New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-05
USES FOR PARTISAN CATS.
PRICED AS PETS. BUT MANY FIND THEIR
WAY TO THE REsTArrpA xrrcurNs

PRICED AS PETS. BUT MANY FIND THEIR
WAY TO THE RESTAURANT KITCHENS.
An exhibition OF cats is to be held shortly at the
Jardin d'Accimation This suggests the subject OF
the cats social position In France. says a corre-
spondent Of THE Boston Transcript" Since the
revolution the animal has conquered In this coun-
try outes les liberties. excepting that OF wearing
an entire tall for In many districts II Is the fashion
to cut II short. In Paris are much cherished
wherever they can be without causing too much
unpleasantness with the landlord. The system of
living In flats is not favorable to cat culture for
the animal. not having every access either to the
tiles above or to the gutter below Is likely to pine
Tor want OF fresh air and the society Of Its con-
geners In a well-ordered Paris house occupied by
numerous tenants cat dares not put foot upon the
stairs and the mildest suggestion OF feline
neghborhood in the atmosphere Is enough to make
ill-natured locataires call to arms II Is the privi-
lege Of those who live ground floors to be able
to keep cats. and 1t Is that Is largely taken ad-
vantage OF. Probably In other city do these ami
mails lie In shop windows and counters with
such an arrogant air OF proprietorship In restau-
rants very large and fat cat Is kepr as an adver
tisement of the good feeding to be obtained the
premises. There Is invariably a cat In a charbon-
nier's shop. and the animal Is generally one that
was originally white but long ago came to the con-
cusion that all attempts to keep itself clean were
hopeless.
Its consolation Is that II Is blacker than It's
master. 1t is well known that the long haired va
riety Of cat called Persian or Angora Is much s.
teemed in Paris. and II Is bred 10 extent for
sale 1t Is Of so amable character that II is sup
posed to turn Its back upon a mouse that 1t
may not be tempted to do violence In the prov
inces French cats are usually very low-bred ami
mails. with plebeian heads and tails. the stringke
appearance Of the latter not being improved by
cropping
Although not generally esteemed article OF
food In France. there are still many people scat
tered throughout the country who maintain that
civet de chat Is as good or better than civet de
evre To practise the Illusion upon themselves
that II IS n hare. they careful to keep head.
tail and claws out OF the dish. The weakness Of
Baudelare and Theophile Gautier for cats was
quite Of another kind So Is that OF the poet Fran
co.'s Coppee for these renowned serenaders and
soothers OF the ear Of night. The inspired old
bachelor would as lief eat one Of his brother
Academicians a cat. for TO him the animal Is
sacred at 1t to the Egyptians OF old The
society Of his feline pets is to him ever delightful
and consoling and 1t may have inspired him to
write some Of his most melodlous verses. Never
theless he Is not the cats poet. This honor be-
longs TO Charles Cros who wrote:
Chatte blanche chatte sans ,ache
ouel dams yeux verts.
Que sarcasne ia noustache?
Is not this charmingly fancifu and feline?
There are some people so prejudiced against all
culinary preparations OF cat that they make a
point OF never asking for rabbit hare In
Paris restaurant There is reason for such excess
sive caution in restaurants Of rather low degree.
A few years butcher In the Palais Royal
quarter sent to prison for having tried to palm
off very fine Angora cat for lamb upon restau-
rateur whom he was In the habit of supplying. Tho
cat had scratched the butchers child. and the
tender-hearted father gave an order for the mme
It would be pity to waste IT, so. having cut off It's
head. feet and tail. he sold it to the restaurateur
at an attractive price. The restaurateur. perceiv
ing some fur that had been forgotten. and having
a grudge against the butcher called in in
spector. and the result was what has been already
stated There are worse risks at Paris restaurants
than Of eating cat, which II appears Is wholesome
food enough. provided you suppose It to be some
thing else. Some time ago It was discovered that
all the parrots and other exotic birds that died
the Jardin dAcclimation. and became the prop
orty Of employees, were. after being stripped Of
their feathers. sold to Paris restaurateurs ambitious
OF acquiring a reputation for game pates.