Evening star., 1928-11-18
This and That
By Charles E. TracetOeH.

In discussing whether a pet animal
has a mind or not 1t is difficult to keep
| from confusing accidental happenings
with genuine feats of intelligence.
Often a dog or cat will perform some
action which leads beholders to think
| It very smart" when all the time 1t
merely happened to do what it did.
For this reason psychologists who In
vestigAte animal behavior take infinite
pains TO repeat the same experiments
not only on the same creature. but also
with a diversity of animals.
Thus, 1t Is believed. the bona fide will
stand out from the chance. so that the
finger may be placed unerringly upon
the genuine manifestation OF brain
power.
This sort of scientific experiment will
not prevent animal lovers from cherish
ing and telling the striking examples c,
thinking" done by family pets.
Readers here know that Jack Spratt,
the cat, Is regarded by the present
writer as a very intelligent animal. His
comings and goings. as chronicled in
this Sunday column for more than four
years, have furnished a procession Of
examples.
His most recent display of intelli-
gence happens to be one of his most
striking manifestations. both Of reason
ing and Of memory. Cats both reason
and remember, we are convinced of
that and Jack has furnished one more
proof
It will be recalled that Jack Spratt's
most bitter enemy is the cat doctor.
He cordially loaths. detests and fears the
veterinarian, who Is called In every time
H. l. sfaA- 81
specialist have been very successful, but
Jack Spratt, unfortunately. doesn't
know It, A cats reasoning powers do
not extend as far as that!
Upon the visits of the doctor Jack
seeks some hiding place, so that IL has
become customary TO round him up be-
fore the worthy wet" appears.
The moment Jack hears the doctors
car stop in front of the house he be-
gins to cringe. Let no one dispute this
II is q fact. He knows, We verify be-
lieve, the sound OF that one car from
the noise made by any other car
When the smiling veterinarian APP
pears In the doorway Jack begins 10
He covers down, and tries to hide his
head. feat for which ostricheS are
noted but which most created things
indulge In II there seems to be no other
way to get away from pressing danger
Recently Jack Spratt began to de-
velop a "Scary" spell He started at the
least sound. The rustling Of q piece of
paper would make him leap away as If
purused by q demon.
In addition to developing a consum-
ing liking for the basement, where he
spent most Of his time. he showed what
appeared TO be an unreasonable fear OF
the living room.
He would not enter 1t under any
temptation, and II carried In, immedi-
ately began to cover down In the arnls
Of the one who held him.
Invariably he cast frightened glanees
at the front door.
A few days later he began to show
signs OF Illness. A teaspoonful Of castor
oil (good for man or beaSt) shortly put
him on his feet again, whereupon the
signs Of fear began to diminish.
His friends feel quite sure that his
disQuietude was due to an absolute
mental process He knew that he was
getting sick, and he also remembered
that every time he became III terrible
man smelling of antiseptics made his
appearance.
So he put two and two together, and.
like most of his human friends. began
to fear something that had not yet put
In appearance. No doubt when JACK
Spratt grows older he will hang up the
good motto, Il am an old cat and y
have had many. troubles--most OF which
never happened