The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-26
PUSSY IN PRIVATE LIFE.
HISrORY'S SAY OF THE CAT AND
THOSE WHO ADMIRED HIM.
Mahome., Petrarch, Plus TX, Cardinal
Richelieu, Cardinal Wolsey, Whit
tington and Lo.d hesterf1e.d Amoag
His Firm riends.
From Wide A,caks.

No animal has known greater vioissi-
tudas than our pleasant little house-famil-
lar pussy. He had his day of glory in the
far past, when armies retreated before
him; his day of divinity. too. as the mighty
basalt cat-headed goddesses in many a
museum still testify. And then, having
had in his lifetime all that heart of cat
could wish, after death he became a
mummy and received funeral Donors.
just how it happened no one knows, but
a few thousand years later we find pussy no
longer reverenced. Instead of divinity he
was regarded as the accomplish of witches,
and burned in holocaust on st. Johns day,
or tormented for the amusement of such
evil kings as Philip ii of Spain. Later still,
and final stage of his decadence, he was
valued in direct proportion to his usefulness
becoming now a mere drudge aud now a
loyless plaything for children. Could
Egyptian heart have dreamed it!
But Pussy's fortunes are again rising. He
Is no longer stale divinity, but he is be-
com1ng-what is far better in this age of
progreSs-a social power! Even in his worst
estate he had always warm friends and adj
mirers; now he has a party. For you
either love cats or you do not love them, "
says witty author; and statistics go to
prove that those who love cats are the ma
Jority to-day.
Pussy has also been fortunate in having
two strings to his oow-personal beauty and
utility. No other creature so dainty, so
artistically delightful thing of beauty,
and-to the appreclatiVe-a JOY forever; no
other creature so dexterous in pursuit of
mice, so self-supporting, so actual through
out the ages, therefore through prosperity
and adversely, Pussy, like the Jews, has
tiourished. The honors of divinity did not
turn bis handsome head, and persecution has
failed to uproot his race from the soil.
What a small bit of life he is, yet when
absent, how we miss himl Only think of
Wales, in good King Howel's time. when
rats were rampagious, when a kitten, even
before it could see, was worth penny, and
heavy fines were imposed on whoever should
hurt or kill cat. Think of Varbach, that
little German town where mice ran riot,
until at last cat was obtained. Think of
Wilmington; how, with cat in his
arms he sailed to a country
where cats we're not and made
his fortune-through cat! There
are skeptics, of course, who call this pretty
story a mere myth; and, very possibly like
some other good old stories, it has put on
with time some OF the colors of fairy sale;
out that little Dick had a cat, and valued
one-so much, at least, may we'll be true.
The queer bas-relief at Guild hall Museum
in London has an appearance of verify and,
as it was found in house which once be-
longed TO the Wilmington family, and had
been occupied IN the famous lord mayors
lifetime by his nephew, it not improbably
commentaries some actual fact in the great
mans history.
One of the earliest pet cats on record is
that of Prince Hama, an Egyptian nobility
who lived several thousand years ago, and
between the stone feet of whose statue was
placed the statuette OF his cat, Bouhaki.
The latter may still be seen in the Louvre.
,itting erect in dignified attitude, squarely
confronting posterity, so TO say, with a gold
collar round its neck and earrings in its
ears.
Early in history, also, and more famous
than Bouhaki is "Muezza," the cat Of Ma
hOmeJ. Every one knows how the prophet
sat reading one day, with the favorite
curled up in peaceful slumber on the wide
sleeve Of his robe; and how, rather than
disturb her, when obliged to go, he gently
cut off the sleeve No wonder. with such
an example before them that Mahomme dams
stu honor cats.
From Mahomet to Petrarch is quite q
step-not only in point OF time, but of char-
acter. Nevertheless, these great men had
one thing in commOn-their affection for
cats. Laura was not enough for the poet;
he must also have his little white ''micino. u
holding it second only to the lady of his
4ACt-l duu 81 lLS uedGQ as 10 EaNe
it embalmed. This veritable cat NAV be
seen to-day in Petrarch's house at Arqua-
at least the guide assures US it is the same
sor my own part, | have no more doubt of
its identity than Of the blood spot in Holy
rood; | take the one TO be Rizzio's blood: |
AXE the other to be the immortal poets
equally immortal cat-and thank my stars
am not so skeptical as some people,
fasso also had his pet; sad, helpless poet
5haS he was, there was need of all the com
fort he could get. Doubt not but that often
as tears fell wet on Russy's fur; and that in
her companioDship he found lace when
uer sOlece there was none. To this little
friend he addressed sonnet, begging her.
alnce lnmps we're denied in his prison, to
light him with her eyes.
Other famous Italians have shared the
taste Of these poets; among whom, proba-
bly,. may be included Andrea Doria Some
writer's assure us that he detested cats. and
Kept one only to remind him of the con-
quered tleschl, whose badge it was Be
tnis as 1t may, the animal which sits beside
him in tae ancient portrait at Genoa has an
unbeatable air of well-being. If an enemy,
1t has been treated with respect; if friend
it is also an equal. and returns the old ad
miral's gaze with proud directness.
St Domlnic's hatred of cats is more than
offset by the affection which various popes
have shown them. Gi egory the Great
had a much-ludulged favorite, and Leo
XII. had number. One big cat of gray
ish~rsd called "Micetto" he presented to
another friend of the feline race, ths IA
NOUS Chateaubriand, as mark of esteem.
Plus \. also had his pet-a superb "gatto
SOrfdno," which was always present at his
frugal meals, sitting beside hun and claim
ing its full share of both food and attea-
tloA. A very pleasant sight it must have
been to see this benign old pontiff taking his
pGSSegidtd in the gardens of the vatican.
with Pussy sedately pacing at his side
When, after awhile, the link of companion-
ship was broken, and Pussy paced from
This world to another, no pet succeeded
him-the place he left vacant remained so
TO the eld. 81 am too old for new friend
ships" said his master; moreover, death
may come to me next, for my cat and |
have both grown old in the vatican
A still more ardent cat lover in Italy was
the aged archbishop of Tarento, who died
ABOUT the beginning of this century. His
pets had their regular meals, corresponding
with his own; and guest was once much
amused by nearing him ask a servant dur
ing dinner whether the cats had been
served. YES, monsignore," the man
gravely answered, but 'Desdemona' pre-
fers waiting for the roasts." "Desdemona~
was a white Persian, both in color and dis
position complete contrast to her huge
black mate "Othellos"
When tue archbishop was Sc years old. a
friend called upon him rather earlier than
usual one morning and was rewarded by
this pretty scene: The venerable white
haI ID ma in doc