New-York tribune., 1907-06-20
PHILOSOPHY OF A CAT LOVER.
Arrested for Feeding Felines, She Finds It
a Mistake "to Make Kindheartedness."

''Have you heard the news?" said n sad-eyed
olack cat. with ear and part of his tail gone.
10 a gaunt maltese. they investigated the con-
tents Of an ashcan at Second avenue and 80th
street
NO. What's up?" asked the maltese
mo more midnight spreads for US. She's been
chased out by the janiJress.'
-It's hard world for cats sighed the maltese.
The and only she" TO the homeless cats
around East S0th street is Mrs Annie Obermeyer.
and If they feel bad because she is not feeding
them any more, she feels worse. Everybody in
that neighborhood is talking about the arrest OF
Mrs. Obermeyer, at No. 2lI East SUh street, on
Monday night for feeding cats in the yard. Mrs
Obermeyer Is stil suffering from the shock of her
night in the station house, but her chief thought
IS for the hungry cats over in her fat 18th
street. near Second avenue, she told Tribune
reporter about It. She is a kindly faced, gray
haired woman Of sixty. a widow. With her lives
her daughter. who teaches music. With her also
live three cats They Iolled in we'll fed way
against the wire door that kept them out Of the
little paTlor and appeared TO listen to the con-
versation.
at iss mistake to make kindheartedness IN this
world" Mrs Oberrneyer said Inournfully in her
broken English at makes for you much trouble
hat always felt sorry for the hungry cats and
for all things that are hungry. ] am so. I can
not help f. \ cat iss not to be blamed that Il iss
born. and IL people don't want it. why do they not
kill IL with kindness while It iss small? But. no;
they keep It for the children 10 play with and then
when il iss no longer a kitten they throw it out
And people make much cruelty for the homeless
cats. There iss one haf fed that has been kicked
and iss Ike this and the old woman twisted her
head over her shoulder
Well, I feed the cats at night. Many years I
lived in the house at 40. 27 East S0th street, and
feed the cats and nothing iss said. Then I mova
10 this place. But when walk through S0th street
the cats all run against me when they see mo.
They know me. yes. I haf spent much money 10
buy milk and meat for them They run out from
the alleys, the gray cats and the yellow cats al
around me Ike So, and the aged woman spread
her hands out. They look up If TO ask Why
do you not feed us? at night I say to my
Slaughter Go 10 your bed and when she iss
asleep take pail Of milk and some liver, and go
oF1T rG IL n HON Ind Tfa-1T s+n1
No cannot go any more 70 feed the cats il iss
not safe. I all shaky since it happened. To-
day dress and go to my husband in the cemetery.
cannot stay stu, even my legs feel strange under
me-
The daughter is fond Of cats, like her mother,
and, like her, gets her English somewhat mixed.
ful people," she asked. For we are respectful
people; We lived IN that house No. 217 East s0th
street for twenty years. When I walked up Mon
day night and found my mother gone I th1ught I
would die I Put my clothes and ran out into
the street. I ran up and down, looking for her.
and then went 10 the house on East S0th street.
II was o'clock in the mEning then. y man
said TO me, Are you looking for some one? 7
looking for my mother ! said. An old woman
was arrested for feeding cats in this yard he
said, and knew it my mother I knew how
when she come home from The Bronx she would
get on al 60th street and walk through there and
give the cats bits 10 eat because my mother can
not bear 10 see anything hungry. 7 knew she had
gone at night because IL IS quiet then and the
cats are not afraid TO come out. But was ii not
shame to put respectful woman like nv mother
in a cell for feeding cats? What will people think
when they hear my mother has been in a cell? It
IS Ike a disgrace 10 Us. Still" she added hope
fully, those who know my mother know she &c
good We have had letters from people 10 svr-
pathize with US for what happened. Here is one"
ana she brought out a postcard dated Brook
lyn and signed IAN Animal Lover in which was
expressed the hope that Mrs. Oberrnever vould he
able 10 90 on feeding the cats at No 217 And t,a
magistrate. who had never seen her befora l[ra,,
as soon as she before him that she was ,,ood
EHo ne sald' You are honorably discharged"