Evening star., 1947-10-15
This and That
BY Charles =. Tracetoell

Curiosity doesn't always kill the cat.
sometimes 1t merely throws the cats friends
into . frenzy Of anxiety.
1t was that way the morning the Joneses' big
tiger cat went down the sewer.
This big fellow is the delight of the neigh
borhood. Ferocious looking he is as mild
as kittens are supposed to be, a great friend
OF ALL
This morning he decided to investigate the
inviting looking opening down at the corner
Of the block.
Many human beings have never understood
why 1t is such great openings are necessary
for sewers and catch basins
Water is all that goes down them, normally,
and water is pretty thin.
Water has way all Of its own of going down.
But all over town are enormous sewer OPEN
ines, down which the imaginative can see
their children and pets disappearing
In some instances, children have been
washed into these sewers, with wholly unex-
pected conings out again at the other end,
triumphant and wet.
But the imaginative have pictured other
results, and have wished that gratings or
screens OF some sort could be placed over
these yawning places.
contain filthy water, filled with unimaginable
germ 1ife
Tho Joneses had been worried over the big
opening at the end Of the block, but their
cat never seemed to 60 in that direction. -
Cats, being creatures of habit usually build
up routes in their own neighborhoods
One will 60 north, while the cat across the
street will 60 south.
We have known cats that will never venture
across the street. yet will roam for blocks in
the other direction.
just what influences are at work in these
cases are not known, though tiresome persons
$1AHy G,aav -.
The truth Is that the house cat is an odd
animal, undoubtedly Influenced by chance
as much as humanity is
A cat that starts wandering north may keep
on IN that direction, that is all.
The Joneses' cat overthrew his habits let LIZ
say, when he went down to the corner.
The yawning opening appealed to him, 80
he leaped in and disappeared
1t was at this precise moment that his
friends saw him.
They saw. that Is, the disappearance i
The cat is down the sewer!"
The cry rang out with something of the
horror that once attended the dread cry of
"Fire!" In a small town before the day of
fire engines.
THE cat has gone down the sewer!"
His friends pictured him falling into dirty
water and trying to swim for his life, to be
rebuned by the smooth sides in the darkness
It was a dread picture and caused much
running to and fro.
The cat had gone down the sewer Calling
was IN vain. There was no sound, no pitiful
meow. Could he be gone already2
There was plenty of room for q cat or
dog to get into. but not enough for an adult
30 there was nothing to do but stand at
the opening and hope for the best
Rope, long board, were lowered, SO that
the animal might see them in the darkness
and climb out,
Still no sound came.
Maybe plate Of salmon, 1t was suggested.
placed at the sewer opening, might lure
the cat.
No sound came.
The cat was dead, the Joneses thought, sor-
rowfully-
When, as dry a. . bone and unperturbed.
the Joneses' cat leaped out Of the sewer as
nonchantly q he had plunged In!
Perhaps 1t is . good idea not to become too
depressed until one has to. Yes. that u
good adss in these times.