The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-26
III. zoLA's FABLE OF A CAT.
Contrasting n Life Of Luxury with
That of the bohemian.

Translated from the French.
An aunt of mine once bequeathed me an
Angora cat-the most stupid beast / have
ever seen. Listen TO what 1t told me one
winters evening sat before the glow
Il was about two years old. and as fat
and innocent a cat as one could see. Even
It that age | showed a contempt for the
life of pet. However, / was thankful that
providence had placed me in the home OF
your aunt, for that good woman adored me.
Ny bed was a feather pillow, with three
coverlets in the corner of her wardrobe;
my food was equal to my bed. Never soup
nor bread-nothin0 but the finest raw meat.
In the midst of all this luxury had but one
deSlre, put one dream-to sip out OF the
half open window and escape to the roof.
CaresSeS seemed weariSOme; the very soft
ness OF my bed nauseated me. was sick or
my existence. tired of being happy. One
day saw from the window which looked
out upon the opposite roof four cats quar-
reing-Jheir tails erect, their fur bristling-
rolling over the slate in sunshine with
the delirium of joy. had never seen so ex-
traordinary a sight. From that time my
mind was made up; my happiness lay on
the roof Outside the window so carefully
kept closed Gas they shut the door of the
cupboard where the meat was putt deter
mined to run away. Life must possess other
things than bloody meat-it held the UNI
known, the ideal. One day they forgot to
close the kitchen window; / jumped out on
the little roof below. How beautiful those
roofs were. They were bordered with gut
tiers eXhaling the most delicious odors.
Followed VoluptuouSly these cutters, where
my paws sank into o soft warm mud. 1t
velvet, while the heat penetrated my skin.
l will not hide from you that | trembled in
every limb; there was fear mixed with my
JOY l remember, above all, a terrible emo
ton which came near making me fall head
long from the parapet. Three cats came
rushing at me, mewing frightfully, and, aS
l almost swoOned with terror, they treated
me as stupid beast. They tol0 me they
were only mewing for fun. / began to new
with them; it was charming. These gay
cats laughed when l slipped on the hot zinc.
An old tomcat took me under his special
care. He offered to educate me, which offer
l accepted with gratitude. All. how far off
seemed that indolent life at your aunt I
drank from the cutters, and never did
sweetened milk taste half so delicious. Ev-
erything appeared fine and delightful.
AT the end of an hours promenade be-
gan to be furiously hungry. What does ono
eat on the roofs? said l to my friend, the
old torRcat What one can find he an-
swered. This response embarrassed me, for
l had been searching and had found moth
ing. just then / perceived in mansard
window young woman who was preparing
her husbands breakfast. On the table be-
neath the window lay an appetizing outlet.
Here's my chance thought l. and I
jumped on the table and seized the outlet.
The woman saw me and flew at me with a
broom, with which she gave me a terrible
blow. l dropped the meat and fled. That's
your style is it?' said the tomcat Meat
on table is thing wished for from afar;
it is in the gutter one must seek for it. I
could not comprehend that meat in kitch-
gan to feel very uncomfortable. The tomcat
added to my distress by saying that we
should have to wait for the night to de-
scend to the streets to search about in the
piles of rubbish. Wait for night He said
that calmly with the philosophy of age
and experience. | was almost fainting at
the simple thought.
1.-The night fell slowly-a night of fog and
damp, which chilled me through and
through. Then the rain began to fail, light
and penetrating. How ugly the streets
seemed to memo warm sunshine here. My
membered with regret my feathered pillow
and triple covers Scarcely had we reached
the street when my friend the tomcat.e
seemed to tremble He crept stealthily
along, little by little, past the houses. tell
ing me to follow quietly. When we met a
isfaction Then / asked him why this
fight. Did you see that man with a hook
and box? he asked me Yes Well, if he
had seen us he would have tumbled us over
and eaten us on spit. Eaten us on a
spit? cried THE street, then, is no place
for us; one does not eat there-one is
eaten
However, I searched in the rubbish be-
fore the doors in vain effort to find some
meager bones Ny friend, the tomcat.
scratched away in artistic style; he kept
me on the go till daybreak visiting leis-
hours ] was exposed to hail and rain.
Cursed streets, cursed liberty. How re-
GREETED my life Of indolenee The tom meat
have had enough Of this said he with
strange air. Yes, yes, / replied. DO you
the way? Come; l perceive that so fat a
cat as you are not made for the joys of lib
erty; / know your dwelling; L will take you
to the door,
lie said this quietly. the worthy cat
When we arrived he babe me adieu with
out showing the least emotion. No. no.
said l. We must not part thus; you will
come with me; we will share the same
bed. share the same food my mistress is q
good woman. H did not allow me to fin
ish. Cease said he; j shall die in your
tepid softness; your live is good for slaves:
cats who are free never accept prison for
the sake of feather he'd Alden When 4
whip and gave me a good beating light
punishment. which I merited, and which
received with profound joy. / enjoyed being
whipped in a soft, warm atmosphere While
she struck me / was dreaming with delight
of the meat she would give me afterward.
Don't you see" said my cat in conclu-
sion, true happiness. paradise Itself my
dear master. is to be shut up and beaten i'm
a place where it is warm and where there
is meat.
l speak of cats.