Concerning Still Other People's Cats 



brought him his daily rations. As warm weather 

 came, he spent his days in the fields, returning in the 

 night for his food, so that at my return it was two 

 or three days before he discovered that the house 

 was open. The third evening he entered the open 

 door, looked wildly about for a moment, but when 

 I put my hand on him suddenly recognized me and 

 overwhelmed me with affectionate caresses, and for 

 two days and nights would not allow me out of his 

 sight, unable to eat or sleep unless I was close at 

 hand, and following me from room to room and 

 chair to chair. And people say that cats have no 

 affection! " 



At the Quincy House in Boston may be seen in 

 the office an oil painting of an immense yellow 

 cat. The first time I noticed the picture, I was pro- 

 ceeding into the dining room, and while waiting for 

 dinner, was amused at seeing the original of the 

 picture walk sedately in, all alone, and going to an 

 empty table, seat himself with majestic grace in a 

 chair. The waiter, seeing him, came forward and 

 pushed up the chair as he would do for any other 

 guest. The cat then waited patiently without putting 

 his paws on the table, or violating any other law of 

 table etiquette, until a plate of meat came, cut up to 

 suit his taste (I did not hear him, give his order), and 

 then, placing his front paws on the edge of the table, 

 he ate from his plate. When he had finished, he 

 descended from his table and stalked out of the room 



87 



