Evening star., 1948-12-14
This and That
By Charles Z. Tracepell

Templeton Jones sometimes likes to take
very early morning stroll
And this morning, while he was going along
by the Chinese laundry about 6 am, he saw
big black and white cat standing at the door
The cat stood up on its hind legs and jog
gled the door handle.
Nobody will let you in?" asked Jones of
the big cat
Here" he went on and knocked on the
door, loudly and insistently.
1t was scarcely a cat knock but within a
few seconds the door opened and q sleepy
Chinanan looked out
"Cattee knock" smiled Jones, in his best
manner "Cattee want in"
The laundryman smiled, In reply. y
The cat" he said. has rather heavy
knock-for a cat"
Templeton Jones flushed, and grinned wider
than ever.
Well" he said. that's one on me-"
BY this time the cat had disappeared inside
the laundry.
IF you will permit me- went on the
Chinese. ITO invite you into my humble dwell
ing, will introduce you to Sammy"
Sammy, the cat?"
Yes, Sammy, the cat, my old friend-my
Oldest in your land"
Jones entered cautiously
AFTER all, since childhood. he had been
brought up on the old American theory that
the heather Chinee" is q queer fellow.
Despite his years, Templeton Jones had not
made many visits to Chinese laundries at 6
o'clock in the morning.
1t may have been the shade of Flu Manchu
and others that made him suspect invisible
daggers, trap doors and invisible nooses
He recalled terrible tales he had read of
Chinese torture rats Gagged beneath q brass
bowl on the victims stomach
Looking around as soon as he could, Jones
saw well ordered establishment with a cur
tain at the end.
The owner swept 1t back with a courtly
gesture.
Enter" he said
Templeton Jones strode into fairyland.
There were books, phonograph records, tap
estries, fine old furniture pieces, graceful
hangings-
Say he said you have beautiful place
here!"
1t was sincere tribute, and the owner
smiled in appreciation, as he stroked the
big cat.
II went to Oxford" he said, simply.
"And this" he continued, "is Sammy, my
first real American friend"
"You won't mind me asking you" hesitated
Jones, but are you, er, registered with the
State Department."
The laundryman grinned
mo State Department" he replied "Just
the health department of your District gov
ernment."
''You have, perhaps, fed injustice at homer"
Jones was determined in his probe He stroked
Sammy's soft coat "a
1T Is better to be registered with q health
department" continued the owner, than with
any other department-even the police.
II have friend in New York City who in
vited the neighborhood children in to eat
chicken soup.
He was very proud of his soup. In the
old country, no one had such soup, but here
any one could have the best chicken.
MY friend took great pains, selected the
best white meat, invited his young friends
in for treat. But one Of them was suspicious
and asked, You make this out of rats? 1t
made my friend, who was 'choleric by nature
very, very angry.
HE seized great knife, when he saw that
the other boys were going to refuse his nice
SOUP He hrandished the knife and said, to
each and every one there, Eat!'
'They ate. But within an hour the parents,
the boys and the police were all there"
recollection, then hurried on.
proving that he had used only the best Ameri-
can chickens. But thereafter he preferred to
have dealings with the department Of health,
not police" The man smiled
Have some nice chickee soup?" he grinned
suddenly
mo. thank you'll" Templeton Jones answered