Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-01
The Cat show.


ltrOm the LONDON Telegraph
Thecat show only lasts for one day, and those
who are disposed TO see the first show of cats
had better hurry down TO Sydenham as soon as
they read these lines The affection of masters
and mistresses for cats must be the excuse
urged by the cystal palace authorities for this
too brief cat festival. The cats themselves are
strange to the cages. The masters and mis-
tresses are determined not TO live long without
their cats. For the present all is well. The
timid cats cover under the straw and
tremble. The wild cats dash themselves
against the bars and spit. The conceited cats
pose themselves on the comfortable cushions
provided for them by Mr. Wilson, of the natu-
raj history department, and roll themselves into
delightful attitudes. The affectionate cats rub
themselves up against the bars and fascinate
any passer-by. The sulky cats refuse to be
patted, or stroked, or scratched, or cOaxed and
merely make themselves ridiculously stiff For
day or two all is well. But when the British
public comes in with sticks and umbrellas a
very different tale might be told. The British
public, loud of voice and frantic of gesticuIa-
ton, might brighten puss sedate, puss affection
ate, puss concelted, or puss sulky into it and
make puss so wild that no cage would hold her
or no MIR. Wilson would soothe her
into repose. 1t is for the best, therefore.
however unfortunate, that the great cat show
only lasts a day. The first cat show ought in
every way to be success; and the best method
of bringing these cats to Sydenham next year
is TO consult puss and her owners at the ex-
penSe of the public. There are rare cats to be
seen Gagged in the centre transept of the crystal
palace. There is no doubt about that. Some
establishment will be expressed, perhaps, that
so many fine cats are passed over. But there is
one law which shuts out the very finest fellows ::
None but male aud female cats can enter for
competition in the classes, save class 25." This
canon, TO which the judges have adhered sensi-
bly, and rigidly, excludes the bravest, the fur
riest, the noblest the most knowing and the
most scratchable cats in the show. But they
have been entered under cats male or cats fe-
male, and the judges, with regret can only pass
them over with an extra prize occasionally but
nothing more. Had not this rule been in force,
what could have prevented Lady Lubbock
noble English cat from carrying off blue rib
bon, or have shutIthe Hon. Mrs Grey's exauis-
tely marked and noble fellow from class No, ?
Surely nothing. The admirers of quaint cats
have before them an afternoon of unmixed
pleasure. Here is, of course, the duke of Suth-
erland's wild cat, bristling with passion-not at
all the kind of animal any one would like to
meet on dark night-who gathers himself up
in a corner of his cage, and glares at the public
with his wrinkled yellow face, occasionally max.
ing fierce dash against the bars of the cage beat
ing his head in an ungovernable fury. Mr.. Viii.
son drops discreetly the wild cats food through
hole in the top of the cage, and the den is
Double barred. Here may be found the Siamese
cat, soft fawn-colored creature with Jet black
| legs-an unnatural, nightmare kind Of cat
Here is the Crimean cat-an ordinary looking
| tortoise shell, playing, English fashion, will
some charming kittens. Here is the extraordi
nary cat with seven claws-a strange mon
strosity which has already attracted the serious
attennon Of Mr.. Darwin-particularly when thu
TACT must be recorded that the seven clawed ca