Evening star., 1945-06-20
This and That
By Charles Z. Trdce1Deu.
FALLS CHURCH. VA

Dear Sir.
THE discussion of likes and dislikes
Of animals and birds in a recent issue
is too tempting to stay out of. I confess
partiality toward cats and quite the
opposite feeling toward dogs.
Il quite agree with E. S. Y that cats
are fine animals when treated kindly
quiet and dignifed, which is more than
can be said for most dogs AS to clean
illness and quiet behavior, there is no
comparison.
IF cat is fond of you, it purrs and
rubs about your ankles but never jumps
into your lap unless invited; while a
dog is not satisfied until he has plunked
two muddy paws against your knees Tor
your shirt 'front.' if he can reach it, and
tried to lick your face. when perhaps he
has just quit gnawing smelly bone.
Il think E. S. Y. would enjoy (or per-
haps enjoyed some years ago. reading
an article titled, Are Dogs People?' It
showed up Fido's shortcomings as to
quiet and cleanliness, both in and out
of doors, and the disregard of some of
their owners for the rights, comfort and
property of non-owners. For myself, I
think some present-day writer's and
broadcasters put altogether too much
commercially inspired insiStence on the
care and feeding of mans best friend
rs he that? My vote would be cast
for the COW, and I think that poll
would show a surprising percentage of
mankind as feeling that 1t could exist
comfortably If there were nary dog in
the world
It grant you they could probably get
along as well without cats. I have never
owned either; but like jeff in a recent
Fisher cartoon, I still like cats
TT is possible that some of our aver
sions are born with us. Many people
love monkeys as pets; while others Il
among them) feel an untrollable aver
sion to them. 1t is not that we hate
them or have any reason to do so; we
just don't want to have nuthin' to do
with them However, my own acquired
and well-developed hate of squirrels Is
not that they molest birds, but because
they are so ubiquitous, thieving, destruc-
tive and too often serious menace as
carriers of plague-fleas and rabies. In
some Western States it is finable
offense not to exterminate their bur-
rowing cousins from infested areas.
Sincerely, D. c."
When one grows sour on dogs, it is only
necessary to read Senator Vests tribute.
Then 1t is easy to see, such was his
eloquence and sense of justice, that the
dog has not come by his title of mans
best friend" without good reason.
The dog has come down to 1945 from
the earliest recorded days, his feet firm-
ly planted by the side of his master
and pal.
In the cave days, he stayed at the en-
trance, ready through the night to send
forth the alarm which would save his
master and family.
Today he rides in automobiles,
paws or window, head sticking out to
catch the full flow of the breezes, happy
and contented to be by the side of his
two-legged friend.
When 1t comes to sanitation, neither
dog nor cat Is antiseptic.
Both are pure animal, and neither
knows anything about sanitation from
our standpoint, although of the two the
cat comes closer to 1t.
Likes and dislikes of animals, we feel.
are not always born in persons, but are
picked up from the persons around one
in childhood.
It is common observation that the
average child cottons to cats, If let
alone, and often is afraid of dogs.
The more boisterous manners of the
canine tribe probably account for this
1t may be believed that the more any
one likes, in this world, the wider his
interests, the less negative feeling of
"agin" he has, the better off he is, and
the more chance he has of being just
The terrible Hitler has shown the world
what hate will do to q man.