Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-02-02
CATSKIN MASCOTS.
PuSsY,s HIDE IN GREAT DEMAND WITH
THE suPERsTlTIoUs.

The SOFERSTiTIOUS.
Gamblers Believe There Is Great Luck In
Catskins = Some Bring Fancy Prices,
While Others Are Dirt Cheap-A Chica-
go Dealer Who Knows All About It.
"What in the world do you do with
all of those catslzins?' inquired a re-
porter of we'll known dealer in furs in
this city.
"sell 'em," sententiously replied the
furrier.
Yes, true enough, if you can find
purchasers. -
Don't fret yourself about that, my
son. Buyers are plentiful. Ali 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-
ture's own dyeing. Art is deceiving as
well as long, and we call in the dyer
to meet this demand. He transforms
tabbies, 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 fa1nil-
lar to you who would sooner appear up
on the streets in the decollete garb of
an African doko than divest themselves
of their precious catskin charm. Why
should you be surprised" added the
furrier, who is somewhat Of an anti
quarian. 1.-The Egyptians worshiped
the cat, the animal from was.-enf Cur fe-
line is descended, and embalmed it by
the million. It wasn't much of leap
from alteration of the creature to faith
that virtue lies in its integu1nent The
garments Of departed saints, as we'll as
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, we
supply the trade at New Orleans, At
lanta, Galveston, San Francisco, Port
land. New York, Baltimore, Philadel-
phia and cultured Boston even. Ny
father sold catskins SO years ago."
Are their virtues restricted to the
realms of dice and cards alone?''
''By no means. All classes of peo-
pie wear them. Only yesterday law
vera regular sober side of fellow,
who is said to be in training for a
judgeship, bought the finest skin in the
collection, paying me So for it. Yes,
he said he wanted it for friend, and
he did-hls very dearest friend-him-
self.'
''What becomes of the old ones, for !
suppose they finally wear out?"
why, to be sure, like all things
earthly. Their owners wear out, de-
spite their reputed nine lives. Then
they sometimes lose their efficacy. Let
a gambler have an uncommon run of
i'll luck, and he makes scapegoat Of
his fetch. With many lamentations he
consigns it to the flames, for it would
never do in the world to let it fall into
the hands of another so long as he is
living. This would mean the fortune
of the new possessor and the irretriev-
able ruin of the other fellow.
Many gamblers, continued the
furrier. possess several skins. One 1
know has one for each day of the
week, and he is most careful to make
no mistake in the wearing of them. His
Monday guard would not avail for
Tuesday, and his Saturday wear would
cripple his Friday plans. Such blum
ders could only be corrected by hoodoo
doctors of skill"
"You romance we'll.
II maintain the truth of all I say.
You have your superstitions and have
mine. Shall we torture those who diff
fer with us? The cat has been mans
companion from the beginning. Away
back in the orient the cats presence
marks mans home. Its virtues are
strong enough to win and hold the af-
lection of woman, and that's more than
many men can boast. But | do not de-
fend the superstition.
''What are these black ones worth,
anyway demanded the reporter, feel
ing in his pockets.
''They range from $1.75 to $2.75.
The dyed ones are lower, and can pick
you out a good one for about $125 to
$3.50. Perhaps gray or spotted one
would suit yon. Here's one bit off
that I'd sell you for rs cents. While it
may not have the virtue Of prime
black, it might do we'll as starter.'
You have no secondhand article?''
Haven't l said that people guard
against that? When an unfortunate
gambler dies no one would touch his
leavings, but when rich or lucky one
goes off there's rush among the fra
ternity for his catskin. 1t hasn't been
SO very long ago that a knight of the
card table in this city made a journey
to New Orleans solely for the purpose
Of possessing himself of peculiarly
lucky skin left by gambler who had
recently died, and he paid good round
sum for it too. But the demand is
steady with us, and prices hold good.
To be sure they are tanned, and we'll
tanned too, but the charm lies in pre-
serving intact every hair, which, like
those of the head, would seem to be all
numbered. Chicago Tribune.
A Furious Artesian Well.
A furious artesian we'll was struck in
Chamberlain, S. D., few months ago.
At first Il SeIlt out 8. geo GALLONS Of Wa