The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-11-10
CAT Is DEAD.
Frances z. Willar0s Feline Pet Ia
No More.
ToOts, the Sale of Whose Photograph
Brought Over $4,000 TO White
RibbOners, the victtm of
TubercuIOsIs.

Toots Willard, the most celebrated cat
in the world, is dead.
Over a decade ago he came into in
ternational prominence when 1t was
announced that Miss Frances Willard
had a splendid Persian puss, who bore
the stately name of Gladstone. But
when the Grand Old Man" repudiated
certain temperance principles dear tc
the heart of Miss Willard she promptly
rechristened her pet and called him
"Toots."
He instantly became the idol of the
white ribboners on two continents, and
there was an immediate demand for his
photographs. And so it came to pass
that Toots looked pleasant" hundreds
of times while the big eye of the camera
winked at him. His picture hangs in
thousands of homes, 1t graces the walls
of noble houses in England, and can be
found in the hut of an Icelander, for l.
has coined more than $4,000 for the
temperance cause through the sale Of his
photos. However, his finest picture is
life-size water color painted by Miss
Gertrude Estabrooks and owned by Mrs.
Leland Norton. 3S17 Michigan avenue.
at whose home he died.
During his kittenhood hundreds of
people visited Rest cottage to see Miss
Wizards beautiful cat and lay their
hands on his satiny coat. But adulation
palled upon him and he became ex-
tremely irascible, and with tooth and
claw protested against indiscriminate
caresses. His naughtiest trick was to
hide in dark corners and spring out on
people. But when he retired to private
life he quickly regained his naturally
sweet disposition.
When Miss Willard went abroad after
her mothers death she begged Mrs. Nor
ton, who had the largest aggregation of
Angora cats, to take charge Of her pre-
cious puss, and he remained there until
he died. AS long as she lived Miss Will
lard went to see Toots, and carried him
lunches of fragrant English violets. He
was passionately fond of the delicious
perfume, and would gather them in his
velvety paws. cradle them under his
chin, toss them in the air, roll on them,
and finally go to sleep with his nose
buried in the purple bloom.
Toot's most sensational exploit was
to dig the cat kennel door open. which
set off an electric burglar alarm The
buzzer buzzed, the bells tangled and held
a noisy jubilee which reused the entire
household. The terrified family, armed
with revolvers, crep through the house
and found it undisturbed. But some one
was stepping softly around in the l1itch-
en-, and then came loud crash as a pile
of pans clattered to the floor. The door
was opened wide enough to thrust in
shooting iron, and there in the moon
light sat Toots. "meowing" welcome.
Toots' sole relative was Dixie Norton,
the famed trick bicycle rider, whose son,
Royal Norton, is the most valuable cat
in the world Mrs. Norton having re-
fused $1,000 for him. For several years
Toots had been i'll with tuberculosis.
and has been isolated from Mrs. Nor
toms other cats, and also debarred from
seeing visitors.
He was a magnificent animal, weigh
In % pounds, with eyes like jewels, a
splendid, plumy brush. and long, silky
coat.