Evening star., 1925-05-24
This and That
By Charles T.. TraceueH.

A picture of large cat wearing
! speetacies dropped out of the letter
| This was Ludwig, fur. .bea ring animaI.
name Of three letters: common to
| roofs and back fences" | was inform
| ed on a pasted label.
scrutiny of the photograph showed
| that the spectacles We're indubitablv
worn by the cat at the tir1e the pic
! ture was snapped; there was not the
slightest evidence that the specs"
| had been painted on the print
Some of the history of this interest
ing creature was contained in Il com
munication inclosed with the picture.
! and signed with the single name
| Bowen. The gentleman takes mild
| exception to my article recently upon
| the affection displayed by, felines for
| their human friends.
| He shows. however. that he believes
heartily in what he processes to not,
| believe in. Thus faithful are the
| friends of cats, Listen to his tale:
| Evidence piles up that the poets
and nature takers score very low
when they overeXtol the attachment
and affection of our horizontal com
rades, cats, for those who hold them
| near and dear.
| Comes now the case of Ludwig,
| widely known in this town for brains
4
! bed and board for 10 long years, and
| latterly a lonely apartment where the
| companionship factor becomes of in
| creasing Importance.
THE inc vitable parting of the ways
cam in the form of q vacancy in the
cat staff Of the John Dickson Home.
which 1 choose to designate as one of
ilife's splendid terminal facilities for
man or beast
! He will go, | decided, as my courier
for only few short years, perchance.
He will breathe again in the great
open spaces where cats are cats.
|
| There's no such thing as an in
mate at John Dickson. The portals
swing open to only guests or the boys
| who just naturally drop in for a stay
at home after a long. tiresome jour
ney. John Joy Edison happened TO
be at the wicket when we arrived for
a preliminary parley.-
| He quite bubbled over with en-
thusia SIN at the prospect of an entrant
which so perfectly matched the sur
roundings: accepted cat at par and ac-
crued interest. current rate. The
nurses were discreetly cordial, with
mental reservations: but somehow I
felt that the old 'Veni, yidi, yici stuff
! had gotten over again.
THE great disillusionment was to
come week later Keen for one of
those demonstrative exhibitions that
we read about, l sought out Ludwig
on his beat up and down the long
| halls.
! There he lay. on a Persian rug.
guarding a synthetic mouse. / EN-
ployed the cello tones so effective in
| the past. Babe, the old mans here
with the meat, c'mon.' but there was
| no gleam of recognition in the level
| gaze that was focused way beyond
me.
! 1.-The thought that went with it
| was as plain as though spoken: Il
| only dimly recollect you; you are a
! member in poor standing: how did
you get here; hereafter please state
your business at the office; good-day.'
And that's the creature whose
| lullaby somnambufzed; whose nose
was always at the door when it
opened; who acted as an alarm clock
such timepieces; who could propitiate
the boss with the skill of an $500
clerk Bah!
But stin I love 'em all and
| sundry." .-~... .... ..-
| One does not need pair of spec
| taCleS 10 see lQdI LuOWiS Pal PoS-
sesses a love for cats that is proof
against all the. slings of outrageous
fortune, as well as ingraritude, which
Is said to be sharper than ser.
pent's tooth.
| Ludwig, of course, did see him.
There Is no doubt of it. He was too
proud to let on that he did, that was
all. After a lifetime of observation
of dogs Ludwig scorned the SOLDERING
demonstrations of that tribe.
! No doubt Ludwig, as he lay on his
Persian rug. had argued 1t out: Now
he will come to see me, Of course.
Shall i, or shall 1 not, rush up to
him and purr prodigiously?
| III do / will be acting for all the
world like dog. Perish the thought!
Better had an honest cat be deprived
of his spectacles than ape the man.
ners Of that noisy. blatant gang. those
insunerable, coarsely barking crea-
lures that are a disgrace to the
ma mmals.
| LAS for me- continued Ludwig to
himself, {" l have a reputation. TO
maintain, not only as cat. but also
as wearer Of spectacles. Those who
wear tortoise -shelled glasses must be
diEnified at all hazard.
Therefore, when he comes I must
vxytll I,A ASo.tAAA xxdu frr,tH