Evening star., 1928-10-07
This and That
By Charles E.. TracetUeH.

Jack Spratt has very good compan,
manners. -,e'
When guests are in the tiger ca
usually contents himself with lyins
stretched out at full length in the win.
dow, or curled up on the cushion o,
some chair in the corner.
Mostly he never moves. but some.
times he will make his toilet, assiduous
| ly licking himself, or indulge in ,
| coughing SPELL Then guests look prop.
erly Mortified, In polite manner, OF
pretend not to see him.
All cats, as far as we can de.
termine, have these coughing spells
| during which they stick out their necks
and make rather unpleasant noises In
their throats. No doubt a hair In the
wrong place is responsible.
As a rule, however, they conduct
themselves much better when company
Is In than do their enemies, the dogs
Even the most ardent dog fan" must
admit that his pet is somewhat of a
nuisance at times.
One of these times is assuredly when
several guests are around. Then Fido
insists, on putting his muddy paws on
the ladies' new dresses. or in some
way or other making something of a
spectacle of himself
An average well bred cat, on the
other paw, tends, strictly to his own
business. asking nothing better than
to be let alone. If the guests will let
him alone he will let them alone.
Sometimes it becomes necessary to
put the family pet down in the base
ment, owing to the possession by q
guest of the cat complex. Such a
person imagines that she-always She
Is able to detect the presence Of a
cat through some intuition.
BY years of foisting this belief upon
themselves they come to believe in their
ability to unerringly know If a cat is
present. Yet once we saw such a lady
sit for an hour without realizing that
Jack Spratt slumbered on q table 2
feet behind herl
Jack is sometimes allowed to sit at
table with the family-but never when
guests are present.
This much we concede to guests.
Jack Is human being to us. but
simply an animal to others, Of course.
They do not understand his presence
at table.
The only time he eats from a chair
is when flsh Is served.
He prefers his fish cooked.
II fish head is put down for him
IN the kitchen he will paw at it with
interest, but will never eat 1t.
No raw fish for him!
When the baked fish Is brought to
the table, however, Jackie Is right there
waiting for his share.
He stands on a chair. with his
forepawS on the cloth, his white face
down over his plate of fish. After he
has finished he sits back with great
satisfaction, his eyes large and round,
hoping for more.
A neighbor was once very much hor-
rified to discover Jack sitting on top
OF the table while we consumed
frugal supper. n.
Who ever heard of cat being
allowed to sit on the table during q
meal?" said she.
why, he's a nice clean cat" said
we.
One evening Spratt asked for more
dinner, but did not get 1t.
Settling down In the window sill, he
remained very quiet when company
came In. It happened to be q prize
fight party" the radio holding the CEN
ter of the stage
After Mr.. Tunney had been declared
the victor adjournment was had to the
dining room, where sandwiches were
among the refreshments.
Jack, still hungry, Srnelled meat.
We saw him eyeing us from his win
dow, and hoped that he would not
show OF before company"
First giving an inquiring meow, Jack
hoped down from the window and ran
swiftly forward.
With one leap he was in our lap, and,
before the astonished guests. stuck his
head forward to seize sandwich.
We stopped him just In the nick OF
time. GuestNdo not understand.