Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-15
ADv|CES TO RICH CAT
BIackie, Heir to $4,000, Re-
ceives Many Letters.
APPEAL TO NOBLE MIND
Writer in Far OFF Russia Begs of Him
Immediate Aid.
SUGGESTIONS FOR ADJUSTMENTS
Wives Of Clergymen Among the Cor
respondents of the Wealthy
Animal.
SUGGESTIONS FOR ADJUSTMENTS

WILKESBARRE, Pa, February 49,
Blackie, the cat that is heir to $4,000, be-
queathed to it by the late Benjamin Dilley
of this city, daily receives letters from all
parts of the world suggesting means for
its amusement, plans for improving its
health. schemes of extending its life and
appeals for financial assistance.
These letters come to Miss Addie Ruch,
who was appointed by Mr.. Dilley to take
charge of Blackie, and of Pinkie, it's mate
which died recently. Miss Ruch receives
life pension for taking care of Blackie,
and, as she loves the cat little less than
its late master did, she devotes herself
exclusively to it and is it's constant and
only companion.
Blackies name and fame have travelled
all over the world, and hundreds of per-
sons have personally expressed their inter-
est in the animal by writing to it or to Miss
Ruch. One letter, which arrived recently,
was addressed 1.-The Million Cat of Master
Dilley, Wilkesbarre. Pa, North America.
1t was from Dorpat, Russia, and was writ
ten in German 1t ran:
MY Dear Kittie: / guess 1 may call you
that since your dear first name is unknown
to me. 1 read in a paper of northern Lith-
uania that you have the disposition Of fabu-
lous wealth, which, in my opinion, you
neither will nor can make use of in your
life.
Appeals to It's NOBLE Mind.
Now since we have barely sufficient of
the necessities of life to struggle along
with, and, above all, are very impractical
persons who can never hope to get along
we'll in life, l appeal to your noble cat
mind whether you might not be willing to
help us out with a sum of money. OF
course, you would have to give that sum
away to us. since we have no hope of ever
returning it.
II sincerely hope, dear Kittie, that you
will fulfill my wish. The pleasure of giving
will certainly embellish your noble cat life,
and therefore prolong it. 1 hope to hear
of you soon through the Northern Lithu-
anian Times. in Dorpat District Of Livland,
Russia. SYBILLE ROSENSTENGER."
One woman in the west, anticipating the
death of Miss Ruch before that of Blackie,
has written to Miss Ruch telling what she
knows about cats and asking Miss Ruch, If
she chances at any time to be dying, to
recommend her for the position of Blackies
attendant.
From Denver a woman sent an offer to
come here, if her expenses were paid, and
tell Miss Ruch how the cats life could be
prolonged for many years.
From New York woman who was about
to go abroad with her husband for some
time wrote and asked Miss Ruch to take
care Of her cat while she was abroad. She
said this plan would at the same time pro-
vide cultivated and well-trained compan-
ion for Blackie.
From Boston came q letter prescribing
a course Of dieting for the cat. with liberal
The writer declared nothing was better
than catnip.
Gets Letters Of Sympathy.
Wives of several clergymen wrote letters
of sympathy when news of Pinkie's death
was published, and others, commenting
upon Mr.. Dilley's bequest, declared it set
ar for no nd ne ont.
mails and especially of household pets.
which would have an influence all over the
world.
Miss Ruch appreciates letter from a
man in the west, who wrote that he knew
Mr. Dilley as a young man; that even as
a boy Mr.. Dilley evinced a generous dis
position and was fond of animals, and that
he was not surprised at the terms of his
will. He offered Miss Ruch a home any
time she was without one.
Miss Ruch knows too much about the
cat and its habits to bother with any Of
the many suggestions for its care. 1t has
a certain routine which is observed daily
1t gets up when it desires, after sleeping
all night at the foot of Miss Ruch's bed;
eats at the table with her, being so well
trained that it is not even necessary to
have napkin to save the tablecloth; takes
several maps in the course of the day; has
it's basket shifted with the shifting sun
beams: is exercised, petted and played
with; has italian chestnuts to eat; is fed
with shrimps when it desires them, and is
washed and combed and brushed with ex-
IRENE care.
Despite all this Blackie is morose and
retiring. 1t does not make friends and is
not of particularly affectionate DISPOSE
ton. The weight of wealth seems to be
ever on its back, and as it Is now sixteen
years old it is not unlikely that Its cat
life is drawing to close. When it does,
however, the pension and the home which
is now Miss Ruch's will continue to be hers
until death. Then the estate will be d.
yided among Mr.. Dlley's relatives.