Evening star., 1949-12-07
This and That
Bv Charles E, TraceweU

By Charles E. Trace.ceU
The pressure of Possy is becoming too
much.
His story has been beating against the
bars Of time for days.
Here at last he springs into being for peo-
pie who never heard of him before.
This is daily miracle, in newspaper work,
but it never grows old, either for writer's or
readers
Here was young Possy, gray and white
cat, so named because Of his appearance,
more or less resembling true Virginia
opossum. Here he was, veritable urchin
Of a cat. known only to his intimate human
friends.
And now here he is, in all the glory Of
print. His name may go down through the
ages with the famous cat which sat on the
prophets robe. Or Dick Whittington's cat.
Or Puss in Boots, even!
Cat heroes of the ages, their shades
striped, multicolored, gather on the lar
shores to wave paw to young Possy.
Possy is not In the least interested. He Is
an urchin and urchins are never interested.
That is why they are urchins.
Possy showed up one morning out Of the
blue, and became guest for day.
He ate good salmon. beef. He rolled with
q catnip mouse.
he WaS long dIlQ ldIlAs ~ b1C 4aSV ce"eSS
of kittenhood. It was difficult to know
whether he was an old kitten or young ca''
He left and that was the last seen Of him
for several days.
Then one morning. just as the front door
was opened, there was Possum, seated on
the door mat.
With the infinite cat wisdom that comes
down through the ages, he had decided that
this was the best place, after all.
So he came in and has so remained, leap
ing, jumping, running at the slightest move
ment. He might live to be 20 years old.
which is equivalent to at least ITO for q
human, but il he did he would still be, IN his
old age, as much an urchin as ever.
Cat urchinity is difficult to put into words.
It must be seen. It means dirty face at all
hours, a lankness. determination to get
what one wants and delight in achieving
objectives.
A cat urchin is never exactly clean, though
he lives In the cleanest house. He has ways.
too, not In the etiquette books. These make
no difference. He knows what he likes.
X X II
Tearing paper to pieces. for instance.
Possy cannot bear the sight Of news
paper on the floor.
On table. he lets it alone. On the door.
b nc tSdIS ~ O plSCcO.
Not Just few dainty rips, but into hum
dreds and hundreds Of bits. all Of which. BY
reason Of their small size. must be picked
up one by one.
Possy likes to play with electric cords. too.
When reproved, he rolls over on his side,
looks up reproachfully and meows.
There is certain note Of resignation.
mixed with indignation. or reproof, In this
|, meow.
His meow Of greeting Is entirely different.
Then he sounds as II some one had
pressed toy balloon.
His face? Long and pointed, as BELTS his
name.
His tail? Long and tapered and about
three inches longer than it should be.
Few cats have ever had longer tails II he
ever grows up to it, he will be rather
handsome fellow. In dumb looking sort
Of way.
It win make no difference to him. With
a smudge on his nose, and his stomach fun
Of food, he Is content. Lite for him holds
no atom bombs, no wars or fears OF wars.
no dictators. He Is not upset BY ideas OF
welfare states. or police states. or other
yagaries OF the human mind. Possy fortu-
nately knows nothing about them. He u
etust an urchin without responsibilities, "a
IN are when responsibilities are just . bore