Evening star., 1928-05-13
This and That
By Charles e. Tracemeu.

Who Is there who loves cats whose
eyes do not sparkle at the recollection
Of the picture Of PuSs-in-Boots march
ing along with his little cap on his
head?
Perhaps not every one knows that
this best of feline characters was ere
ated by Charles Perrault, French
writer, who lived between 1923 and
1908.
To him the world also owes the
Sleeping Beauty" Cinderella" and
Little Red Riding Hood" One may
wonder why he is not given credit in
the childrens editions.
The Master Cat, or Puss-in-Boots.
is the title Of the story in . recent
anthology, issued by Boni s. Liyerighi.
called Great French Short Stories,
It is interesting 10 see that 50 long
ago the modifying adjective master
was used exactly as It IS today III
our phrase, "the master mind"
In the narrative the clever animal IS
sometimes called "the Cat ana otner
times simply "PuSS." At all times.
however, and in every situation, he IS
miles ahead OF his real master, the
youngest son, who received him as his
share in the fathers estate. the eldest
son getting the mill and the second ths
donkey.
The Master Cat, seeing his master
iamentins his share, said TO him, with
a grave and serious air, We are told:
"Do not thus afiict yourself, my sood
master; YOU have nothing else TO do but
10 give me a bag and get = pair OF
boots for me, that may scamper
through the dirt and orambles, and
YOU shall see that you have not so oao
q portion In me as you image.
Notice how well PuSS lives up to the
universal liking Of cats for personal
cleanliness. Nothing less than boots
win do for hirnl
He Is willing to SO into the hramoles
with his bag Of tricks. but he does not
want to get his feet dirty, +,
The Master Cat put bran and SOW
thistle" into his bag, then stretched
himself out as II dead. waiting Tor
with the deceitS Of the world, 70 come
and rummage in his has for what he
had put into IL"
Monsieur Puss 1--WE must not target
that this Is French ca0 took his
prey to the King and said. Il have
brought you, sir, rabbit Of the warren,
which my noble lord. the Marquis Of
CarahaS, has commanded me TO present
to your Majesty
In like manner the Cat made other
presents TO the King. who seems 60 have
been the most goOd~natured fellow IN
the world. swallowing both presents and
peisS' tall tale about his master.
Now the plot thiekenS Acting Oh
the Master Cats advice. the fake Mar
Quis OF carahaS did what IN modern
slang would be called pulling drown
Ing stunt"
Just rs the King came by the young
pulled hun fronn the water, This no
met his Majesty and his dauGhter. the
most beautiful Princess In The world.
naturally enough
Every one recalls how P,lSS marched
on ahead OF the carriage. pointing cut
all the fine lands owned hy his master,
Ills Majesty must have been gtllhhle.
indeed. but. however that may have
been, pslss put II over IN great style,
FITS true master stroke vas sa M
vpsgae tsa Ogre 10 turn lntN o mouse,
then % eat him. thus leaving the Qgre'S
magnificent castle and estates for his
master, II was "knockoNt,@
When the King saw all this. he ina-
mediately said To the Cats Marquis,
lit viii be owing u yourself only q you
are not my Sen-in-lAw,"
No seoaer said than done. The Mar
QuiS made several low howS--he Sheuld
have, indeed accepted the h0laeW. Ana
forthwith that very same day married
tho Princess"
What became ef the Master CAte
''PslsS became q great Lord and never
ran after mice and move. onh ful hla