, 1908-04-22
CAT SUPERSTITION.
Began in Egypt and Has Persisted TIL
Present Day.

cat alOue al air Ol mystery. lib ID
doubtless due to the animals weird
looking eyes, its peculiar habits, steal
thy movements, night prowling and its
strange vocal accomplishments, rang
ing from soft, musical ''mewing" to the
''wailing Shrek" described by Poe,
half of horror and half triumph; sucn
as might have arisen only out of he'll.
conformity from the threats OF the
damned in their agnoy, and of the
demons that exult in the damnation.'
Upon this atmosphere of mystery
which attaches to the cat and the wide
spread belief that the animal exercises
a mysterious influence over the lives
and destinies of human beings, the
poet Poe founded his grewsome tale.
1.-THE Black Cat"
These curious beliefs and supersti
tons attaching to the cat existed IN
very early times, says the Boston Her
aid. In ancient Egypt the cat was sac
red to the GODDESS Isis, and held in the
highest reverence. Temples were
erected in its honor, and sacrifices and
devotions offered up to it.
When the family cat of an Egyptian
family died the members of the, house
hold were required to shave off their
eyebrows. And in the City of Cairo
there was within very recent years an
institution for the care of destitute
cats.
In Massachusetts it brings good
luck to throw a dead black cat over
the left shoulder and turn around
twice, says a sage of the Kansas City
Star.
In Alabama the spirit of an old mali
after death takes possession OF some
black cat. In the same state to cut
off the end of a black cats tail and
bury it under the doorstep it to keer
sickness out of the family.
The belief that it is bad luck to xii
d cat is general, and in Pennsylvania
and Iowa is found the superstition that
if a farmer kill a cat some of his stocf
will die.
The black cat also makes good med
icine." Here are some specimens Of
'cat-cure" lore.
The blood of a black cat will cure
spawned horse.
Blood from the tip of the tail of 6
black cat. without a single white hair
will cur a sty.
Apply the freshly removed skin Of
a cat as a remedy for shingles.
The heart of a black cat, applied as
cnnn q > kfllo1 will cfnD 1Io1Airr fr~--
a wound.
The skin of a black cat worn in ones
clothing will cure rheumatism.
Here are a few specimens of the
omens which are associated with the
feline:
you have an enemy.
In Canada, Michigan and Eastern
Kansas a cat of three colors brings
luck, and in the last named place IL
regarded as a protection against fires
A "smutty" nosed cat brings wealth
to its
up in Maine" 1t means poverty tt
own a white cat.
A spotted cat coming to your house
is a luck omen.
A double-pawed cat f~oretells goot
luck.
black and white one brings sickness t.
the family.
III a cat runs across your path you
will be disappointed if you do not i'm
mediately turn back.
That you will break friendship wit,
a person to whom you give a cat il
believed in New England.
In Ohio, if a neghbor's cat come lis
tening around you may know that tn,
neighbors are gossiping about you.
In Massachusetts d cat putting it
paw over its head means company
And when the cat ticks it's paw tina
also means company, and the compan,
will come from the direction to whicl
its tail points.
In Labrador it means visitors whel
the cat scratches the door post.
When the "a washes its ACE it I
a sign of visitors in Massachusetts
New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
In eastern Kansas 1t is a Favorable
omen when the cat sits before the fir,
and washes its face.
After washing it's face visitors will
come from the direction in which tn
cat looks.
If a cat washes its face in the pres
ence of several persons the first i
looks at will be the first to get Marie,
and will be the first to those presen
to die.
If a cat washing its face before
fire pause in its abfutions and look d
rectly at any one, that one will recefv
a letter, is a Kansas belief, as also !
the superstition that if the cat fo'
lows n who is leaving home it pres
ages harm. Also that 1t is unlucky t.
move into a house where former oc
cupants have left their cats and dogs
In some localities it is bad luck no
to move the cat when the famil,
moves; in other localities it is an II
omen to move the cat.
The cat also runs a weather bureau
A cat "bawling' is a sign of rain :,
Newfoundland.
A cat eating grass indicates rain il
Maine, Massachusetts, and Michigan.
If a. cats fur shines and looks gloss,
next day will be pleasant.
In ALBANIA a cat washing its fac,
means rain. In New England thi,