THE PERFECT PET, THE CAT IQ9 



dog he lacks intelligence ; whereas, the truth 

 is, he is too knowing to be driven to learn. 

 He is more like the apes, who the Africans 

 say do not talk lest they be put to work. It 

 is now known that if he chooses he can learn 

 even more tricks than a dog, and go through 

 them with greater precision, provided he is 

 taught by kindness and coaxing. If struck he 

 turns sulky; if frightened he will do nothing. 



Nor do we appreciate the usefulness of the 

 cat. In some parts of the world cats are 

 trained to act as carriers, and then they bring 

 a high price. In Spain they are made free 

 of garrets, where most of the grain is stored. 

 Every attic granary has its small door under 

 the roof for their use ; the roofs of the city are 

 given up to them for a promenade, and many 

 of them never come to the ground in their 

 lives. In storehouses where grain attracts 

 mice, puss is monarch of all he surveys, 

 treated with due honors, supplied with food 

 and drink, and in every way made welcome. 

 If the whole cat race should be annihilated, 

 we in America would speedily be brought to 

 appreciate the service we have despised. 



The government of the United States main- 



