The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-07
BLACK CATS WILL SCRATCH TUESDAY Hoo HooS Will Hold Goncatena-
 ton Here
WILL MAKE FUR FLY FAST
Nineteen Kittens Will Be Sent on a Merry Chase Across the Roof and Up the Tower of the
 County Courthouse.


 for the Black Catsi They're comingl They will get here tomorrow and will begin sharpening their claws the minute they strike the town. Cats of all sizes and shapes, but of only one r-"'Midnight." The cause of all this feline gathering will be the confederation which the Concate- mated Order of Hoo Hoo Is to hold here Tuesday afternoon. The concatenation will be held in connection with the meet ing of the Alabama and Florida Lumber Manufacturers association, which begins Tuesday morning, in the Commercial club rooms. The call was issued day or two ago by sibley P. King, vicegerent of the universe.
 The litter of kittens will be one of the largest bunch of scratchers ever chased across a roof, and the trip they will be started on at minutes past Tuesday afternoon will be one that would make the blood In a ghost run cold. Nineteen kittens will be lined up at this time and started on their terrifying trip through the Concatenation. The start will be made in the Commercial club rooms, but the session on the roof vii be held on the sky-piece of the county court house, which offers an exceptionally good place for the session, on account of the ex- tremely high tower. and many sharp angles.
 After scramblng around the sharp cor ners. climbing the gables, and "skinning" up the tower, the kittens will be made to walk the telephone wires from the roof of the court house to the Big Rock, which is legally known as the county fail. They will be sent on trip over the roof of the Big Rock and compelled to get barefooted and run up and down on top of the wall, which surrounds 1t. This wall is covered with broken glass, which will make the trip very delightful, indeed.
 Back to the Commercial club they will then he chased, where they will be made to climb the elevator shaft. The shaft will be greased to the limit and the Kit tens will have to climb fast, else the elevator will mash them as 1t runs up and down the shaft. This stunt Is said to be the most devilish piece of torture that A black cat with long claws could con nive
 The trip across the court house roof will bring out the mettle in kitten, for he will be put through such a course of hair-raising gymnastics that will cause his hair to stand on end for week. Up almost perpendicular roofs of slate he will be compelled to crawl on all fours and his stomach. After making the trip in this manner he will be turned upside down and made to climb the roof feet first on his back, and again he must make it walking on his hands while his toes point towards the setting sun.
 The trip up the tower will be such as to make the tabby long fer home and mother and the saucer ef warm milk behind the kitchen range. Up the tower he will have to climb with his thumbs and teeth, not being allowed to touch fingers, feet legs or body to the sheer wall The description of the stunt to be pulled off when he reaches the top of the tower will not be published, for fear it may cause the kitten to have heart failure
 A large supply of shackles and braces will be provided for the holding of the kittens. An extra heavy log chain has also been ordered, with which to chain them together, and the young cats will be chained neck and neck until their turn comes. Plenty of material will also be provided for the kittens to sharpen their claws on. This will be done out of a spirit of fairness towards the kittens. as 1t will be absolutely necessary that they have sharp claws, in order to do the scratching which they must do dur ing their concatenation. Sheriff Higdon's bloodhounds havs also been retained to catch any timid A,ttens who ma.' try to escape.
 The things mentioned above are only part of the primary course which the kittens will have to pursue during their initiation into this order of noble black cats. That which follows is not made public for fear the mere naming of 1t will cause the kittens to fade away and leave entirely the haunts of man.
 After the concatenation the black cats will proceed to the street, where they will find special cars in waiting, which will transport them to the Country club, where they will seat themselves to an 'ele- gant banquet at minutes past 9. The concatenation will be one of continuous jollity and plenty of amusement will be provided for .--e old cats. About 100 cats will be scratching around.
 The meeting of the lumber manufac- turers will be one of importance to lum- ba, man in this district If is conpoaed of practically every lumber manufacturer in both Florida and Alabama, and the prices of lumber and other matters of interest to lumberrnen will come in for discussion.
 A Family Puzzle.