The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1913-01-29
In the history Of American Did Co,um.

in the history Of America? Did Colum
bus discover cats eating catuip whe,
he landed on these shores! Did til,
pilgrim fathers bring their cats uns
catnir along to Plymouth rock: Wo
man. answer me Or admit that 20,
were trying to belittle you own hus
baud in his own h~ouse:"
"All hat ! eau say is that eats love
catnip." she replied.
"You make that us a plain statemen,
Of fact, do you!"
II do"
"Then | will prove that you dom
know what you are talking about and
need Il GUARDIAN
Mir. Bowser clapped on his hat and
took Il walk. He knew his family
butcher to he an ex-farmer, and lie
called ut his shop and looked around
and then in u casual way inquired:
Zones. did you use to raise catnip
OF your farmY"
"The old woman raised a few
bunches-just enough for her CATS
was the reply.
GLOW for cats?"
"Why. cats eat 1t like fun, particular
~ about this time of year. IF you have
a cat over home and she is ailing Just
let her get at a bunch of catnip."
And you stand there and tell me
that catnip is 20 called because cats
nip at it,"
II have never heard any other rea-
SON."
"Then you don't know enough to
come in when it rains! Cats and cat
nip have nc more to do with each 9TH
er than bulls and bulrushes. No won
der you can't tell bones from beef!'
Il a tell a jackass when l see one!"
exclaimed the butcher. and after glar-
ing at him for a minute Mr.. Bowser
snorted in contempt and walked out.
A farmer who had been selling pota-
toes to the grocer OF the corner was
just about starting for home, and MI.
Bowser walked up and asked him:
"say. friend, do you grow any catnip
on your farm"
mot as a CROP" smiled the man.
"Then how do you grow it,"
"A few punches in the garden for the
cats"
But what has it got to do with cats?"
"Everything. You could have found
that out by asking your wife,"
Mr.. eowssr 10 Beaten.
Mr.. Bowser felt like calling him
names and getting up a row. but the
agriculture was in a hurry and was
soon driving away. An old man who
VAS leaning against a barrel had yer
I a the conversation, and he now
II ed in with:
You must have lived in a catless
country not to have heard about cat
nip"
did l ask your opinion. sir?"
mo. but when | find a man who
doesn't know catnip l feel it my duty
to post him. l wouldn't wander very
far from home If ! were you! You
might get lost!'
"You old villain! But for your gray
hairs I'd-I'd"- And Mr.. Bowser put
his fist under the others nose and held
1t there for a few seconds and then
passed on. His family druggist was a
pASPNA AAu W oppVOA ~ Out ~ vas
ten minutes before the searcher after
Information entered the store. 1t was
another ten before he asked:
"Doc. do cats eat catnip?"
"Do cows eat grass?" answered the
druggist.
But is it really true that they dot"
'"They love it. Catnip is for cats.
Cotc 0ro for o0%p{p 0Nl,0r n,,o mn md
indivisible. You can bet your last dol
lar on that"
But l never heard of such a thing"
"Probably not. l believe there are
several things you never heard of.
However. you a settle this thing
very quickly. Here's a bunch of the
stuff l bought for my cat today. She's
wandered Off somewhere, and you can
take it along"
Mr.. Bowser took the bunch and
walked off. He hadn't got ten feet
from the door when a stray cat meow !
ed at his heels. Before reaching the
other end of the block the number was
six. When within 100 feet Of his gate
It seemed as IL there were twenty wall
ing. meowing felines around him, all
making threats against his life If he
did not give up that bunch. and he
suddenly became panic stricken and
fed.
"Well? queried Mrs. Bowser as she |
opened the front door and found him |
on the steps breathing heavily.
But he gazed steadily at the rising
VnnOn On6 s,,OJ0 mr., IT, n~l
been defeated. but he meant to save
his honor.