284 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY ciiAP. xri 



to say that in the absence of the Proprietress the show 

 is closed. 



The other incident was a request for any remarks 

 which miglit be of use in an article upon the Home 

 Pets of Celebrities. I give the letter written in 

 answer to this, as well as descriptions of the same 

 cat's goings-on in the absence of its mistress. 



To Mr. J. G. KiTTON 



HoDESLEA, A-prU 12, 1893. 



A long series of cats has reigned over my household for 

 the last forty years, or thereabouts, but I am sorry to say 

 that I have no pictorial or other record of their physical 

 and moral excellences. 



The present occupant of the tlirone is a large, young, 

 grey Tabby — Oliver by name. Not that he is in any 

 sense a protector, for I doubt whether he has the heart 

 to kill a mouse. However, I saw him catch and eat the 

 first butterfly of the season, and trust that this germ of 

 courage, thus manifested, may develop with age into 

 eflBcient mousing. 



As to sagacity, I should say that his judgment 

 respecting the warmest place and the softest cushion in 

 a room is infallible — his punctuality at meal times is 

 admirable ; and his pertinacity in jumping on people's 

 shoulders, till they give him some of the best of what is 

 going, indicates great firmness. 



To HIS Youngest Daughter 



HoDESLEA Eastbourne, 

 Jan. 8, 1893. 



I wish you would write seriously to M . She 



is not behaving well to Oliver. I have seen handsomer 



