The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-03-21
STORIES OF THE CAT.
Legends and Facts About the Still but
Half Tanned Animal.


"There are few tales of cat fidelity
and many OF dog, yet one thinks no
worse Of the cat for this" says an oh
server. "His very independence com
pels respect. He walks by his wild
lone, waving his wild tail. through the
wild woods as an inspired modern
writer has set forth. All the genera
lions have not served to tame him.
and the most domestic of the race will
revert sooner to wild life at the call
Of the blood than any other friend of
man. 1t Is thus scarcely surprising to
find that the most famous cat lovers
have been drawn from the ranks Of
politicians and poets those whom rea
sons of state or Il sensitive tempera-
ment have rendered averse from trust
ing their fellow creatures and who con-
sequently bestow all their affections
upon the 1ireside sphinx We are in
vted to believe that the most famous
of all cats, he who brought fame and
fortune TO his master. Dick Whiting
ton, was no four legged animal at all,
but merely the French word achat'-
to buy and sell at proht-and that the
great merchant made pet only Of his
merchandise from the very beginning.
Thus in later years do the idols of our
youth topple about our heads.
But other legends-nay, facts-arc
left us. Cardinal Wolsey. for instance.
when acting in his official capacity as
lord chancellor IL said to have had his
favorite cat always seated beside h m.
and another prince of the church. Rich
elieu. found his only relaxation in
keeping a number of kittens in his prl-
vate cabinet and watching their gam.
bols during his spare moments. We
cannot really reckon Richelleu as
true lover Of the race, however, for dt.
rectly the kittens grew to three months
he had them sent away and replaced
by others. Lord Chesterfield left in his
will life pensions to his favorite cats
and their kittens. Victor Hugos great
eat Chanolne always sat on large red
ottoman in the center of his salon and
received his guests in state. showing
marked displeasure If any one failed
to caress or praise her.
"Tnsso wrote sonnet to his favorte
cat and Petrarch had one he loved as
dearly. we are told. as Laura. No
doubt she was the confidant of many
Of his trials and consoled him for much
OF the fair lady's disdain, and when
pussy died the poet had her embalmed
In the Egyptian fashion and carried her
aL
Baudclaire, the French poet. very
shy man. was always i'll at ease in any
new house he entered until the family
cat was brought up and introduced to
him. after which. with the cat on his
knee, he was perfectly happy in his
silent poet fashion.
Traditions respecting cats are. of
course, legion. From time immemoral
they have been regarded as somewhat
uncanny, omens of veal or woe, beings
to be either conciliated or crushed.
The cat worship OF ancient Egypt and,
later, the Roman creed that the cat
was sacred to Diana speak of the one,
the wild charges of witchcraft - or
concern in it-rlfe during the dark
ages Of Europe will attest the latter.
But there is another popular belief de-
serving also of mention, that which
sets forth the old maid as the cats
only friend, a legend arising In the
medieval nunneries overrun with
mice, where one or more cats were
always kept and were no doubt much
petted by the good nuns" - Chicago
News.