Smyrna times., 1890-02-12
THE FOLK LORE OF CATS.
sUFERsTITloNs ABOUT PUss RE-
LleIoUsLY HELD BY MANY.

Some Of the Peculiar Beliefs OF Jack Tar.
The Cat Used to Cure or Transfer Dis
ease-The Black Cat surs to Bring Low
ers to the LassIe.
Cats have the reputation of being
weatherwise, an old notion which has
given rise to a most extensive folk lore.
1t is almost universally believed that
good weather may be expected when the
cat washes herself, but bad when she
licks her coat against the grain, or wash
es her face over her ear, or sits with her
tail to the fire. AS, too, the cat is sup
posed not only to have good knowledge
Of the state of the weather, but a certain
share in the arrangement of it, it is con-
sidered by sailors to be most unwise to
provoke it. Hence they do not much
like to see a cat on board at all, and when
one happens to be more frisly than usual
they have popular saying that "the cat
has got gale of wiIA in her tail"
A charm often resorted to for raising
a storm is to throw a cat overheard; but,
according to Hungarian proverb, as a
cat does not die in water, its paws dis
turb the surface; hence the flaws on the
surface of the water are nicknamed by
sailors seats paws" In the same way,
also, larger furry Of the water is a
seats skim" and in some parts of Eng
land a popular name for the stormy
northwest wind is the "cat's nose."
GERMAN sUPERsTITIoNs.
Among other items of weather lore as
sociated with the cat, there is a supersti-
ton in Germany that, if it rains when
women1have large washing on hand, it
is an infallible sign that they have
spite against them, owing to their not
having treated these animals well. We
may also compare the Dutch idea that
rainy wedding day results from the
brides not feeding her cat; whereas, in
the valleys of the Tyrol, girls who are
fond of cats are said always to marry
early, perhaps, as Mrs. Busk remarks,
can evidence that household virtues are
appreciated in them by the men," Once
more, there is German belief that any
one who, during his lifetime, may have
made cats his enemies is certain to be
accompanied to the grave amidst storm
of wind and rain.
Apart, however, from the weather
lore superstitions associated with the cat
there is an extensive class of other be-
lefs, as, for instance, those relating to
folk medicine. Thus, in Cornwall, the
little gatherings which come on chill
dren's eyelids, locally termed "whilks,"
are cured by passing the tail Of black
cat nine times over the part affected. As
recently as the year 1857, In Pennsylva-
MIA, a woman was publicly accused Of
witchcraft for administering three drops
of black cats blood to a child as rem
edy for Group. She admitted the fact,
but denied that witchcraft had anything
to do with it, and twenty witnesses were
called to prove its success. Again, ''in
many regions" we are told by Mr.. Con-
way, ga three colored cat protects against
fire, and black cat cures epilepsy and
protects gardens"
Formerly in Scotland, when a family
removed from one house to another, the
cat was always taken, one reason being
that it served as a protection against dis
ease. Indeed, before a member Of the
family entered the new abode, the cat
was thrown into it. There was a super
stitious notion that, if a curse or disease
had been left on the house, the cat be-
came the victim and died, to the saving
of the family's lives. 1t is curious, how
ever, to find the opposite practice kept
up in Ireland, where it is considered
highly unlucky for a family to take with
them a cat when they are moving,
more especially, too, when they have to
cross a river.
IN TIMES OF ILLNESS.
Mr.. Gregor also tells us that, in the
northeast Of Scotland, If a 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 a 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 prac
ticed in the parish Of Locharron, in the
northwest highlands, 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 numeroui
other items Of folk lore in connec tior
with tAe cat, there is a popular notior
that May cat-a cat born in the month
of Mays Of no use for catching rat
and mice, but exerts an injurious infu
ence on the house through bringing int
it disagreeable reptiles Of various kinds
Mrs. Latham, in her "West Sussex Su
perstitions," says that May cat is sup
posed "tO be inclined to melancholy, ant
to be much addicted to catching snake
and to bringing them into the house."
had heard that this west country belle
existed in our village; and, very lately
observinga a most detected looking cat b.
the fire in a cottage, said in jest: g
should think that cat was born in May.
"Oh, yes" said the owner of it; ''tha
she was, and so was her mother; and sh
was just as sad looking, and was alway
bringing snakes and vipers within doors.
, Mr.. Henderson, speaking of this super
stition, tells us that an old north countr
woman on one occasion said to a lady
''It's ma wander Jock IS lassies MARI
off so fast; ye ken what Draw black ca
the've got" It is considered unluclIy I
dream Of a cat, a piece of folklore prevs
lent in Germany, where if one dreams {
a black cat at Christmas it is an omen {
some alarming illness during the follow
ing year.
Equally unfortunate, too, is it for ca
to sneeze, this act being supposed to ind
cate that the family will have cold
I, Thus, we are informed by Mrs. LathaI
that in Sussex 'even the most favore
cat, if heard to sneeze, is instantly shJ
out of doors; for should she stay to r
peat the sneeze three times indoors, tn