Evening star., 1925-05-03
This and That
By Charles Z. TraceueH.

Many dislikes are caused by ig
norance. Simple not-knowing leads
to much disliking. If we could know
some people better. we would end up
by liking them more.
This applies particularly 10 cats.
There are scores of professed cat
haters, who, if they could intimately
know a good specimen of feline,
would learn TO care for cats in gen.
eral.
Take Jack Spratt, famous alley cat
who gets more publicity than all the
rest OF his tribe put together.
A close acquaintance with Jack for
nearly two years has led me TO be-
lieve that no one could be in a sim
liar position and not like this furry
fellow. What can you see to like in
an old cat?" / have been asked.
AS well ask one why he cares for
dogs. Aside from the general merits
of the canine race, in each case of
friendship for dog there exists
list of particular qualities originating
in the particular dog.
Each dog, each cat, is an individual
On the theory previously promul-
gated in this column, that animals
are the people God forgot" each one
of them is unlike every other one, and
has traits peculiarly it's own.
The outstanding trait that wins
our affection in our pets is the affec-
ton of the animal for us. Dogs may
be blessed with a larger share of this
quality, but cats manifest il also.
The affection of your cat is more
shy, less often shown. That he does
manifest it, however, now and then,
there is no doubt.
Take Jack Spratt. for instance.
Jack has some little tricks Of his
own that he never displays to out
siders. They are reserved for his own
family, in his own house.
One of his best is to put out a
paw and touch you gently on the
cheek with it. The velvet touch of a
cats paw can be infinitely soft when
the animal wants it to be.
On the other hand-or paw-it be-
comes all pins and needles IN case
of necessity. 1t is the contrast be-
tween the sharp instrument of war
fare and the paw of friendship that
makes 1t so appealing.
Sometimes, when you pick Jack up,
he will look into your eyes. and then
| reach out his right paw, touching you
gently on the left cheek. 1t can be
nothing but a pure gesture of af-
lection.
Another trick esteemed by his
friends is his habit of rubbing his
whiskers against ones cheek. This
is a general habit of his kind of
| course. but partakes of something
more when it is done the way my
friend Spratt does it.
II is the delicacy with which these
movements are conSummated that puts
them in a class by themselves. Your
honest dog is n rough fellow. When
he wants to show affection he bounds
all over you, putting his muddy paws
all over your Sundays o-to-meeting
suit.
A cat, however, goes about it in
no such crude way. Its muscles are
| under perfect control. Although it
takes no particular exercises, never
having heard of the daily Dozen" its
muscles remain supple, nevertheless.
The same foreleg that can dart out
a wicked paw to slash a dogs eyes
| out can be placed SO gently on your
cheek you scarce can feel il. The
cheek is done SO deftly that it seems
a mere breath.
= = x X
What I call praying" is another
unusual trick of Spratt Sometimes
window--the best place in the room
he will place his head down between
his forepaws, in an attitude of prayer.
You have seen pictures of faith
full dogs in somewhat the same posi-
ton.
Another fetching trick of Jacks is
to end each yawn with a Meow"
This is something new, and, as far
as l know, unique with this cat.
He will stretch his mouth into a
tremendous yawn, arch his back and
then, just as the yawn ends. top IL
off with a vigorous Meow" The
physical wave of yawning breaks
into crest of sound, as 1t were.
No account of Jacks habits would
be complete without something said
about his ability to stand on his hind
legs. This is ii preliminary to get
ting his dinner and he does it better
than any dog that ever lived.
If Jack is in the room, whenever
he hears himself talked about in
variably he will roll over, as much
as to say, well, look at me, folks"
His crowning display of affection,
and least often given, is to suddenly,
as you hold him, relax and lay his