130 THE FIRESIDE SPHINX 



the concluding sentence of his history that, after 

 his master's elevation, he was so well fed, he never 

 hunted mice any more, save for exercise and amuse- 

 ment. 



"The White Cat," one of the prettiest and most 

 popular of fairy stories, comes from France. The 

 Comtesse D'Aunoy gave it to her grateful country 

 in 1682 ; and if the central theme of three rival 

 brothers bringing home the wonders of the world 

 be nearly as old as the world itself, yet the charm- 

 ing figure of the Cat — as lovely in her white fur, 

 and with pattes de velours, as after her transforma- 

 tion into a Princess — is distinctly modern, and 

 marks the fast swelling tide of admiration for fe- 

 line beauty, which during centuries of darkness had 

 been stupidly and blindly ignored. In France it 

 was Pussy's grace and sweetness which triumphed 

 finally over prejudice. In England and in Germany 

 it was the recognition of her domestic qualities 

 which won her, first tolerance, then esteem, then 

 loving and loyal devotion. Slowly and surely it 

 dawned upon dim mortal minds that a house is 

 transformed into a home when the small fireside 

 Sphinx takes tranquil possession of its chimney- 

 corner. With this discovery came the elevation of 

 individual pussies to the scrutiny, and consequently 

 to the admiration, of the world. The personal note 

 was struck, and the victory of the cat was won. 



