Evening star., 1909-03-06

such a nuisance to the neiglbors that
they are perpetually complaining to the
police and the sanitary committee tC
have it removed by force.
The fair but aged owner Of all these
pets is remarkably reticent, and ex-
cept for few women who look after
the dogs and cats not even her serv-
ants are allowed entrance into that part
of the house where they live. 1t presents
a forlorn enough appearance from the
outside. The balconies and verandas
are crammed with all manner of house
hold lumber which, by reason Of having
lain there so long. is covered with dust
and moss.
1. was not till a delicate King Charles
spaniel was imported into the house and
got Inflammation Of the lungs that she
showed herself to him. The new pet
for which she had paid a fabulous price
was so i'll that she lost all reticence.
On receiving an urgent message from
the porter, with promise that he would
get any fee he liked to name, provided
the dog was saved, the wet hurried to
the spot A small. withered-up old lady
of eighty. neatly dressed in the fashion
of fifty years ago, met him inside the
gateway and implored him to save the
dog He attended the pet for fortnight
and. being the only outsider who has
ever seen this house, was much in re-
quest by inquisitive people for some time
after.
THE house is one big dog and cat
show he said. in answer to some press
ing questions. Each room is locked and
from what the servants say, 1 suppose
that Mile. Aleksieff is the only
person who has the keys. Large as the
house is. the lady and her servants only
occupy three rooms-the smallest and
darkest Of all. At the back Of the house.
overlooking the courtyard, Is huge room
with fine windows. sunny and bright.
Out of this room are two smaller ones,
inhabited by Persian cats and their kit
tens Here the temperature is higher
and the air. to any ordinary mortal. eX-
cessively heavy and oppressive. But as
mademoiselle has not been out OF doors
herself for twenty years. / suppose she
does not find it so bad.
'The rest Of the cats. of which I
counted fifty. are distributed in various
rooms near the big one All these rooms
ing the street, which is fitted with iron
bars like a cage. Here are all kinds of
gymnastic apparatus for the catS-tree-
trunks, wheels, little ladders to Jump on,
tened to the ceiling and lying about on
the floor. There are mechanical birds.
like childrens toys. which fly about.
mechanical mice and hundred toys and
devices which children might envy. Here
the cats and kittens spend whole days
when 1t is fine.
Downstairs and in the side wings are
various rooms and kennels for eighty
dogs. They seem to embrace every spe-
Gle under the sun. In fine weather they
take exercise in the huge courtyard, but.
as mademoiselle will not allow them to
go further afield. the bigger ones are al
ways in i'll health for want OF proper
exercise. These dogs have the run of a
huge open corridor In bad weather and
the more delicate dogs. including English
breeds. sleep in much warmer rooms
One woman does nothing else but brush
and comb them.
Several times 1 suggested to their
owner that she ought to take small
farm out in the country and transport
them there. But the little old lady. who
is as pleasant as possible when she gets
over her shyness. always shakes her
head and says she must die in the house
she was born In
And the fifty cats and eighty dogs?'
! asked"
"I have already provided for them in
my WILL was the answer.