The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-02-22
STORIES or THE CAT.
Legends and Facts About the Still but
Half Tanned Animal.


There are few tales Of eat fidelity
and many Of dJs yet one thinks no
worse OF the cat for this," says an OBJ
server. His very Independence com
pels respect. iIe walks by his wild
lone, waving his wild tail. through the
wild woods as an Inspired modern
writer has set forth. al the genera
tiOn~ nave not served To- tame him.
and the most domestic Of the race wiz
revert sooner 10 "a wild life at the call
Of the blood than any other friend OF
man. II Is thus scarcely surprising 70
find tha the most famous cat lovers
haNr lnrn drawn from the ranks Of
politicians ana poets. those whom rea-
sons Of state or sensitive tenpera-
mcnt have rendered avel'se from trust
ing their fellow creatures and who con-
sequently bcStow all their affections
upon the 'GrcSidc sphinx We are in
vltrd to believe that the most famous
of all cats he who brought fame and
fortune 10 his master Dick Whiting
ton. was no four legged animal at all,
but merely the French word 'achat' -
10 buy and sell at protit-and that the
great merchant made a pet only of his
merchandise from the very beginning.
Thus in later years do the idols Of our
youth topplc about our heads.
But other legends-nay, facts-are
left Us. Cardinal Wolsey. for instance.
when acting in his official capacity IA
lord chancellor is said 10 have had his
favorite eat always seated beside him.
and another prince Of the church, Rich
elieu. found his only relaxation in
keeping number of kittens i'm his pri-
vatc cabinet and watching their gam
bOls during his spare moments. We
cannot really reckon Richclicu as
true lover OF the race, however for di-
reCtly the kittens grew 10 three months
he had them sent away and replaced
by others Lord Chesterfield left in his
will life pensions 10 his favOritc cats
and their kittens. Victor Hugo's great
cat Chanoiuc always sat on Il large red
ottoman in the center Of his salon and
received his guests in state, showing
marked diSplcaSure If any one failed
TO carcSS or praise her.
"Tasso wrote n sonnet 10 his favorite
cat, and pctrarch had one he loved as
dearly. We are told, as Laura. No
doubt she was the Conidant Of many
of bis trials and COnSoled him for much
Of the fair lady'S diSdain, and when
pussy died the poet had her embalmcd
in the Egyptian fashion and carried her
mummy about with him everywhere.
Baudclarc the French poet, a 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 immcmOrial
they have been regarded rs somewhat
unCanny, Omens of veal or woe. beings
to bc either couciiated or crushed.
The eat worship Of ancient Egypt and,
later. the Roman creed that the cat
was sacred 10 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 rs the eats
only friend. Il legend arising in the
medieval nuuncricS Overrun with
mice. where one or more eats We're
always kept and were no doubt much
nptte1 by Tho rood INNS - GhicupO
News