Evening star., 1925-04-19
This and That
By Charles E. TraceueH.

Jack Spratt, the cocoa cat, is de.
termined to catch a bird this Spring.
He believes the world owes every
feline at least one.
Perhaps word of explanation may
be necessary as to that modifying
phrase, "the cocoa cat" While Jack
is a very fine specimen of gray and
black tiger tom, he has an undercoat
of light brown.
This cocoa brown, of a slight red
dish hue, is only seen in some lights
and at some times. 1t sets off his
stripes in splendid fashion, his very
symmetrical markings cleaning as if
he had been dipped in butter.
Cat fancferS say that a raw egg,
now and then, will make the coat
shine, but Spratt comes by his glossy
apparel naturally. When he was
nothing but an alley cat, with a tail
like that of a rat, his coat was very
glossy.
Today Jack Spratt has a very fat
tail-a sign of health-and a coat that
positively CLEANS. in its bold striped
designs, over gray and cocoa brown.
His outfit is what Is sometimes de-
scribed as elegant"
**
Hitherto Jack Spratt has been so
engrossed in the technique of catching
birds that he has never caught one.
Human beings, it may be added, are
not free from this trait.
Last Spring was Jacks first f1owery
season in this world. After a Winter
of snow he found the grass growing
green, the flowers out and the birds
plentiful.
L. IL Ill
cat can. Il am going to catch one of
those chirping cusses If it takes all
day
Accordingly, he settled down in the
grass after the immemorial fashion of
the cat tribe, eyes cleaning, legs bent,
the light gray fur showing on his
elbows
He wiggled his whiskers at the
birds in approved style, but nary a
bird moved.
Pretty soft" mewed Jack, taking
a wary step forward.
The birds kept flirting around, as if
they hadn't the slightest idea in the
world that a predatory animal was on
their trail.
Jack advanced himself a couple of
inches. After crouching for fully half
a minute. he crept up another inch.
Alta boy, old Jack, at that rate
you1l get clear across the yard by
night" was the encouragement hol-
Tered at him.
Jack turned his head reprovingly,
as If to say. shut up, can't you see
l am about to get him?"
As there was at least 40 more feet
for Rim to go, however, one did not
unsuspecting birds.
Toatr atauc cri ad Ha xxro
in the jungle. His eyes cleaned with
the joy of the chase. He edged him
self forward as much as y inches.
No lynx could have gone softer.
Watch me-" Jacks eyes declared.
+ X 4 4
Just then the Lady Next Door came
out.
She has a Bird Complex.
"Oh, don't let him kill the poor
little BIRDS" she cried.
HE will never catch one all Sum-
mere at his present rate" | replied
"Oh, yes, he will. A cats a cat"
Yes, a cats a cat, all right, but
Jack Spratt is Jack Spratt."
With that neat retort. settled
down to watch Jack lose his bird.
Sure enough, after he had painfully
progressed 10 feet, he had the chagrin
Oh seeing Tie Ly away.
And it was that way all Summer.
He was so intent on creeping, accord
ing to the best traditions, that he
never got within catching distance.
This Spring old Spratt has shown
a disposition to get right down to
business. He still clings to the creep
ing brand of progress. but has modi-
fed it considerably Now he creeps
for few feet, then suddenly springs
forward.
He has seen the error of his ways,
and is determined to bring down the
quarry at any hazard of being seen.
Robins. in particular, arouse his vast
ire. They are so fat, so impudent, so
sure of themselves.
"I will take anything in feathers,
Jack said, "but especially l am after
one of those Robin fellers. They do
not deserve Il live"