Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-31
This and That
By Charles E. TracetueH.

An entirely new experience came to
Jack Spratt last week.
For the first time in four years, hs
got his tail rocked on!
| What is common experience to most
cats is that much of a rarity with
Jack Smatt. he of the elegant striped
| tail.
In the average household the pet
| cat has some one step on him at least
half dozen times a week, and the
impact of a chair rocker upon the tail
is almost as common.
The tail of cat, whether Persian
or ordinary alley variety, sticks out
so flamboyantly that it is matter OF
wonder that 1t Is not stepped on every
day. ...' -, f~.
Added to the strategic position Of
the tail. there come the habits Of the
cat, especially those of winding around
persons feet. or forever throwing
itself down in ones path, as it calmly
proceeds to make its toilet.
X X X Y
Every precaution had been taken to
protect Spratt from like happening.
full share of such happenings, when,
as a kitten, he got his then rat.like
tail caught in the swinging door be-
tween kitchen and dining room.
Faithful readers of this. the only
weekly cat column in the world, will
recall how Jack ran through the door,
only to have 1t swing to on his tail,
leaving him frantically struggling and
meowing on one side, with his human.
friends on the other.
The only way to release him was
/ to shove the door. COMPRISING his
tail still more. There was no way to
pull the door in, as it had no handle,
only the fiat brass plates common 10
doors in such situations.
There was small Jack Spratt, the
new friend, with his tail sticking
through and his wall arising, from the
other side. There was nothing to do
but shove, and SO we showed. forcibly
releasing Jack from his predicament.
whereupon he fled to the refuge of the
darkest place he could find.
Since that date the cat has never
gone through that doorway but what
he has looked suspiciously at the door.
He has never forgotten. That a like
happening may not overtake him
again. however, a doorstep Is kept
there. The stop is in the form Of a
heavy iron cat, white, with green eyes.
Every precaution Is taken through
out the house to prevent doors from
slamming on the elegant tiger-striped
tail of Jack Spratt, esq, perhaps the
only cat in Washington who regularly
receives letters.
Whenever there is a bit Of wind
blowing. chairs are propped against
all doors, so that by no chance may
they blow to upon him.
Extra precaution has been taken to
avoid stepping on Jack. or rocking on
him. No matter how long an animal
has been with one. when he Is hurt
he Immediately reverts to the wild
state. He does not understand. How
can he? He Is only an animal.
Jack left his position at the front
door, and walked behind our chair.
We innocently rocked back, where
upon a grand screech rent the air.
Immediately we rocked forward. We
knew what had happened. At last we
had rocked on old Jack!
Spratt sprang around the chair.
indignation in his eyes. He ran into
the dining room and beneath the table.
and refused to be coaxed out.
The sound OF an opening refrigerator
door, however, lured him readily from
his retreat. In the luxury OF veal
outlet he forgot his injury