, 1870-05-01
Tho ao0sler Cat

When We profess warm liking for cats, we
don't wish to be Judged by too vigorous an
ideal, We do not like them above al animals,
but simply among other things. 1t is folly to
ibFhS iudse Them ~ aaslities Which they ware not
srpF into the world to possess. It is as cats
th,t We like them. They hold = place in the
y lies which nothing else can fll, and in their
pl.ce they are to be admired. They are re-
preached with aercaness, solashness, with
treachery. But the fiercenesa il ancestral.
Fe,ocity haa eoftened down in them to mere
official severity. The cat is appointed Of men
to destroy ver1nin- It must match itself with
the game it hunts In the battle Of
vainscots and crevice8 where rats do
harbor, and mice, cats mus be hefGe.
panty and cupboard, and q defiance to cats.
What cat's normal constitution ia- We have
no book that DISCLOSED. But il there IL =
rudimentazy conaeience IN cat, without doubt
this alleged hercencsa u but an Irregular ne
ton Of moral sense. It is esgerness in per
foroance Of duty. Do We not see Like intiec-
t;ous Of conscience in the human race ? Ia the
CIT ANYTHING but tho inquisition Of the cellar
md the baEn? IH it not the hsresy-hunter Of
the feline sect With what uncr1ing instinct
sin its beaIing. and how terrible its spring,
when come fuck]ess heretic Of tho gEanasy or
cupboard ventures to publish himsclfs II n2-
tute h.s whispered to the cat, "Lo, I make
thee ruler over Ill vernin." ought not every
conscientious cat to e1cscihe Justice to the
uttermost7
They are called selfish We Borrowtully nd
mi. that cats arc not gencrous-but we SEQ no
| evidence Of SraHPlug, avaIlcioQh seitiahnesa-
| They have relf-respect- They know instinct
| lively whether they are liked or hated. They
| hold themselves aloof from strangers, becansa
they hAve too much experience Of the world =
opinion OF cats. 1t it said that . cat will court
You, rub against your knee, solicit youF band
upon her bead, for the mere sake Of its OWE
| pleasure. As this II N exhibition never per;
nutted in human life, it is no wonder thai
men .are aisgusted with it! But our oa1
experience and observation teaeh ua that cat
are susceptible Of attachments amcnE them
selves, toward men, and even toward an
mails OF different epecics. II kindly treated
t1aey will often m1nifest as much Affection
foreman ut PeckAlll every day With trooI
Of cats going forth to work. They follow
cd behind like 20 many terriers. While h
was hewing, or otherwise wo1klrE, tho.
would lie OF In the grass, OK ut on the edge
tho grass, or creep near tho wall but n
place than they gathered behind him md KEEP
company.. On one occasion he was settlni
ont doxers in front OF the cottage. One Q
the Maltas accompanied him. When b
stopped doxn to put In t5e plant, the s es
: pussy would jump of. As soon as tho n1ssto
stooned down again, the cat resumed he
. placo. u
.,ttis he t..d hrrLon n Ar. Tnrnar 1uade ci1
MI ~ T the Wbola farm. Although It was we
rl ndsr " foot md stormy above. do Maltese CT
t odae1 ~ NV nTh;aden an3 acconpanied by III. T
X. 80 e4t " Whois farm and vsited on hin bac
osel ~" w. "ne,e dane "a thara not In snch c,
70 ms nasb;nr H of the aac1itT Of doe7 cat
n1 soe.tg t.gIeht ~ ~ nrnn,aties of fffa than il
sDon1 sso sna ve1, 1nunl w;tl, tslf chanc
~ r. nu nc.ter e than M dos or botses. Only bi.t
~ 30 m nrst a. rats Their power, grace, agilit
; sni, a shreV,1ness are known Of ali. II We We
; Ms;aad M pa IL cI'noss which Ne would have, \ c
: op. ~ Soo - W. sbo1,ld eaitatiagiy SAY, both
I them io'
Tha xttachmant vl,iel, human beings for
b ~ c.fs sncaFa vc11 for these domestic hunte1
3 NJ Fsm51r -, = "a Innch Tho ioy of chlltrf
q .sthe ~ % 9au;i,y "a ioe. ~ ''''3''@' '''~ ~
: We haFe Just fece!sed IRON to~n IN !
! DINA a'boy' : letter that Ii TOO Gooa 10 lose
BOONE EoCSFtt & me.' '1ta npsn - y