Evening star., 1924-11-30
Heard and Seen

The lords OF the alley were oul IA
full force Thanksgiving day.
They had come down from the
housetops, where literature puts
them-most erroneousIy-and had
taken possession OF the back fences.
In the alley the city cat is at home.
The alley, to felis domesticus, Is the
same as the street to mankind.
Those on two legs prefer the side
walks; those who go on -FOUR paws
like best the alleys, where automo-
biles are not so thick, where garbage
cans offer not too difiicult sustenance.
where life pursues a calmer way than
out on the street.
The independent cat, most free OF
created things, prowls the alley be-
cause he enjoys the alley most. Never
make the mistake. in the pride or In
tellectuality. of thinking that the cat
shuns the street because he Is afraid
of dogs.
The cat is not afraid of dogs. The
cat despises the loud-voiced, hoarse
fawners upon mankind, and in the
depth of his heart has only the deep
est contempt for an animal Whicn
barks at the moon.
No cat ever meowed for the moon.
He rejects the moon, and II he has
ever done It the honor Of casting a.
glance at II he has turned back to
more profitable sights, because he is
a practical beast.
Sublimely selfish. fieroely independ-
ent, the alley cat finds his best enter
tainment in the paved ways behind
the houses he condescends to inhaoit
on an equal footing with those who
pay the bills.
Honest Tom tolls not, neither does
he spin, yet Fido, in all his glory OF
for Oh Eapnai 10
arrayed in so splendid a coat.
There was white meat waiting at
home for Jack Spratt, our cat, but
that ungrateful fellow had hied him
self away, and so there was nothing
to do but roam the alleys in search
Of him.
Friends of cats will understand
how one could spend a portion Of
Thanksgiving day hunting up a TOM
cat. Others will not. We let that
pass.
In this world of mingled JOY and
woe, where some children are over
fed and some never get enough to
eat, it is not strange that a large
platter of white meat should be SET
aside on Thanksgiving day for cat.
There are thousands of dogs
throughout this land whose daily
food would be highly acceptable to
thousands of human creatures whose
bill of fare is not so rich. These arc
facts in the wheel of life.
Our alleys are clean, wide. lying
along well kept back yards. They are
little streets, only quieter. One may
walk here with profit to his immortal
soul and without danger to his NOR
tai body.
Around corners, across lots, the
search passed.
Here was a lot. an ideal place to
lurk for field mice. Here cookie
burrs get into a cats tail. but here
mice are to be caught, after which
a trip home Is the order of the day.
Once at home the successful hunter
desires to display his prey in the
kitchen, but, being denied that. he
consumes the mouse, fur, tail and all,
in about Is seconds.
Where are you, you ungrateful
tomcat? Don't you know there is
plenty of good meat waiting home
for you?
There sits Capt. Kidd, his white
coat cleaning, his black tail shin-
ing. Capt. Kidd, have you seen JACK
Spratt?
Lord, have mercy on us. hero are
five cats in q row-a coal blacR one
two large white ones and two tiger
cats-their eyes regarding US from
broad faces.
Nice cats, all, but not the one we
are looking for. We let them be and
turn again home. Our cat has dis
appeared for the nonce. but the cat
will come hack" you know.
1. is night. The alley lamps cast
splotches OF light In the darkness.
Great dogs bark in the distance and
q strange little bird chirps and chirps
out OF the darkness. -,
Meow, meow" .-
In all the world Of cats there is
only one meow like that! Open flies
the kitchen door, out flares the light.
in marches Jack Spratt, all ready
for his Thanksgiving dinner.
CHARLES e. TRACEWELL