Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 283, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1913 — Twenty Cats Deported, But Fail to Take the Hint [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Twenty Cats Deported, But Fail to Take the Hint

CLEVELAND, O.—ln spite of himself R. H. Humphries, member of tite Chamber of Commerce and the Builders' exchange, has opened an asy]«m for cats at his home near Chagrin Falls, and do what he will to prevent, the number of increases daily. He first noticed last summer the tide of cats which now threatens to engulf him. One morning he was islet by a ma-tronly-looking tabby followed by four fluffy balls that seemed to roll along the wai.lk. Mr. Humphries likes cats, in moderation, and he greeted his guests warmly, waved his hand toward the catnip bed and said: “Make yourselves at home.” Mr. Humphries stepped into his automobile and drove into Cleveland with a heart glowing with the consciousness of a good deed performed. Little did he know the dire consequences which were to follow the advent of his feline visitors.^ Several evenings later he saw an automobile slow down in front of his home and a clawing, spitting cat shot over its side. . The mystery was explained—city folks were “dropping” the cats they did not want in front of his home.

The next morning when Mr. Humphries started for Cleveland, twenty cats, all he could conveniently lay hands) on, reposed in the tonneau of his machine. They were going back to Cleveland and they were to be but one of many cargoes which were to When the menagerie reached the city limits Mr. Humphries decided it was about time to shed a few cats and he looked back into the tonneau to make his selection. Every cat was gone. The boxes had been insecurely fastened and the twenty had disappeared, —— - * - Mr. Humphries consoled himself with the thought that he had carried the cats beyond walking distance of his home, but he had not. That evening when he returned home tbe deported twenty greeted him with reproachful looks and plaintive mews.