The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-03
THE CAT IN FOLK LORE.
IN THE MYTHOLOGY
OF THE EARLIEST NATIONS

The Cat Naturally Considered weather
Maker-FelInc Weather Wisdom In Va
rious Lands-Omens and Superstitionss
In Nursery Lo.s--Ths Nine Lives
The cat has figured in folk lore ard popo-
lar superstitions more than any other AMI
nal, except perhaps the serpent, and Is
prominent in the mythology OF the earliest
nations In Egypt. especially, 1t was re-
garded With peculiar veneration. or with
superstit:ous fear The presence OF thou
sands Of mummes Of cats testify to this
alteration Of the feline tribe. Tho ancient
Book OF the Dead" speaks Of Mau, the Great
Cat. meaning the sun-the eye Of that ami
NAL glowing and contracting III the light,
being taken to represent the orb of day. The
feline tribe is also prominent i'll India.
As an instrument of power in the hands OF
Satan and his witch subjects, the cat would
naturally become weather maker. Its early
connection with Diana. the moon goddess,
would also indicate the same power over the
elements possessed by that orb. Witches fire.
quently used it 10 raise storms. The cat Ii
particularly regarded with distrust by SAIL
ors, who say: 1T carries gale in its tail"
and that it will surely provoke a storm To
throw one overheard. Even while on board,
If it is unusually frolicSome, a gale Of wind
is thought to be imminent. Many stories are
told OF storms caused by tho sacrifice OF
cat. These animals are said 10 smell a WIND,
while pigs see it. This storm raising power
is not confined to witches famiiiars, nor to
eats at sea
The cat ia universally weatherwise. In the
west of ireland you may obtain good wind
by burying cat up to its neck in sand on the
seashore, with its head opposite to the desired
direction There is an old story told IN Block
Island Of n man who shut a cat up IN bar
rel to prevent hostile skipper from sailing,
and no fair wind came until pussy was TO
leased In Lancashire. stormy and wet
weather is coming when puss frlsks about the
house In Ireland, if she stretches so that
her paws touch, bad weather will ensue.
Scotch fishermen declare that il she sneezes
or licks her paws rain viii surely come. In
Shetland, the cat "gaanin in da luft' fortells
wind, and "seepin On her harms with the
back of her head down indicates Gains. An
old English writer says: when the cat
washes her face over the ears we shall have
great store of rain
A German proverb says If the cat basks
in the sun in February she will go back to
the stove In MARCH, Cats counting the
fire SAYS the author of Natures Secrets"
more than ordinary or licking their feet
and trimming the HAIR Of their head and
mustaches, prognOstlcate, rainy weather"
In our own country If the cat snCczeS IL Is
sign Of rain. II II snorcs, ot foul weather.
When eats wash themselves fair weather Is
coming. unless the face Is washed over the
ear, IN which case foul weather Is imminent,
and rain II 1t Is the head behind the ears.
II pussy washes her face after rain wind
will come from the point To which she turns,
and a thaw VIII occur if She washes her face
with her back 10 the fire In winter Rain is
also Indicated when the cat scratches itself,
"A storm when it claws chair or table legs,
lies on its head with is mouth open, or sits
tail toward the tire change of weather Is
indicated by the electrihcation OF the cats
fur. and wind * coming when her tail IL
bushy and stiff.
The presence Of the eat in the house Is usl-
ally deemed ali omen Of good luck. "Wbo
has IA cat has happy married life, says
German proyerb. In antiquity omens were
drawn from the entrance ard exit Of strange
cats. and 1t was then tad sign 10 have a cat
cross YOUR path. This /, stu believed III
many places In Ireland persons entering =
house say God save all here except the eat"
And if any one, IN setting ont upon "A jour
ney. should meet "A eat and look It squarcly
i'm the face, the journey must be postponed.
1t IS also an III omen for "a cat To cross your
path when YOU first 20 out IN the morning.
In Sussex, il the cat succ@es she must be sum
marily elected from the house, for three such
explosion, would bring misfortune upon the
family.
The cat has figured extensively in nursery
lore. The well known tale OF "Puss in
Boots has been recognized in the popular
tales of many countries widely separated In
japan the Wind God is figured with II cats
face and claws, and in China wooden cats
adorn the ridges # the houses to ward off
storms and tempests. The Irish say there il
king of the cats who may be discovered by
nipping Off bit Of his ear. He will then
speak and declare his authority.
The cat IN folk lore is commonly diabOli-
cal. and in the bag # proverbs has probably
n diabolical aliuson The popular idea that
it las nine lives expresses it, mystical char
acter.-F. s. BaSsett III Globe-D Democrat
Ea,