A Home For All Kinds of Cats, Some Talented Tabbys

1895

Our Boys and Girls

A Home For All Kinds of Cats in Tennessee

Some of the Talented Tabbys That Live There

In Knoxville, Tenn., there lives Mrs. Dangerfield, who has a most amusing and interesting family. It consists of twenty-seven cats. Mrs. Dangerfield was not at home but an obliging woman who helps her did the honors quite creditably. She showed us into the yard where cats reign supreme. It was very shady and had a high plank fence all around. In the center was a cute little drinking fountain, graceful plants surrounding its border.

In one corner of the yard was "the inn," a house eight feet high, and six feet wide with a passage way through the middle. The berths were arranged above each other, as in a sleeping car, each cat having his or her own appointed resting place, and never intruding upon others. A year ago "the inn" became too small, and the "annex" was built, not quite so large as "the inn," but a really nice, cozy hotel, with comfortable quarters. The woman rang the bell, and here came cats of all sizes, shades and colors over the fence, out of "the inn" and "annex," from under the house, out of the trees and everywhere. She gave them some bread and then proceeded to introduce them to us.

Grover Cleveland was presented; he is an immense Maltese, and does honor to the name, in size and demeanor. He rubbed his nose with his paw in acknowledgement of the introduction, then sat heavily down in perplexed thought.

Yankee Doodle was next called. He is a young, gray-striped, slim fellow, with a wide, white shirt-front, and when "Yankee Doodle" was whistled capered and grinned.

Uncle Remus is jet black. He, Miss Meaders and the gals are trained to go in company, and march in a comical way to "Ta-ra-boom-de-ay."

Buffalo Bill is tremendous and wears a collar bearing his name on it. He plays circus round and round in a ring with a troop o£ clever followers. Tippytail (a white tip on his gray tail giving him his name) is an adept in the leaping act and Ugly is the clown.

John L. Sullivan is entirely John L., as we had occasion to see from his overbearing manner during the lunch. We were informed, however, that when he becomes unmanageable Corbett, a splendid black and yellow fellow, who keeps much to himself, is called, and John slinks away in a resigned fashion.

Old Sleuth is trained to watch the others, and, if the proper "goings-on" are not observed, will pull a rope attached to a bell in the mistress' room and announce the fact.

One watches for the milkman, and notifies the servant. When the butcher comes in the morning with the fresh meat four guards escort him in, and not a "mew" is allowed. The servant feeds each in turn in the most systematic way. The nursery contained ten kittens found in a basket on the front gallery a few days ago, and are fed with oatmeal and milk in tender kindness.

Last, but not least, is Samaritan. She brings sick and wounded cats to the house and spends her time in affectionate attentions to those at home. When she returns from a day's outing the cats will run to meet her and hear the news and to welcome her. There are many other nice, fine cats, but these will serve to show what the home is like.

The cemetery is in a far corner of the large yard and many a grave marks a tabby's resting place. It is singular, indeed, the intelligence and affection animals possess and the possibility to reach them through our language. When we discover their language we will doubtless be amazed at how much animals know. — New Orleans Picayune.