Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-01
This and That


The affections of the cat ara 90
wound M with it's comfort that even
its best friends cannot surely extri-
cate one from the other.
The cat Jack Spratt. well known
resident of Esstee alley, is an anec-
tionate little fellow in his way, which
is more or less the way of all cats.
During the recent hot weather Jack
preferred TO sleep on the floor,
favorite position being with legs up
along the Dashboard, thus elevating
his white stomach to what breezes
might blow.
When the weather cooled, however.
Jack found II more comfortable on
the bed, where he could snuggle down
in a most affectionate manner close
to his human friend.
This was greeted by the latter with
evident appreciation, for he knew that
one has to take cats at their face
value. A cat has no Interior motives.
If YOU attribute deep affection TO your
net because he sleeps by your side,
you are forgetting the cat nature.
Comfort is the motive of his life.
The cat is the greatest comfort con-
noisseur I'm the world. When 1t comes
to luxuriant living, he easily takes
the cake, bears off the palm, wins the
medal and the loving cup. too.
Everything that he does is done
with this end in view. When he hops
into your lap. and reclines with every
evidence Of satisfaction, be sure he
does It because at the time 1t is more
comfortable for him.
When he becomes a bit too warm
he will spring down, and seek a. place
under a table with just as much
pleasure.
+ y
Jack Is never happy when another
cat comes into the neighborhood.
Stray kittens, in particular, are his
pet aversion. Evidently he feels that
they have come to usurp his place
in the affection of his friends.
At such times he becomes very
cross, and assumes a mournful ex-
preston, looking very sullen. Al
though he will for a time play with
the kitten, he soon grows tired OF the
sport, and either spits at 1t, or makes
q few passes at it with a deft right
forepaw.
Some months recently stray black
cat took up his abode in the alley,
and was fed by friends of cats. 1t
finally took up a position on the back
porch, from which Jack proceeded to
chase it every morning.
Finally, however, the black cat took
to standing its ground. whereupon
Spratt was not so brave, evidently
believing in the old maxim that dis
erection is the better part of valor.
One very rainy Sunday morning old
Blackie, as he was called, was invited
into the kitchen. The stray cat took
up its position on a chair, pushed
back under a table, so that he was
practically invisible, only his yellow
eyes cleaning out
Jack was very indignant.
He shifted around the table. but al
lowed Blackie to remain in possession.
Finally Jack retired to the living
room, and took a seat on the softest
cushion on the davenport, where he
sat glarinG into space.
Shortly after this Blaclde disap-
peared. and has never been heard
from since. To this day Jack Spratt
shifts at the chair in the kitchen
y
Having allowed bis disconsolate fea-
lures to clear UP, and aaalle again IN.
cat fashion, Jack got the corners or
his mouth turned down once more
when small black and white kitten
turned up.
Immediately spratt got cross. It
was during the hot weather, but we
knew It was the kitten, not the heat.
that was to blame for Jacks unhappy
disposition.
He resented every mouthful Of food
given the kitten and finally grew so
irritable that we were glad when It
went on It's way.
That night 1.-THE kitten being gonel,
and the weather turning cool, Jack.
snuggied down on the bed, the very
picture Of cat affection, at peace with.
the world