The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-31

OF taffetta, or ribbed six, Nhich, when
calendered, or what is now termed watered,
Is by that process covered with wavy lines.
This stuff, in bygone1 times, was often
called "tabby" s
There is rich,eolored brown tabby
hybrid to be seen at the. geological society
gardens In Regents park, between the
widest of Bengal and a tabby she cat
As FAR as | can discover, there appears
little difference either of temper or habit ia
the black cat distinct from that of any
other color, though it is maintained by
many even to this day that black cats are
lar more vicious aud spiteful and of higher
courage, aud this last l admit. Still, WHEN
black cat is enraged and its coat and tail
are well set up, its form distended, its
round, bright orange-yellow eye distended
and all aglow with anger, it certainly
presents to even the most impartial OBJ
server, to say the least of it, most I'M
canny appearance But for all this, their
admirers are by no means few, and, to my
thinking, a jet black cat, fine and glossy in
fur and elegantly formed, certainly has its
attractions.
The blue cat is shown often under a num-
Der of names. 1t was first shown as the
Archangel cat, then Russian blue, Spanish
blue, Chartreuse blue, and, know not why,
the American blue. 1t is not, in my belief,
distinct breed, but merely a ight-colored
form OF the black cat. In fact, have as
certained that one shown at the Crys-
tai Palace, and which won many prizes on
account of its beautiful blue color. slightly
tinged with purple, was the offspring of a
tabby and white she-cat and a black-and-
white he-cat, and | have seen the same color
occur when bred from the cats usually kept
about farm house as a protection from
rats and mice, though neither of the parents
had any blue color.
Cats live to various ages, the oldest have
seen being 81 years, and 10 years is the
greatest age l have known one to breed
But Mr.. Sandal of Tunbridge Wells, whom
have seen, informs me that he had a cat
that lived to the extraordinary age of "a
years 1t was q short-haired cat, rather
above the usual size, and tabby in color.
Should it be deemed necessary to destroy
some of litter of kittens, it is not well to
take all at once. A day or two should in
VIII thus be relieved of much suffering, es-
pecially if one, at least, is left for her to
rear, but two are preferable.
The cat is called kat in Danish and
Dutch, katt in Swedish, chat in Fren CHI,
katti or katie in German, catus in Lati n,
gatto in Italian, cato in Portuguese and
Spanish, kot in Polish, kots in Russian,
keti in Turkish, cath in Welsh, kath in
Cornish, catua In Basque, gaz or katz in
Armenian.
Shakespeare mentions the cat forty -four
times. and displays wonderful and accurate
knowledge, not only of the form, natur @.
habits and food of the animal, but also the
inner life, the disposition, what it was, of
what capable, and what it resembled.
The freak cat was the property of Mrs.
Finch of Maldon, Essex, England, aud was
described in Daniels Rural Sports" 1913.
The mother had e similar kitten at the
same birth. The one represented was a
male. above the usual size, with a shaggy
leonine appearance about the head Tufts
of hair protruded from the ears The tail
was perfectly distinct, and resembled the
brush of fox. The mother had other
litCers, but of the ordinary kind. 1t was
considered either cross with the English
wild cat, which sometimes has a name, or
an accidental variation of nature.
MIR. Weir reminds those who are indiffer-
ent or hostile to cats that they are a necss
sary protection to. houses, farm building g.,
wharves, ships, etc. At Trent, Engla nd,
eight cats are cared for at the freight sta
ton, where they keep the rats away FIR ON
about 40O, 200 grain sacks. On farms they
are great economic servants. The author
gives detailed instructions as to feeding,
mating, care Of kittens, judging cats, treat
ing sick cats, adding also cat proverbs
phrases, superstitions, weather notions,
anecdotes, games and numerous odds and
ends of cau-lore 1t is bright and origi-
nal book, and Its numerous illustrations are
exceptionally good.