Concerning Some Historic Cats 



was similarly repulsed. From that moment she gave 

 it up, accepting the bird as a variety of man. 



" This dainty and charming animal was extremely 

 fond of perfumes, especially of patchouli and the scent 

 exhaled by India shawls. She was also very fond of 

 music, and would listen, sitting on a pile of music- 

 books, while the fair singers who came to try the 

 critic's piano filled his room with melody. All the 

 time Madame Th^ophile would evince great pleasure. 

 She was, however, made nervous by certain notes, 

 and at the high la she would tap the singer's mouth 

 with her paw. This was very amusing, and my vis- 

 itors delighted in making the experiment. It never 

 failed ; the dilettante in fun was not to be deceived. 



" The rule of the ' White Dynasty ' belonged to a 

 later epoch, and was inaugurated in the person of a 

 pretty little kitten as white as a powder puff, who 

 came from Havana. On account of his spotless 

 whiteness he was called Pierrot ; but when he grew 

 up this name was very properly magnified into Don- 

 Pierrot-de-Navarre, which was far more majestic, and 

 suggested ' grandee-ism.' [M. Th^ophile Gautier 

 lays it down as a dogma that all animals with whom 

 one is much taken up, and who are ' spoiled,' become 

 delightfully good and amiable. Don-Pierrot-de-Na- 

 varre successfully supported his master's theory; 

 perhaps he suggested it.] 



" He shared in the life of the household with the 

 enjoyment of quiet fireside friendship that is char- 



9S 



