The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-03-18
Lln lrmurrat-S Star
TnE FOLKLORE OF CATS


at descended from the wild European
species, its appearance In legends and
fairy tales was in no way more puz-
than that OF the fox or the wolf.
ll science has wrecked that COM
fs-. Die theory, and it seems to FOL
l50 mat all The folklore of cats has
On 10 historic time-a conclusion
eIl worth the study Of those who
Ike interest In such subjects. Our
ats are heritage from ancient Egypt.
AK Muller pronounces that even tue
.nscrit word is comparatively re-
Mt" India received the animal
rfohably from the Creeks, who them
selves lad only lately become ac-
4uIguted with it. The intelligent
sehoolhoy will jeer at this assertion.
Does not Aristophanes refer to the
Iale, and is not Gale a cat? The hus-
-andman in "The Peace suspects il
Z stealing game from his larder.
Anyhow" he says, 81 heard the gale
masking a great noise there last night"
What could this household pet be IN.
less a cat? Prof. Rolleston has de-
nonstrated that it could be the white
breasted marten, and was, In fact-a
delightful little creature, for those
sho could bear its smell, and one not
20 be surpassed at housing. it would
seem that the Romans we're not IA
I.liar With cats even Pliny's days,
Tor he evidently thinks that they
sank like a gale. 1t Is alleged that
the whole Roman literature contains
is.s than half q duzen illusions to cats
ls.ace the Christian era.
Ngnn the other hand, a cat is repre-.
I'D iB one OF the grandest, and, ap-
iaeartly, one OF the oldest Etruscan
-,lus, il has caught a mouse, and
t3.ds ii. No doubt there was inter.
-clrSa between the Tuscans and the
egyptians. But 10 Northern mythol.
., me chariot OF Freyga, or Frigga,
is 5llwn by two cats. She was god.
4ss7 Of Love and Luck, very properly
aa...ja.ed with q creature which Is
ra45.o aud tender at the domestic
srgh, but enterprising In courtshiI
"a .gagless in meeting a rival. Is II
~ b. credited that Freyga'. cats were
gus wild variety? The matter is moi
5u untmportant as it looks; but de
C,C-Gly this is not the place for an ex
.0jsus upon the date OF the Asa gods
II very early Saga we find a wicked
aau, Thorolt Sleggla, detying thu
vsagoance OF his neighbors under pro
ra..i0n Of twenty cats. AT length tn,
chief nt the district mustered eighteen
.eu, and assailed the house. Tli0r0l
ygsled his cats at the door, and the,
.y1ked very fierce, mewing and roll
.a- theIr eyes" When the chief ap
c~.Oachci they cried out and bega'
20 at hideously." So be remarked
'Ttjs IS Il wicked company" and with
1.tv TO The fence, where his me.
he i,rebrands on the roof and sc
q. lag. Thorolf burst out present
H..h "A chest OF silver under eac
a.4 caught one Of his enemies, an
.gupcd into the neighbOring boz
ru.-,ng hin tight. Neither bodiC
ao. .scasure could be discovered. Th
etc u bis house was haunted by Cat
ever after yard, I" and evil was though
3. .'ge.l there.h
IS volume is needed for this suhjet
caausr, among other reasons, 1t nus
4.ustrated by stories, or the puI
e.. sill be bored; and stories I'LL II
= acre string OF facts "goes in
-.a ear and out at the other" !
.."h a vokHme the legend Of Die
burlington would require severy
.co,es Of pages for proper treatmen
's'e W say nothing about it. 81
5ll7e is another folklore tale OF IL
e.me class not nearly so familiar I
BE public. Sir Henry Wyatt wa con
lil.ed TO the tower by Richard II
4al Ditltully treated. He had Meth,
.-. nor clothes, and only food enoug
{" Keep him just alive. Winter S,
30 aud he was like to perish wi,
co.i One uight a cat slid down u
Chimney, came upon him purring al
a..aa.nt, as to its master, curled !
Clu Us chest and kept him war
81. ujrnlug. Then II passed up I
gucy again, to reappear present
w...,8 pigeon, which II put into
E-ays hand, and vanished for t
Car When the jailer came he begg
7., rlore food, but the man repli
gtst ne dust not. ''Then wilt tn
dress any Iprovidc?" asked Sir Hen
Very willingly the jailer promise
Esd be kept Ills word, though start
and alarmed at sight OF the piget
80 things went ON for a time. b
y, ted Richard determined to star
t,s enemy to death, aud gave 0rdt
e. taat effect. Then the cat paid 81
cal visits during the day, bring
econ each time, and the jailer rigl
u concluded that there were mirac
oout," revcrently cooked them.
Henry outlived his prosecutor, a
me story Il. extant to this day anIo
tae imminent OF that ancient fami
(lt rot transcribe by the hero, as
understand, nor In his generate
Ihe account states, however, that
lecture of Sir Henry with the cat a
tie pigeon was to be seen; like 0
A-.nn L. mt farMurd In Whiafintin