW, and II his master happens not to be
In sight ''Hobson" /, will get beneath Mr..
Reddington's picture and purr furiously.
Having learned that to go through his re-
pertoire OF tricks, many of them self-taught,
e earns TOT him a petting or some dainty
feetiWe In one case, it should be potent IN
all emergencies. He has been found more
than once sitting up before the unrespon-
sive door, evidently expecting it to open In
time to his begging and Establishments.
Among his ordinary accomplishments are
sitting up. walking. sneezing at will and
carrying bundles. when Hobson gets
sleepy he will tug at the blanket with
which his mistress wraps him up at night.
Midget" the fluffy bunch of wavyS silky
hair, owned by Miss Mamie Driscoll, Is an
other cat to which the mysteries of human
speech appear no mysteries at all. In addi-
ton to such show tricks as begging, sit
ting up and walking. Midget Is Distinguish
answers every ring at the door bell like a
trained servant and. strange to say. never
confuses the door bell with that OF the
selephone. Midget loves visitors. but go
away, Midget. we are tired Of you. sends
him out OF the room in high dudgeon.
Hector, belonging to the family OF MI