Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-02-17
CATSKIN MASCOTS.


PUosSo Hloe NJ GREAT DEMAND WITH
the sUPeRsrITloVa.
oomhassu Dsassvo TAsse Il 0ssas Ensk n
Caaskins - ssos Bsang Haasy Prsess.
WAsDs OsAsss Are Dsst CAsap-A CAiea-
- Dealer We Knows An Abeut It.
''what In tho world do You do With
an Of those catskins?'' inquired q re-
porter ct . we'll known dealer in fursi In
this city.
"sell en-" sententiously replied tho
furrier.
"Yes, true enough, II you can ind
purchasers.
Don't fret yourself about that, my
con. Buyers arc plentiful. All classes
q people call for 'em, but they arc in
demand chiefly among gamblers
very superstitious class-who wear EN-
for good luck
''Are any coloss declared ofF?''
''Dccidedly %. Tho greatest virtue
lies In those Of Stygian blackness-na-
lures own dyeing. Art is deceiving -
we'll ~ 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,
- you see. We carry all colors, because
tastes will vary, you know"
"what use do the sporting gentry
6nd for the pelts:"
1.-THE orthodox and accepted fashion
IL that Of wearing the skin next to the
chest, the hair nesting against the
mans epider,nis.
"Must b charming in summer
weather."
"Superstition and fashion take pref
y strong hold ON people. Seriously, I
am telling You the simple truth. I
know gamblers whose names are fainil-
lar to you who would sooner appear up
ON the streets in the decollete garb OF
IN African doko than divest themselves
OF their precious catskin charm. Why
should you be surprised:" added the
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 Q Leap
from alteration of the creature to faith
that virtue lies in its integument. The
garments Of departed saints, as we'll a
their homes, teeth and nail parings, arr
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, W.
supply the trade at New Orleans, At
! lanta. Galveston, San Francisco, Port
land. New York, Baltimore. Philadel
; phia and cultured Boston even. NJ,
father sold catskins so years ago."
''Are their virtues restricted to tn
realms Of dice and cards alone:''
by no means. All classes Of peo
; pie wear them. Only yesterday law
yef-a regular sober side of fellow
who Is said to he in training for
judgeship, bought the finest skin in tn
collection, paying me % for it. Yes
he said he wanted it for a friend, an,
be did-his very dearest friend-him
self"
! "What becomes Of the old ones, for
suppose they finally wear out:''
why, to be sure, like all thing
2 earthly. Their owners wear ont, dc
spite their reputed nine lives. The
. they sometimes lese their efficacy. Ii
. gambler have an uncommon run G
. i'll luck. and he makes a scapegoat {
his fetch. With many lamentations h
consigns it to the flames, for it woul
never do in the world to let it fall int
!. the ha1Gls of another 10 long as he
living. This would mean the forum
!, Of the new possessor and the irretrie,
able ruin Of the other fellow.
MANY gamblers, continued II
furrier, possess several skins. One
know has one for each day of II
= week, and he is most careful to NAL
!. no mistake in the wearing Of them. 81
!. Monday guard would not avail fl
:. Tuesday, and his Saturday wear woul
: cripple his Friday plans. Such blu,
|. ders could only he corrected by hoode
: doctors Of SKILL
"YOu romance we'll"
IL II MAINTAIN the truth OF all ] Say
. You have your superstitions and ha,
. mine. Shall We torture those who di
y fer with us? The cat has been man
= companion from the beginning. Avs
. back in the orient the cats presen,
= marks mans home. Its virtues a
. strong enough to win and hold the a
lection Of woman, and that's more ths
many men can boast. But do not d
TEND the superstition.
D. "What are these black ones WORT
q, anyway" demanded the reporter, fee
D. ing in his pockets.
n They range from &1.s5 to $e.s
- The dyed ones are lower, and can pie
E. you out . good one for about $1.25
9 el.50. Perhaps . gray Or spotted. o.
II would suit you. Here's one bit {
to that I'd sell you for IS cents. While
a may not have the virtue Of q priu
" black, II might do we'll as a starter. -
lyon have NO secondhand article:'
"Haven't / said that people qua
against that? When an unfOrtuns