Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-17
This and That
By Charles E. TracesceH.

Specialists In feline psychology might
be able to say why Jack Spratt has de-
veloped sudden fear of paper, but We
are unable to offer the slightest solu-
ton OF the strange phobia
For the past five years the tiger cat
has eaten his dinner of folded news
paper, he has played with balls Of
crumpled paper and has engaged In
many wild dash through sheets Of the
same.
Yet recently he became afraid of the
slightest rustic. He will be seated in a
favortte nook. with calm look upon his
features, when a slight rattle of a
sheet OF paper win cause him to jump
him.
1t seems to be strictly a mental prom
osition. We have tried to run down
every clue which might lead to a solu-
ton, but so far have been able to dis
cover nothing tangible.
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Physical disturbances are held to be
mostly responsible for these deviations
from the normal In animals. In the
case under discussion, however, very
little has been found to substantiate
this view.
JaCk looks Wen ana acts normally,
with the exception of this paper busi-
ness. Tnere has been nothing associate
ed with paper which could have fright
ened him. and II there had the fright
would not have lasted so long.
1t Is questionable whether cats have
good memories. 1t is true that a severe
pam VIII cause them to remember. but
IN the great majority Of cases they soon
forget after the pain has ceased.
In many cases In which animals
seem to remember, 1t Is more a matter
OF scent. Their recollection of smells
Is very good. If veterinarian. Smelling
OF antiSepticS calls on one Of them. the
animal will remember him on his next
smell.
Perhaps cats are no different from
human beings, but develop small pe-
cuiiarities from time to time as it suits
them.
Why notP Every one in the world
cannot be standardized The craze for
standardization among human beings
are so many deviations.
There Is something In the human
spirit which resents dictation--that Is
why one sees continually men and
women who refuse to dress or TO act
IKE the herd. who insist on reading
different" books. and who Ego In" for
activities frowned upon by the mass.
Maybe something of the same thing
Is true of animals, especially the tenn.
peramental cat. which In many re-
spects Is great deal more like man
kind than the dog.
The cat, above all, resents being or
dered around. It prefers to do as n
pieaSeS. That Is why 1t has never at
tanned such front seat In the estiuna-
ton OF mankind as the dog, which Is
his willing slave.
You can tell cat to keep out Of a
certain chair. but 1t win 90 Straight
back to 1t. If the creature Is curled I'M.
asleep In favorite corner and YOU re-
move 1t to q superior place-fron vouri
viewpoint-it will yet 60 sleepily hack
to the place Of its own choice no mat,
ter how many times you carry 1t away.
cat has right to its little queer
nesses. We think that II Jack Surattt
chooses to shy at the rustic of a sheet
OF paper. whether book, news or writ
ing paper, he is divinely entitled 10 his
little difference. We hope that when
Springttme comes he will forget his
foolishness, however. as it Is extremely
dlfncult to read without making a.
sound. -