Evening star., 1928-10-21
This and That
BY Charles E. TraceweH.

Jack Spratt's tiger-striped coat Is
particularly pleasing to look at these
days. 1t is thick and glossy, for one
thing, and as clean as can be. Most of
this fine appearance is due, however,
to the fact that his fur is puffed up.
In running the rusty black cat, Pun
chinello, out of his back yard, Jack
puffed up his fur so far that 1t has
never come down again to normal This
is the reason, we are convinced, why
mis- coat looks so fine.
There Is no more interesting sight in
the animal kingdom than a tomcat
back, his back arched, his eyes flashing
fire. and his mouth splitting maledic-
tions at foe.
The outstanding of the fur, at such
times, gives the creature the appear
ance of being at least twice his normal
size, and no doubt thereby tends to in
tirnidate the enemy.
Many a dog, ordinarily brave, will
shrink with fear away from an alley
cat that presents such an alarming ap-
pearance. Nature does very we'll by the
house cat in this as. in many other re-
SpectS.
She does well by it. too, in the matter
of falling almost always landing the
cat with increased seeing ability at
night and gives him a noiseleSs tread.
Mostly a cats fur returns to normal
in 80 to so seconds after the creature
causes it to stand straight up In a
battle. Little by little it flattens out,
so that shortly the coat Is smooth
again.
Jack Spratt's fur, however has still
slightly ruffied appearance, as If he had
swelled himself to such an enormous
degree that nature protested against
ever permitting the hairs to lie fiat
again.
1t was one Sunday morning recently,
about 10 o'clock, when the backyard
was still damp from the Fall dew, that
Punchinello, the clown cat. made his
appearance on the back walk.
Punch Is a curious fellow.
He has a rusty black coat, green
eyes and long legs which he maneu-
vers in a clumsy manner. giving him
the aspects of a feline clown. The way
he runs permits an observer to feel that
he is purposely trying to evoke amuse-
ment.
Recently he has been hunting for
his small friend, Nipper, who moved
away to another section Of the city.
He prowls around the back steps, seek
ing for his friend, who often enough
vanquished him in battle.
X
This morning Punch stopped, and
began to sniff the air.
Food
Cautiously he moved forward, throw
ing up his hind legs as he walked.
Sure enough, there on the walk some
kind person had spread out paper on
which was at least fourth of pound
of ground round steak.
Such dinners came none too often
in the life Of Punchinello. He looked
around him. as if suspecting trick.
Then, with a sideways glance from
his eyes. he fell to eating with great
satisfaction.
It was while Punch was engaged In
this pleasant morning task, all the more
happy because so rare in his life, that
Jack Spratt issued from the back door.
He saw Punchinello.
Jacks back began to rise. his fur
to puff up, his ears to 60 back, his
mouth to open.
Then a fearsome meow issued forth,
from his lips. It was the first time in
months that Jack Spratts battle cry
had split the air of the alley.
While not up to the old-time stand
ards. the cry was good one still. 1t
made Punchinello stop eating, cringe
and start retreat.
With bound Jack Spratt was after
the black cat, who retreated in good
order to the fence, where he turned
about and confronted the happy
warrior.
Jack looked at Punch majestically for
q time. spit vigorously several times,
then sauntered away. And since that
time his fur remains q little puffed up.