270 



THE FIRESIDE SPHINX 



the icy temperature began to look like little Polar 

 bears, their fur was so thick and warm. By degrees 

 their ears were hidden under furry caps, their tails 

 grew short and bushy, their delicate whiskers, 

 coarse and strong. They preserved their health, 

 and developed incredible activity. At present, cold- 

 storage cats are among the sturdiest of the species ; 

 and we are even assured by those who hold them 

 prisoners that they enjoy their dark captivity, and 

 would be wretched if restored to normal conditions. 

 A garden, sweet with June flowers, and flooded with 

 June sunshine, would, it is said, kill them outright. 

 This may or may not be true. It is much the.fash- 

 ion of men to assert that animals like what is done 

 to them. There are plenty of people ready to de- 

 clare that horses take pleasure in their check-reins ; 

 and we have all of us heard a great deal about the 

 indifference of dogs and rabbits to the discomforts 

 of vivisection. 



A happier lot has been assigned to the official 

 cats who protect the mail bags of the United States 

 postal service, and to those industrious mousers 

 who toil in all the great marts of the world. For 

 while Pussy dearly loves the country and the free- 

 dom of green fields, she can content herself won- 

 derfully well in towns ; and leads a hard-worked, 

 dissipated life, with great apparent satisfaction. 

 Much regret was recently expressed by a big Lon- 



