The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-07-22
SuperstitiOns AbOat Cats

In Ireland it is considered highly I'M
lucky for family to take with them
cat when they are moving, more espe-
cially, too, when they have to cross a
river. Mr.. Oregon also tells us that in
the northeast of Scotland, if COW or
other domestic animal was seized with
disease, one mode of cure was to twist a
rope of straw the contrary way, join the
two ends, and put the diseased animal
through the loop along with cat. By
this means the disease was supposed to
be transferred to the cat. and the ami
mails life was so saved by the cat dying.
This, of course was only one of the ex-
tensive charms Of which the leading idea
was that of substitution. A remedy for
erysipelas, lately practised in the parish
of Locharron, in the Northwest High
lands. consisted in cutting off one-half
of the ear of a cat, and letting the blood
drop on the part affected. Abiding,
moreover, to the numerous other items
of folklore in connection with the cat,
there is a popular notion that May cat
"a cat born in the month of Mays of
no use for catching rats and mice. but
eXerts an injurious influence on the house
through bringing into it disagreeable
reptiles of various kinds Mrs Latham,
in her "West Sussex Superstitions, is
supposed ''to be inclined to melancholy,
and to be much addicted to catching
snakes and bringing them into the house.
[ had heard that this west country be-
lief existed in our village; and, very
lately, observing a most detected looking
cat by the fire in cottage, said, in jest,
Il should think that cat was born in
May %, yes said the owner of it,
that she was, and so was her mother;
and she was just as sad looking, and was
always bringing snakes and vipers within
DOORS" In Huntingdonshire there is
a common saying that "a May kitten
makes dirty cat" This supposed Ill
luck attaching to a cat born in the month
of May IS no doubt founded on the old
notion that May was an unfortunate sea-
son for births of any kind, in allusion to
which there is an old proverb which says:
"May chefs ..
Bad luck begets.'
According to curious notion, still ex-
tenslvely credited by our north-country
peasantry, black cats are supposed to
bring not only good luck, but also lovers
in illustration of which we may quote
a well-known rhyme on the subject:
Whenever the cat O the house is black,
The lasses O lovers will have no lack"
Mr.. Henderson, IN speaking of this
superstition, tells us that an old north
country women on one occasion said to
lady, OTIS ma wonder jocks
lasses marry off so fast, we ken what
Draw black cat they've got" 1t is con-
Sidered unlucky to dream of cat, a
piece of folklore prevalent in Germany,
where if one dreams of black cat at
Christmas, it is an omen of some alarm
ing illness during the following year.
Equally unfortunate, too, is it for cat
to sneeze, this act being supposed to in
dictate that the family will have colds.
Thus, we are informed by Mrs. Latham
that in Sussex, "even the most favored
cat, if heard to sneeze, is instantly shut
out of doors; for should she stay to
the whole family will have colds and
coughs"
Lastly, there are many quaint tradi-
lions in which the cat holds prominent
place; and an amusing one, current in
the north of England, we may quote in
conclusion: A gentleman was one even
ing sitting costly in his parlor, reading
or meditating, when he was interrupted
by the appearance of cat, which came
down the chimney and cried out, "Tell
Dildrum Doldrum's deadr' He was not
unnaturally startled by this strange oc-
currence; and when shortly after his
wife entered, and he related to her what
had happened, her own cat, which accom-
panied her, exclaimed, sis Doldrum
deadP" and Immediately rushed up the
chimney, and was heard of no more.
OF the numberless conjectures stated to
account for this extraordinary event, the
most reasonable one appears to be that
Doldrum had been king of Catland, and
that Dildrum was the next heir.-Ge,a-
tlenaanS Magazine. ".i.