Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-04-06

Inc LoulSldna puFcndSe eSpOsltiOu. Il
att acting attention IN every known
Hand. The sinuous. purring creatures,
THAT were dOmesticated before man
lbegan recording history in enduring
form, will be assembled from every
cline. and they will make the bid of
their existence To win favor in cultur-
ed homes.
BY the ancient Egyptians the cat
was regarded sacred and worshiped
with solemn ceremonial. Cats were
Frequently entombed with royal per
lSonages. Perhaps. like the Indian
who expected to hunt in the here
after with his trusty dog. those who
enjoyed the cOmpanionship of a be
loved cat hoped to adOrn some ceIes-
tial abode with some furry feline
darling.
The cat az a domestic ANIMAL has
enjoyed a certain prestige among
savage and civilized nations and *
intimately associated with the pleas
ures of home For centuries tile COM
mon tabby. the tortoise shell and the
Ihybridized Maltese were deemed all
sufficient for rafting purpose Good
looks were not especially considered.
Nowadays the cat need not be useful,
but must possess ornamental qualifi-
cations No woman with esthetic
tastes * willing to haTbor an animal
who does not have both breeding and
beauty.
In modern times the cult of the eat
arose in England. Lovers of the do
nestle animal decided that it was as
worthy as the dog.
The first cat show was instituted
by Harrison Weir at the Crystal Pal
lace. Since then Il better classifica-
ton has been given and a larger num-
Der of eats exhibited. The interest
manifested rendered it advisable to
linaugurate permanent organization.
and the National Cat club was found
ed in 1887. with Harrison Weir a. its
president. Upon his retirement Louis
Vain. the eminent cat painter. sue
ceeded him.
The two principal shows of the Ma
tional Cat club of England are held
annually i'm tie Botanical Gardens.
London. and i'm the Crystal Palace in
connection with the Ladies' Kennel
club. The cat club was founded by
Lady Marcus Beresfurd i'm 1888. This
lady has done much for the cat. 1t
was she who conceived the idea of
holding cat shows for charity. The
one inaugurated during the Boer war
Melted considerable sum for the
families of those who had fallen in
the Transvaal.
The first cat club in America was
organized in 1899 in Chicago. with
Mrs. Clinton Locke as president. 1t
was named i'm honor Of Lady Beres-
ford. Its growth has been phenom-
email. In 1900 the first show was held.
The succeeding two were held i'm con-
nection with the National Fanciers'
association. In 1903. however, the
Beresford Cat club gave Independent
exhibits and issued n stud book.
In 1902 the Atlantic Cat club of New
York WAS founded. with Mrs. w. F.
| Hofstra as president. The Washing
ton Cat club in. the national capital
was organized for the purpose of
providing Il refuge for homeless cats,
with Miss Eleanor Burritt a. presi-
dent
/ The Lockhaven Cat club of Roches-
ter is the outcome of the shows given
by the alumni of Wells college. Mrs.
| Alfred Jackson is the president.
| The Connecticut Cat club sprang
| into existence in 1908 at Stamford.
Mrs. Homer Cunning being the presid-
ing officer. The Michigan Cat club
followed. and although the Youngest
of themi all ~ an active. growing or
ganizatiun. The first show given by
this club wasl,a great success and
characteristic of the energy If the
| club MEMBERS Mrs. William Chap
man il now the president.
\ These six clubs have Joined the ma
| tiunal association and have elected
delegates to serve on its board of di-
rectors. 1t * hoped that the shows
given under these auspices will in
time be to the eat what the American
Kennel club is To the dog.
i These clubs will hold cat show
from Nov to II at the Louisiana
purchase exposition. The classified
ton il attended to with as much
strictness as i'm bench shows, and
competent Judges. Who are generally
women, viii be asked To serve as
II Judges This worlds fair cat show
will be the greatest event in the dis
play of cat clubs. and thousands Of
persons will come especially for this
event.
Cat raising. like dog breeding. is
fast becoming the fashion. and wo-
men of means are engaging in 1t. II
j. quite a source OF income to the
farmers wife and cat farms are he
looming common. 1t l. not, however.
an unalloyed JOY to raise cats One
must he careful To sec that the breeds
are not mixed. The kittens must be
daintiIy fed and trained like children
to be gentle and affectionate. The
| virtues of cleanliness must be incul-
/ Gated. The hair must be combed and
brushed until il glistens like silk. aud
the general health looked after. By
the farming out method any quality
| nf cats can Iie raised The demand