The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-12
From the Nei0 YORK Herald.

Among the friends which wise Creator
has given to man is the domestic cat. Re-
lated to family unfriendly, his conversion
and domesticity are the more wonderful.
Daniel DeFoe gives US no pleasanter picture
+haa Robinson Crusoe on his desert isle
surrounded by his cats. AS a writer OBJ
serves, ''in an ELUSIVE age the cat remains
calm, dignified, impassiye, the red Indian of
the animal creation" All expressions of
emotion he scouts as frivolous and insin-
cere, except in the night, when he pours
forth his soul in strains of unprecedented
art.
1t is the purpose of this article to "size up"
the cat, giving attention TO his merits and
dement's, at tue same time bringing to the
surface some rare stories showing that he
possesses with all his faults, a rare degree of
intelligence-an intelligence which reasons
and acts from logical deductions-and at
the same time is possessed of rare affections
and general attributes.
SOME NOTED LOVERS OF CATS.
The famous Dr. Johnson of England
seemed to think as much of his cat as of
human friend. Cardinal Wolssy of Eng
land used to receive the MOBILES of the land
with his favorite cat perched on the arm of
his chair or at the back Of his throne. The
great statesman Of France, Riehelieu, once
excused himself from rising to receive a
foreign ambassador because his favorite cat
and her kittens were lying on his robes.
Petrarch, the great Italian poet, had
his favorite cat embalmed when
she died. Among the Egyptians cats
were enbalmed as sacred animals,
Louis XIII Of France was stanch friend
Of cats, and at an early age interceded on
their behalf on st. Johns day. Mahomet
possessed a cat named Muezza. Once when
the pet was lying asleep upon the sleeve of
his gown he had the part cut away rather
than disturb kitty's dreams. Chateau
BRAND possessed a cat called by the eupho-
NOUS name of Micetto, a gift from the pope.
He studied the habits of the cat and i'm
agined that his character partook Of many
qualities peculiar to his pet. After leading
his regiment at Metz the French hero, Gen.
Hondaille. hurried from the field to rescue
his cats, and returned with them to his
troops.
a JEALOUS CAT WHICH DIED OF A BROKEN
HEART.
There may be, as Izaak Walton observed
mo sympathy about the cat. He may
live alone, aloft, sublime" in a wise passive
ness; but all the same those who know cats
well ow that they are capable of intense
and unreasOning jealouMes. An English
lady once tortured a valuable Persian cat so
continuously that he sickeued and died, and
she did it quite innocently, too. 1t was his
custom to sit upon her right shoulder at
dinner and to share such portions of the re-
past as were to bis liking. A toy cat.
hideous beyond belief, was purchased, and
the lady fastened it upon her left shoulder.
When the pet observed the impostor as an
accepted rival, as it appeared, he fed, with
look and cry of horror, and was never
COnfOrfad vvbap tho rival into
the fire. The confidence thus lost was never
re-established. He never sat upon her
shoulder again, and finally died, as she be-
Ieved, of broken heart.
Another woman had a cat which was so
jealous that he would climb into her lap
strike her face every time she whis led for
the dog. She discovered this by accident,
but afterward practiced it with malice
aforethought whenever she wished to pun
ish her feline for misbehavior.
CATS BRING BAD LUCK AND GOOD.
= There are all kinds of ideas about cats
bringing bad luck. Not long ago, in this
city, a man was arrested for breaking a
store window. When tried in the police
court he said black cat had crossed bis
path. He thought it would bring him bad
luck, and in this belief fired the rock which
shattered the glass. Others have feared
to have cats in the sleeping rooms of
their children, believing that they will ''suck
their breat :" Such ideas are unworthy
of the dark ages. Another superstition is
that cats will seek to gain entrance to
room wherein is a human corpse, and that
if they succeed they will mutilate it. There
is more reason in this than in the other idea,
for, being of the tiger family, they have a
good nose, and would undoubtedly do as
nature prompted if opportunity offered.
case is on record where a cat did mutilate
the corpse Of a child, and watchers have
often reported large and lively attendance
of cats under the windows of the chamber
of death. Contrary to these beliefs is that
of the sailor, that cat is a lucky animal on
board ship on long voyage, but that to
have cat jump overheard into the sea
presages disaster.
PETER IN DISGRACE AT THE TABLE.
Women are the cats best friends:
particularly spinsters and married ladies in
middle life and old age. A story is told of
an old lady who was most devoted to her
cats, of which she had great number, and
they were trained 80 that none but a hater
of feline pets would consider them NUS
ance. When dinner came chairs were
place at the table for the cats and foot
man came to tie bib around each cats
neck. Think of It'll Salmon was served
and each cat had portion. One fine old
fellow could not reach far enough for a
very nice bit and put up his paw to arrange
matters to his satisfaction. The old lady
saw 1t, and called out to the footman:
Take Peter away He put his paw on
his platen
That settled it, and Peter was in disgrace.
The others took warning, and behaved ad-
mirably, and were unbibbsd and dismissed
in good order.
pIrSY TS AN ADROTT THEE
The cat will steal like Chinaman, and
viii deny it with all Johns impassiveness
of countenance. No circumstantial evil
dence will convict, as those know best who
have missed pet birds and have tried TO
make puss own up to the feathers. No one
ever get more satisfaction than a general
denial and evident lack Of interest in the
whole subject matter. Occasionally puss
tries her art in the kitchen. Ga one occa-
sion lady who was the proad posSeSsor of
fine tortoise shell cat made custard pie,
and left it to cool while the meat was
served. When the pie was brought in its
rich brown surface looked fine. With a
smile of contentment the lady prepared to
serve it; but, horrorsl The spoon went
with an unexpected thud to the bottom of
the dish. Not spoonful was left. One
corner was loosened and under it pussy had
adroitly inserted her tongue, found it good,
and had finished the dish.
CATS WARNED OF AN EARTHQUAKE.
There are plenty of well authenticated
stories which would go to show that cats
look fully as far into the future as do
I'M III. n IL - 1,lN%