LUXURIOUS HABITS OF THE CAT. 
125 
cat is tbe only animal not deformed by growing fat. Her wheed- 
ling ways solicit the caress, her fur shines, and her back grows 
round under the flattering hand. For her mistress she has inflec- 
tions of the head and winks of the eye, and a confidential language, 
ron ron, to express her interior satisfaction. 
The Bayaderes of Madras, the Alm^es of Cairo, the Limenian 
Zambas and the Sylphides of the Parisian opera, also possess in 
the highest degree grace, suppleness of body, and the secret of en- 
ticing attitudes. 
The cat carefully dissembles her weapons under their velvet 
sheaths ; she displays them in her quarrels by blows and scratches. 
The police gazettes pretend that this is also a common pro- 
cedure with the ladies in question. 
The cat attaches herself to the dwelling, not to its inhabitants — 
proof of ingratitude and dryness of heart. How different with 
the dog, 'attached only to persons, and who accepts misery, pro- 
vided he share it with the objects of his affection. 
[Yet as there are some rare exceptions in the conduct of the class 
represented, some women of easy virtue who show themselves 
nevertheless capable of faithful, romantic, devoted affection ; so 
there are not wanting instances — one of which I could sustain by 
the most unimpeachable testimony — of personal fidelity on the 
part of the cat. 
A lady of my own acquaintance, a rose-pearl in the coronet of 
our most refined circles, who is very fond of cats, once had her 
favorite, whom she had left at home on a visit to a friend, actually 
to trace her out, and come down the chimney of her bed-room to 
regain her society. — T r.] 
Indolent and chilly, and passing all her days in slumber and 
reverie, under pretext of watching for mice — incapable of the least 
effort of repugnant labor, but indefatigable in pleasure and at 
play, friend of the night— of which are we writing ? of the cat or 
the other ? 
Love is a passion of luxury, requiring for its free development 
carelessness, warm air, and wealth. The little malicious god who 
professes sovereign contempt for breeches, naturally dreads the 
cold, and willingly chooses his dwelling under rich, close-drawn 
