12.
Monday, October 17, 1977
University Daily Kansan
Staff Photo by PAUL ROSF
Cat connoisseur
Myra Hyman, associate professor of English, invests a good deal of time and energy in her attempt to breed a perfect Burmese cat. She also invests money—so much money, in
fact, that her husband once told her she "could have had a Mercedes Benz" if she would have saved it.
Prof raises cats in quest for perfect cuddler
By GAIL MIROSTAW
Staff Writer
A sailor once took home to San Francisco a strange brown cat he had found in the Orient. A veterinarian, who had never seen him before, discovered he was hardward, where it was mated with a Siamese cat.
Today, descendants of that rare cat slain round the home of Myra Himan, print a memorial.
Hirman said yesterday she decided to raise the unusual Burmese cat three years ago for comfort when her husband, Charlton, an invalid, was dying.
Himan explained her reasons for choosing the Burmese over other breeds.
"I happen to think that they have a disposition quite different than any other cat I've ever known," Himman said. "And I love them because they are loving and affective."
"AND I'M A SKIN person and I like to feel
something soft, warm and snuggle on a cold winter night."
Hirnan has more than a dozen Burmese cats she is breeding, hoping to achieve the best possible outcome.
Hinman said the problem she faced was that every region in the United States had its own problem.
Her goal, Hinman said, is to get a merging or traits from all the lines, creating what she describes as a "fusion" of life.
TO REACH that goal, she has mated cats in Malibu, Angeles, Baltimore, Toronto and Milwaukee.
In the process she has succeeded in having several champions, although not all of them have won.
But the expense of showing cats is a limiting factor, Hinman said. Traveling, motels, entrance fees and grooming all add to the high cost.
Championship ribbons are only a learning device for reaching her goal. Himan said.
"I'M NOT SO anxious as to get in the show ring and win with them as I am to breed a good Burmese. It's better to breed a good cat," Hinnan said.
She said that raising the cats was very expensive. Besides the cost of the grooming, the bills from the veterinarian and the fee for a grooming added up to make an expensive hobby.
She said that a good Burmese cat on the East Coast could cost from $400 to $700.
Another expense is the premiums paid to ensure the cats, Hirman said. She declined to comment on whether any cats born out of her international grant champion cat Sun Lee Spit was worth it.
Himan said the traits of a good Burmese are a wet look to the coat, a level back, a short body, a wide eye-and ear-set, short legs and good weight.
traits is a challenge Hinman considers "a pretty terrific project."
"They've been improperly handled and improperly brooded. I felt a challenge to do this because of the wide disparity of their apprehension from region to region in this country."
GAINING PERFECTION in each of these
OTHER TRAITS of Burnesse cats are that they are communal, sleeping together in clusters.
The need for skin contact is a carry-over from their origins in the Orient, Himalan
"For 10 centuries the Burmese had body servants. They belonged only to princesses. Each cat had a servant assigned to them. The servant was killed when the service was not put to death." Human said.
As the cats clung to her she said, "I was sacked into becoming a body servant to a skeleton."
Another case involving faulty architectural work on the basic science building at the KU Medical Center has reached the courts.
BvTERRYSELBY
Med Center building spawns new lawsuit
Staff Writer
Evans Electrical Construction Co., Kansas City, Mo., has asked the Douglas County District Court to void a state-proposed arbitration settlement for payment of extra work the construction company performed on the building.
"It was like they (the contractors and architects) all went their separate ways and each designed their parts of the building," she said. "We thought it would to put their pieces together they didn't."
The firm filed suit Monday to force the state to pay for extra work Evans performed on the $ 5 million Orr-Major basic license. The Med Center's Kansas City, Ks., campus.
Because of mechanical and design problems with the Med Center's building projects, Evans contends that his firm had to pay more over the contracted price for the firm's work.
According to Svoboda, three arbitrators from the American Arbitration Association of New York were called in after Evans and Jenkins had been freed. The state should pay Evans for the extra work.
