The Wilmington morning star., 1940-07-09
Man About
Manhattan
BY George tucker

NEW YORK-July 8-We h a We
a solid black tomcat at our mousse
whose name is Friday. Like some
people we know, he hates daylight.
He likes to lie indoors and browse
all day, because, for one thing. ne
is scared of dogs. But at night ne
prowls. He goes and comes ali
night.
He gets in and out Of the house
by means of a s~econd-story Win
dow. A lattice frame with ivy grow
ing to it runs from this window
to the ground, and he is very agile
at climbing this lattice. He goes
down head-frst for about two rungs
swings around, and leaps to the
porch. Going up he is a black
streak: he climbs headfirst, like a
squirrel.
The only bad part about all this
is his bad habit of bringing in Won
derful things that he finds to play
with-sometimes it is a bird. -.
Once he brought in a rag doll.
Where he got it I haven't the faint
est idea. When he brings in a new
trophy he struts and arches his
back and rubs against your legs
until you pick him up and on
graduate him. If you don't make
what a bold hunter he is he bites
you on the leg.
But Friday is in disgrace at our
house these days. The other night
there was a scream. 1t sound
ed like a child's frightened, pierc
ing cry. -. Then up the lattice
and in through the window came
Friday. He was carrying a
baby rabbit. He tried not to hurt
it. But he did hurt it. It was about
4 am. -. l switched on the light.
There it was, the little rabbit,
probably two weeks old. Friday
wanted it to run, so he could catch
it again. He wanted to be
congratulated, and petted. He
purred and strutted. I gave
him a dirty look and took the little
rabbit downstairs. -. Though clad
only in pajamas and slippers, !
took it to a field about two blocks
away and left it in some bushes
under a dogwood tree. -. On the
way back a police a passed, and
if I hadn't known n of the cops
1 would certainly have been taken
in. Walking around at 4 am.
in pajamas is not routine in our
town.
When I got back to the house
Friday was pacing the floor. -.
He wanted that rabbit. He want
ed to be petted, and fed. -. In
stead, I lectured him coldly.
threw him into the cellar, and clos
ed the door without so much as a
saucer of cream.
I'm going to keep him in all
week.
6ut ne Is q Lille tOlIlCdL.
As a matter of fact all our ami
mails r giving us trouble. We
have a white pup, as white as
Friday is black. Its n a m e is
Thursday. Thursday left the house
with me the other morning and
ran %cheerfully after a man who
was passing. The man was fright
ened and kicked at her.
l said, Hey, don't kick that
dog"
With that he turned on me and
gave me such a dressing down as
I have seldom had. II ought to
punch you in the nose" he cried,
letting ferocious animals leap at
people like that. What good are
they? They all ought to be killed
I'm going to report you to the
police. Do you think l want RAB
BIS"
It was one of those moments
when I thought I had best throw
up my dukes and defend myself
But suddenly the man turned
away, leaning against a telephone
post, violently i'll at his stomach
Nerves? Probably. But Thursday
is only a pup, only a little girl
pup, and she wouldn't hurt a flea.
not even a baby rabbit, which is
more far more than I could
ever say of Friday. 81