The herald., 1894-01-16
CATSKIN MASCOTS.
PUSsY's HIDE IN GREAT DEMAND WITH
THE suPERsTITIoUs.

Gamblers Believe There Is Great Luck In
Catskins = Some Bring FaEcy Pricrs,
While Others Arc Dirt Chesp-A chica-
60 Dealer Who Knows All About 1t.
'What in the world do you do with
all of those catskins2'' inquired q re-
porter Of we'll known dealer in furs in
this city.
Sell EN-" sententiously replied the
furrier.
Eyes, true enough, if you can find
purchasers.
Don't fret yourself about thaS, my
son. Buyers are plentiful. All classes
of people call for 'em, but they are in
demand chiefly among gamblers--a
very superstitious class-who wear 'em
for good luck
"Are any colors declr-ed OFF,"
Decidedly SO. The greatest virtue
lies in those of Stygian blackness-
ture's own dyeing. Art is deceiving as
we'll as long, and we call IN the dyer
to meet this demand. He transforms
tabbies, tortoise, gray, Maltese and all
other of shades into jet black. Still,
MS you see, we carry all co,ers, because
tastes will vary, you know"
"What use do the sporting gentry
find for the pelts?"
1.-THE orthodox and accepted fashion
is that of wearing the skin next to the
chest, the hair nesting against the
mans epidermis. !"
"Must be charming in summer
, weather. -
Superstition and fashion take pret-
ty strong hold on people. Seriously,
am telling you the simple truth.
know gamblers whose names are famil-
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 which our fe-
line is descended, and embalmed it by
the million. 1t wasn't much of leap
from alteration of the creature to faith
that virtue lies in its integulnent. The
garments of departed saints, as well 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. My
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
yer-a 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--his very dearest friend-him-
SELF"
What becomes Of the old ones, for |
suppose they finally wear out?'' Aa
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 incantations 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 !
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.
Il maintain the truth of all say.
LOU nave your SupeIotitiOuS auu udfc
mine. Shall we torture those who diff
fer with us? The cat has been man 3
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-
fection 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 $f.75 to $2.75.
The dyed ones are lower, and can pick
you out good one for about $1.25 to
$3.50. Perhaps gray or spotted one
would suit yon. Here's one bit of
that I'd sell you for rs cents. While il
may not have the virtue of prime
black, it might do well as starter"
''You have no secondhand article?"
Haven't | 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 knight of the
card table in this city made journey
to New Orleans solely for the purpose
of possessing himself Of a peculia1l ly
| lucky skin left by gambler who had