SVOBODA SAID the building's problems involved construction of construction.
Charles Svoboda, attorney for Evans, said yesterday that the extra work was caused by a new law.
The architect for the basic science building and other Med Center expansion projects was Marshall and Brown-Sidowicz, Kansas City, Kan.
Another contractor on the building, Truug-Nichols Inc., Kansas City, Mo., won a $260,000 arbitration award against the state for additional money it spent to compensate for problems with the architectural drawings.
If the arbitration is ruled invalid, Vsboda said Evans would suit file to force the state to pay the amount they claim for the extra work the firm performed.
The arbitrators ruled that Evans was entitled to $2,000—$46,253 less than Evans
BUT DONALD HONFIELD, chief assistant attorney general, said the state could not legally pay for any extra work unless the Kansas legislature appropriated by the Kansas Legislature.
The legislature last session postponed paying the arbitration award to Trung-Nichols, and according to Hoffman, the award is collecting eight per cent interest on the amount paid to Trung-Nichols will gain $40 to $60 a day on its award until the legislature meets again, he said.
A third contractor, Thomas Construction
Co., has also filed suit against the state for the extra work it did on the Med Center project because of the faulty architectural work.
The building project has been plagued by problems from the start. Marshall and his team were wrong to build Dilwotore, Kansas City, Kan., architect, were the only defenders convicted by jury out of the 24 defenders indicted for bribery conjuncture in connection with the original construction.
Sidorowicz was inicted in an alleged plot to trade a $300,000 contribution to the 1972 reelection campaign of former Gov. Robert R. Koehler, who is accused for the clinical and basic science foundations
Hoffman said the state would bring suit against the architectural firm, but had not
Crosby's body on way to LA for simple rites
LOS ANGELES—The body of singer Bing Crosby is expected in Los Angeles tonight and will be buried after simple religious burrow, according to a family spokesman.
Crosby's press agent, Maury Foladare,
said yesterday that the body, accompanied by Crosby's 19-year-old son Harry Crosby,
would be flying this morning from Madrid.
Crosby died there after a round of golf with three Spanish professionals Friday.
Simple services, in keeping with the 73-year-old entertainer's wishes, were scheduled for tomorrow at St. Paul's Roman Church in Brentwood, Calif., Foldare said.
Crosby, who was a Catholic, will be buried in a family plot at Holy Cross Cemetery in Los Angeles, near his parents and first wife, Dixie Lee, who died of cancer in 1942.
Crosby's second wife, Kathryn, is inviting all of the Crosby's office employees to the funeral, as well as his four sons from his first marriage, his brother and his sister.
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You're Invited — See All of the Action STUDENT FOOTBALL TICKET SPECIAL! KANSAS vs. OKLAHOMA STATE Saturday, October 22 (Parents' Day)
The K.U. ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT invites all K.U. students to take advantage of a "Special Student Ticket Offer" to see the Jayhawks battle the Cowboys of Oklahoma State. The Cowboys will feature Heisman Trophy candidate Terry Miller at running back and the game is sure to be another exciting "shoot-out" between the Jayhawks and the Cowboys.
SPECIAL STUDENT TICKET OFFER
Ticket Price: $1.00 - Seating in North Bowl on a general admission basis
Students Eligible: All KU students are eligible
Purchase Procedure: I.D. required at purchase
Admission Procedure: Tickets and I.D. required at gates 22-30 only (North Bowl)
Tickets on Sale At: Allen Field House Ticket Office on Monday-Friday Stadium on Saturday
PARENTS' DAY NOTE
As this game is Parents' Day this special student ticket offer provides an excellent opportunity for a student and parents to sit together at reduced rates.
All parents are eligible for the "half-price" ($4.00) North Bowl Ticket which has been offered for the first three games of the season. Thus, both students and their parents may see this game at bargin prices.