The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-09-25
Prince Krapotkin's Cat.

Does eat see lis reflection in the
glass? Such is the question which has
been raised in the columns of the RrUaGe
iS"jcRtifqUe. Among others, Prince
krapOlkin has sent his experience from
his prison. The Prince has, it seems,
during his captivity, made a humble
friend of !. cat Il see," says the
Prince, ''by reading the interesting
notes in the two last numbers of the
ReUue that there exists Il doubt as to
whether q cat can see it's reflection in
u glass. | have cat about IA months
old. which l have brought up in prison,
and as regards it, at least, there can
be no doubt upon this subject When
it was little il amused us much by seek
ing n cat behind the glass. even when
| showed it n very small one. l have
just repeated the experiment by show
ing it small oval mirror twenty cent?
meters long. When it saw it's own re-
fl C ed image it Immediately assumed
a serious air. 1t endeavOred TO touch
it with its paw. but finding that there
was glass interposed it peeped behind
the mirror. If drew the mirror back
ward it pursued until, being quicker
than | was in its movements, it discov-
cred that there was no cat behind, and
then it went away and did not concern
itself about the reflection anv more. |
should add that my little Pupil is as a
general thing very intelligent. For in
stance. when it wants my door opened
it does not new, it stretches itself to
its full length, and shakes the latch
with its paw. If the door had another
kind of fastening it would certainly
open it by raising the latch. 1t knows
perfectly well the meaning of all the
bells which ring in the prison-that TO
bid the inmates rise in the morning,
that which sounds before soup is served.
It's dictionary is very limited, but it
understands perfectly the meaning of
the words it knows. Thus in the ev-
ening, when l walk in my room, 1t per-
forms all sorts of gambols, and, by
making certain special sound. endeav-
ors to make me play with it at hide
and seek Git plays this game exactly as
do children, and insists that each party
should hide in his turn) or TO draw
string along for it TO run after. If. in
reply 10 its invitations to play, l say 10
It: What do you want? Food! drink
t is displeased. and goes with sulky
air to sit behind my little stove. But
when l say, The string?' it replies
Immediately by two sounds concerning
the affirmative tone of which there can
bc no doubt. / could relate other in
stances of sagacity. but | do not wish
to appear to impose upon the credulity
OF your readers. There is, however,
an interesting point which it would be
well to have cleared up. Are cats sus-
ceptibie to music? Without being able
to aflim positively, | believe that they
are. When my cat was little it several
times seemed 10 us that it found real
pleasure in listening to some air OF
pleasing cadence-for example, the
waltz from 'Fausl'-provided that it
was sung by a very high and pure voice.
We even thought that music caused it
to assume almost Il sentimental air. 1t
is unnecessary 10 say that my cat, like
all others. is very susceptible TO caress-
es. and-for l must confess its faults
TO flattery. In general cats are less in
telligent that dogs. but by care and
attention their Intelligence can be
highly developed. am sorry that |
have not sufficient time. or | should
undertake the education of my cat by
a system of cards as proposed by Lub
lock. ."-PdU Mall Gazette.