Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-02-20
STORIES OF THE CAT.
Legends and Facts About the Still but
Half Tanned Animal

aalt AIMED Animal.
There are few tales of cat fidelity
and many OF dog, yet one thinks no
worse Of the cat for this" SAYS an OBJ
server. Ills very independence CON-
pelS respect. lie walks by his wild
lone, waving his wild tail. through the
wild woods rs an inspired modern
writer has set forth. All the genera
tons have not served TO tame him.
and the most domestic Of the race will
revert sooner 10 n wild life at the call
OF the blood than any other friend Of
man. 1t is thus scarcely surprising to
md that the most famous cat lovers
have been drawn from the ranks Of
politicians and poets. those whom req
sons Of state or sensitive temporal
ment have rendered averse from trust
ing their fellow creatures and who con-
sequently bestow al their affections
upon the 1ireside sphinx We are in
vited 10 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 al.
but merely the French word 'achat-
TO buy and sell at proGt-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 legcnds-nay. facts-are
left us. Cardinal Wolsey. for instance.
when acting in his official capacity as
lord chancellor is said 10 have had his
favorite cat always seated beside him.
and another prince OF the church. Rich
elieu. found his only relaxation In
keeping number OF kittens in his pri-
vate cabinet and watching their gam
hols during his spare moments. We
cannot really reckon Richcleu rs n
true lover OF the race, however. for d.
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
ana their kittens. Victor Hugo's great
cat Chanoine always sat on large red
ottoman in the center OF his salon and
received his guests In state showing
marked displcasure if any one faileI
to careSs or praise her.
'TassO wrote sonnet to his favorite
eat, and Petrarch had one he loved as
dearly, we are told, rs Laura. No
doubt she was the confdant Of many
Of his trials and consoled him for much
of the fair lady's disdain. and when
pussy died the poet had her embalned
In the Egyptian fashion and carried her
mummy about with him everywhere.
Baudelaire, the French poet. n 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 eat on his
knee, he was perfectly happy In his
silent poet fashion.
Traditions respecting cats are. of
course, legion. From time immemoriaI
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-rife 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, n legend arising I'm the
mediaeval nunneries Overrun with
mice, where one or more cats were
always kept ana were no doubt much
petted by the good nuns" - Chicago
News.