Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-07
This and That

There vet remains to be done for the
cat what has been done for the dog and
Althoush there are many excellent
books upon the feline race, no one OF
them EQUALS BLACK Beauty" or The
Can Of the Wild" or Bob son Of
Battle"
In a general sense. there is no great
sPuss-in-Boots." the universally popu-
lar ehildren's story. II about as near aS
the cat comes to securing q real place
1t Is true that many authors have
written eharmingly about the house
cat, but these writings mostly comprise
essays or general treatises upon the
breed.
We have Miss Repplier's The Fire
side Sphinx" and Van Veehten's The
Tiger In the House." TO say nothing OF
Gates The Modern Cat, Her Mind
and Manners"
such books do not do. however, what
Miss Sewall's BLACK Beauty" did for
the animal which she loved.
Those who do not like cats wiz point
sneeringly to this lack. declaring that
the cat has had the same opportunity
to inspire q masterpiece Is the dog.
and that the very fact that no such
book has been forthcoming shows .
distinct lack In the feline tribes.
One may well doubt this harsh die
tum. "Puss-in- Boots" shows what may
be done when On author puts his mind
to it. 1t u interesting to realize that
the French writer responsible for this
fayorite took his juvenile masterpiece
seriously.
The chances are that he who shall
write the frst truly great "eat book"
viii select Q childhood theme, and that
it will be done so well that It viii BE-
come popular with adults as We'll.
The cat il every ehild's favcrite. let
adults protest as they will. Left to It's
own devices. q small child VIII prefer .
cat to dog any day in the week. Let
no dog lover dispute this. Any young
ster viii prove It TO him.
There Is something about the soft
fur and general contour OF the eat
which makes much the same appeal TO
the little child that the appearance OF
the rabbit does to him.
The more gentle habits of the cat
also endear It to the average child.
Children are never frightened BY cats.
but many Of them fear the bouncing
dog which insists on ieaping up ct them.
y =
Yet no animal has met such malicious
propaganda "a the domestic cat. There
II . certain cross-sectien Of every pop
ulace which processes to hate the cat
and to teach It's children TO hate the
cat. ~K
The result Is that even little children
are sometimes heard TO express dislike
when ell the time their little hands
are fairly itching to pat old Tom on
the head.
One may put 1t down for q certainty
that the child which says II hates
cats" u simply repeating what It's par
ents have said hefore Il. The child Is
reminded that black cats once we're
associated with witches" and ID told
that today they carry all sorts Of
"gefuas' In their coats, The result Is
that. the child grows up into another
cat hater.
1t seems to Us that the great cat
book Of the future will be Q ehild's
book. simple with the simplicity Of
greatness-a book In which the esaei-
tial good points Of Tabhy will be
pointed out once and for all. Her In
difference TO mans Wishes, instead Of
being penalized. viii be played up" as
an everyday sort Of heroisIn. which
man might vell initiate. Her insiatenee
upon her liberty win be stressed and
her beauty and grace viii be iauded.
VIII not such book be worth doing?