ANECDOTES ABOUT CATS 229 



deputy have often referred to this incident and the 

 trouble it gave them. 



My friend, Mr Louis Wain, whose sketches of cats 

 are so well-known, writes as follows in Living Animals of 

 the World: 



" The black cat has many of the characteristics 

 of the tortoiseshell, but is essentially a town cat, and 

 is wont to dream his life away in shady corners, under 

 ground cellars, in theatres, and in all places where he 

 can, in fact, retire to monastic quiet. The Black Cat 

 of St Clement Danes Church was one of the remarkable 

 cats of London ; it was his wont to climb up to the top 

 of the organ pipes and enjoy an occasional concert alone. 

 A christening or a wedding was his pride, and many 

 people can vouch for a lucky wedding who had the good 

 fortune to be patronised by the Black Cat of St Clement 

 Danes, which walked solemnly down the aisle of the 

 church in front of the happy couples. 



" My old pet, Peter, was a black and white cat, and, like 

 most of his kind, was one of the most remarkable cats for 

 intelligence I have ever known. A recital of his accom- 

 plishments would, however, have very few believers, a 

 fact I find existing in regard to all really intelligent cats. 

 There are so many cats of an opposite character, and 

 people will rarely take more than a momentary trouble to 

 win the finer nature of an animal into existence. Suffice 

 it to say, that Peter would lie and die, sit up with 

 spectacles on his nose and with a postcard between his 

 paws, a trick I have taught many people's cats to do. 

 He would also mew silent mews when bid, and wait at 



