“That brings up the question,” said Mr. Webb turning to the boys: the idea was announced, the whole class wanted to join in the hunt. Several boys went out and soon returned successful. A returning board was at once appointed, and the toes counted, when to the relief of all it was learned that a cat possesses eighteen toes, ten on the front feet and eight on the hind feet.”
“The Kingston Freeman writes as follows: 'There is a young lady in the town of Claverack who has a pet cat which she has taught to sit at the table, and with a napkin about its neck it takes meat from a plate with its paws as dexterously as an epicure. When given a piece of meat on a fork it will hold the fork in its fore-paws and take the meat from the tines, and when given a cup of milk it will hold up the cup and drink. The cat has a well-developed 'thumb' on each fore-paw.'”
“Cats are inquisitive,” Mr. Graham remarked, “and examine new things with a great deal of care. They are not altogether free from superstition and sometimes display great alarm at things they do not understand. Théophile Gautier tells of a cat he had which was a great pet and used to sit for hours and watch him at his work.
“One day Gautier brought home a parrot; the cat surveyed the bird carefully and evidently came to the conclusion that it was a green chicken. It showed no alarm whatever until the parrot spoke. Then a great fear came over the cat; it arched its back, enlarged its tail and fled in terror, and not for days could it again be persuaded to enter the room where the parrot was.
“It is not uncommon for cats to play with a soap bubble without appearing to be astonished or mystified by its sudden disappearance. In one case, however, puss was so demoralized at the mystery as to grow big-tailed, and spit at any soap bubble which might happen to fall to the floor and drift across it. Another, which up to that time had never seen a colored person, fled so precipitately from a good-looking negro girl, that it tumbled into a grating, from which it could not be coaxed until hunger overcame its terror; and the oddity of it was that puss herself was as black as a coal.”
“There is fashion in everything,” said Mr. “Webb, “and a New York newspaper says that cat-parties are the latest sensation. Recently a young girl, the happy possessor of a fine maltese cat, invited a number of her friends to bring their pet cats to five o'clock tea, each cat to have a ribbon about its neck, corresponding to that worn by its mistress. At the appointed hour the cats made their appearance, in charge of their respective owners. After the feline introductions had taken place, some of which were the reverse of friendly, games were introduced, and soft balls, toy mice and other objects dear to pussy's heart were provided. These pastimes, however, were sometimes marred by a vigorous slap, when two strangers came in collision, and once the belligerent pussies had to be separated by friends. When tea was announced, a table furnished with saucers of milk and small cakes, with cushioned stools, was disclosed.