Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1906-08-11
QUEEN PUsS' REIGN.
Now Established as Household Pet
and Thousands Cater to Her.

and Thousands Cater TO Her.
This is the heyday of the cat. For
some time every dog has had its day,
but now the cat has come into hers.
No longer is she despised creature
at which to throw bootjacks, and only
to be tolerated because she catches
rats and mice; but she is a beloved
animal, and many a household feels
itself unfurnished unless It boasts at
least one cat. The little feline Is be-
coming almost as much adored as the
! dog, and she patiently or scornfully
allows herself to be loved and then
washes her face In the sun, while she
thinks about it.
1t is not only the blue-blooded
pussy which is now living on the fat
of the land, but the ordinary any
sort-of-origin animal is petted and
pampered. Wideawake butchers
boldly advertise cat meat and every
sporting goods store carries cat col
lars and cat cushions. Cat saucers
are to be found in the department
stores, as are also cat baskets and cat
ribbons and bells. The mother cat
who has a batch OF five little kittens
has no need to worry for her Off
spring, for care is taken that they are
disposed OF to only such families as
love the feline tribe. Once disposed
of the mother cats mistress is very
likely to make the rounds occasional
ly to see how the kittens are being
treated, much as an inspector of an
orphan or founding asylum makes
the rounds to look after the charges
who have been put out in homes.
The rage for cats is seen in the
popularity of the cat design for end-
less things. Kittens are on the souV-
enir postals, look out of valentines,
and appear in passe paItout frames.
Tape measures pull out from little
silver cats, brooch pins are fastened
like black cats with green eyes, or
are gray enamel pussies. A dainty
surprise is a tiny chatelaine watch
with cats head of brilliants
studding the back. Umbrellas and
parasols have a saucy cats face
worked into the handle, and hand
bags close with a cats head clasp.
There are kittens and Tables innum-
cradle on the calendars, and for chill
dren there are handkerchiefs with a
bright border of cats in every sort of
posture. There is cat wallpaper for
the nursery, but many bachelor girl
papers her den with 1t. For tho
chaflng-dish table there are doylies
with a stamped design of cats, and
baby's rattle has pussy's head on 1t.
A paper weight is in the shape of
solid motherly looking puss, and an
inkstald is shaped out Of silver in the
design of a cats head. The feline
tribe creeps on to the desk in many
other ways. There is the penwiper
which has been in the design of
cat for ages, but improves every year
until now 1t Is very attractive ami
NAL fashioned by typography. The
blotters bear pictures of puss and the
paper cutter has photograph of an
Angora on the handle.
Cat designs are used especially on
articles for women's use, but there
is more than one masculine heart
that is rejoiced by picture of tabby
and boldly places likeness of a
handsome cat on his office walls or
in his den. Meanwhile the cat goes
softly on her way, condescending to
be caressed, getting her own way al
ways, and never permitting herself
to be anything but graceful and lux
urious-New York Press.