1 88 THE FIRESIDE SPHINX 



from pious souls. I endeavour to soften his exile, 

 and help him to forget the Sistine Chapel, and the 

 vast dome of Michael Angelo, where, far from 

 earth, he was wont to take his daily promenade." 



Many Popes besides Leo have been ardently 

 attached to their cats, since the far-off days when 

 the great Gregory set them so honourable an ex- 

 ample. One of those who bore his name most 

 worthily, the' gentle and learned Gregory the Fif- 

 teenth, — he who founded the Propaganda, yet for- 

 bade harsh treatment of the heretic, — was, as might 

 be surmised, the friend and patron of the race, 

 cherishing his own pets with exceeding fondness. 

 Pius the Ninth so delighted in his cat that he shared 

 his meals — simple as Leo's — with this little com- 

 panion, whose dish was placed at his feet, and filled 

 by his kind old hands. 



Victor Hugo, as supreme an egotist as Chateau- 

 briand, but one whose egotism was more strongly 

 fortified by genius, found his path to humility lay 

 in the comradeship of his cats. The world shouted 

 itself hoarse over his greatness. France flung her 

 homage at his feet, and dashed her applause into 

 his face, until adamant would have softened into 

 vanity. " The nineteenth century," cried M. Bar- 

 bou in a wild access of hysteria, " will have but one 

 title for posterity. It will be called the century of 

 Victor Hugo." — " The twin towers of Notre Dame 



