The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-01-15
CATSKIN MAsCOTS.
PuSSY's HIDE IN GREAT DEMAND WITH
THE suPERsTlTious.

go Dealer Who Knows All About 1T.
What in the world do yorl do with
all of those catskins?" inquired a re-
porter of "a well known dealer in furs in
this city.
"Sell EN-" sententiously replied the
furrier.
YES, true enough. if You can find
purchasers"
Don't fret yourself about that, my
son. Buyers are plentiful. All classes
of people call for EN-, but they are in
demand chiefly among gamblers "a
very superstitious class-who wear 'em
for good luck"
Are any colors declared off?''
Decidedly so. The greatest virtue
lies in those of Stygian blackness-na-
lures own dyeing. Art is deceiving as
we'll as long, and we call in the dyer
to meet this demand. He transforms
Tables, tortoise, gray, Maltese and all
other off shades into jet black. Still,
as you see, we carry all colors, because
tastes will vary, you know"
What use do the sporting gentry
find for the pelts?"
THE orthodox and accepted fashion
is that of wearing the skin next to the
chest, the hair Nesting against the
mans epiderinis.
Must be charming in summer
weather."
Superstition and fashion take pref
ty strong hold on people. Seriously, /
am telling you the simple truth. /
know gamblers whose names are famil-
lar to you who would n appear up
OF the streets in the decollete garb of
an African doko than divest themselves
should you be surprised" added the
f~urrier, who is somewhat of an anti
quarian. THE Egyptians worshiped
the cat, the animal from which our fe-
line is descended, and embalmed it by
the million. 1t wasn't much of a leap
from alteration of the creature to faith
that virtue lies in its integuinent. The
garments of departed saints, as well az
their bones, teeth and nail parings, are
declared to have healing in them, and
millions of good souls devoutly believe
in these relics
"Oh, Chicago, Chicago, with the
twentieth century SO near
What is the matter with you? Why
the practice of wearing the skins is by
no means local. On the contrary, VIZ
supply the trade at New Orleans, At
lanta. Galveston, San Francisco, Port
land. New York, Baltimore, Philadel
phia and cultured Boston even. My
father sold catskins so years ago." @
Are their virtues restricted to tn,
realms of dice and cards alone?''
by no means. All classes of PEG
p1A --~N z-,so n. mn.
vera regular sober side of q fellow
who is said to be in training for
judgeship, bought the finest skin in tn
collection, paying me 80 for it. Yes
he said he wanted ii for a friend, ant
he did-his very dearest friend-him
lHseIf."
What becomes of the old ones, for
suppose they finally wear out?"
i why, to be sure, like all thing
earthly. Their owners wear out, de
: spite their reputed nine lives. The
they sometimes lose their efficacy. LIE
. o gambler have an uncommon run 0
: ill luck, and he makes a scapegoat Q
. his fetch. With many incantations h
Q consigns it to the flames, for it woul'
never do in the world to let it fiH int
the hands OF another SO long as he ]
living. This would mean the iortun
of the new possessor and the irietriev
able ruin of the other fellow.
}, MANY gamblers" continual tn
"a furrier, possess several skins. One
d know has one for each day bf tn
week, and he is most careful p max
@ no mistake in the wearing OF theh. Iii
Monday guard would not aviil TO
If Tuesday, and his Saturday wearwoul'
cripple his Friday plans. Such blum
ders could only be corrected by ioodo
,r doctors of skill"
# "You romance we'll"
10 Il maintain the truth of alll say
at You have your superstitions and hav
s. mine. Shall we torture those Wo dit
an fer with us? The cat has beerpnan
s. companion from the beginning. lava
back in the orient the cats pfsenc
marks mans home. Its Writes al
strong enough to win and holdhe a.
lection of woman, and that's mob tina
many men can boast. But do pit d.
he fend the superstition"
What are these black ones fortf
anyway" demanded the reports fee
ing in his pockets. IL.
They range from $1.75 tos2.7'
The dyed ones are lower, and l cl pic
you out a good one for about Lao
$3.50. Perhaps a gray or speed on
would suit you. Here's n abit 9
that I'd sell You for rs cents. lille
may not have the virtue of prin
black, it might do well as a sitter"
"You have no secondhand aiclef'
Haven't / said that peoH gual
against that? When an unftuna
gambler dies no one would Itch h
Is leavings, but when a rich or ky q
goes off there's a rush amonahe FIR
ternity for his catskin. 1t hat be-
80 very long ago that a knigH of Il
card table in this city made iourn'
to New Orleans solely for thpurpo