The Washington herald., 1906-11-16
CATS IN FASHION;
SOME CAT-LOVERS

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Cats have not gone out OF fashion, how
ever hard-pressed they are by bulls and
terriers. poOdles, spaniels and collies.
Women are supposed TO be the cat-lovers
Of this country, but occasionally men are
found who evince a strange love for cats.
They do not care for the coddling va
riety. but prefer the felines that lie around
in the sun and stalk mysteriously at
night.
Hodge, - the celebrated cat which shared
the poverty of Sam Johnson, and ate
liver and beef when his master went
without, is a dignihed figure in litera-
ture, an English bard having sung his
! praises in verse mot blank.
| Alfred Henry Lewis is devoted to cats.
His two favorites. Paul Pry and Pussy
Willow, keep tabs" on the clock and
/ appear in the dining-roOm promptly at
meal time. A friend of MIR Lewis once
sent him letter in which a business
matter was discussed, and some important
questions asked. ApprecIaung Mr.. Lewis
Interest in cats, the writer concluded with
a story about his wife's cat having eaten
some pills. about the size Of cadet but
/ tons which had been left on the dresser,
and for which she had that day paid Is
cents. He repeated IL as d joke on his
wife In the return mail came a letter
from Mr.. Lewis, which entirely ignored
the business matter and questions but
was full Of anxious inquiries as TO the
health Of the cat.
When Mrs. Cleveland was mistress Of
the White House she owned d large black
cat named "Otso." This animal came
from Maine, and was like the two cats
owned by the Misses Patten. and which
are called coon" cats. Otso had the
same great tail peculiar to Angoras. and
he developed a partiality for the Cabinet
Room. especially when the President and
his advisors met on Tuesday mornings to
discuss affairs Of state At first Otso was
welcome at these Cabinet meetings, but
when he grew familiar. and executed
sportlye jumps from the shoulders Of
one Secretary 10 another. completing
series Of leaps around the table and claw
ing the nap of frock coats, Mrs Cleye-
land concluded that the coon cat must
live elsewhere.
Accordingly. Otso was presented TO a
friend who loved and cherished him for
several years.
One distinguished mark Of favor was
shown Otso by his new mistress In clip
ping the fur from his tail in summer 10
assure strong winters growth AS a
result. OtsO presented a mournful specta-
Gle during warm weather. though he was
an object of beauty during the season"
when he wore his 'long-tail coat" as Mrs.
Cleveland used TO say.
OtSO had one mischievOus trait which
was 10 lie in wait inside the front door
for the person who entered the house last
at night Directly the front door opened
OtsO would slip out and mount the near
est tree where he insisted upon remain
ing for five minutes. Those five minutes
were apt to be tedious to the person who
persuaded him 10 come down.
Senator EIkins has a splendid japanese
cat. to which he is greatly attached. and
which bears the name of a famous adj
miral Of Japan. One day the Senator and
Mrs Elkins were lunChing with the lat
teT's sister. Mrs. Lee. whose small son
occupied a seat at the table. 1t was dur
ing the Russian-Japanese war, and that
topic was under discussion. Finally the
Senator's little nephew piped up; I didn't
know your cat. Togo. could do tricks.
Uncle Steve. Won't you please make him
shoot off his cannon the next time ! come
over TO your hOuse2"
When Mime. Pezet. wife Of the present
Peruvian representative TO the Central
American counties-and formerly first
secretary Of the Peruvian Legation. here
in Washington-cage 10 town last winter.
she was accompanied by her pet cat,
Princess Phyllis: creature white as
snow, with deceptive light blue eyes She
was a spoiled and INDUCED feline, and
whenever she was left alone she shrieked
and walled and exhibited signs Of fendish
temper. II Phyllis will was crossed. she
Tevenged herself by taking exercise upon
the mantels and tables. and demolished
bric-a-brac with her wild waving tail.
Mrs. Summers. who owns a whole family
OF pure Angoras considered Mime. Pezets
pet a back alley cat with a Connecticut
avenue tail. This was a gOCd-natured
though pointed, allusion to the absence of
a gigantic ruff around the Princess neck.
which fashionable accessory is quite as
necessary 10 the high-bred Angora as its
enormous tail, according 20 some authori-
ties.
Speaker Reed was friend 10 cats, and
he owned a splendid animal, tiger-striped
and elecJricity-charged, which was never
known to respond TO a caress. Tt was n
cat Of immense size and dignity, and went
by the name Of His Majesty-Tom.
Whenever this name was spoken-nO mat
ter If the cat was apparently fast asleep
His Majesty-Tomr would rise. take a
few turns around the room and resettIe
himself for a nap
Chief Justice Fuller has three cats
which he has christened characteristics
ally. 'Stonewall Jackson is the name Of
the real prowler Of the trio; "Longfellow'
is the long. lean, leisurely fellow. and the
third is called George Washington be-
cause he glories in the unique color Of
Continental bun, and shares his birthday
with the Father Of his Country
Nine. Amaral, wife Of the first secre-