82 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



Nevertheless, there is a species of genealogy 

 kept for cats, quite seriously and in due form, 

 especially in England. The National Cat Club 

 and the Northern Counties Cat Club, among 

 others, are societies composed princi 

 pally of cat lovers and amateurs, 

 several members of which 

 belong to the British 

 aristocracy. These 

 societies, workin 

 according to ver)- 

 precise rules, 

 organize exhibi- 

 tions, establish 

 championships, 

 promote the 

 breeding of pure 

 races exclusively, 

 and spend much 

 money in so 

 doing. Whatever 

 may be thought 

 of such a fancy, 

 as soon as com- 

 merce and indus- 

 try draw profits 

 from an innocent 



mania we cannot but approve it. Besides, it 

 contributes to protect, support, and succor 

 this particular animal in its struggle for ex- 

 istence, thus lending a hand to the progress 



LiTTT.F, MlSCHK.AXTS 



of civilization. The late Queen Victoria said 

 a true word on this point : " No civilization is 

 complete which does not include the dumb and 

 defenseless of God's creatures." 



This English rearing of cats has its 

 own reasons ; nevertheless, it 

 will not readily cross the At- 

 antic with its rules and 

 regulations, and take 

 root in the United 

 States. It will be 

 long before a very 

 noble lady in Am- 

 erica will distrib- 

 ute with her own 

 hand prizes for 

 cats at a cat show. 

 Yet that very 

 thing happened 

 lately in England, 

 and the prizes 

 \\' ere not mere 

 poimds and shil- 

 lings, but objects 

 of art in precious 

 metals. But to 

 win these prizes 

 the breeder, man or woman, must exhibit cats of 

 the finest and purest races, and this demands 

 a great expenditure of time and mone)', and 

 also a cer':ain amount of scientific knowledge. 



Si'.ANisii C,\T oi' Tiim.i: CnroKs 



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