126 
PASSIONAL ZOOLOGY. 
canopies, where — thanks to the artificial permanence of the zeph- 
yrs — transparent gauze and gold-embroidered scarfs suffice to veil 
his modesty. The cat also adores silken stuffs, warm and soft car- 
pets which protect her rosy paws against the chilling damp, and 
the gilded tassels that hang from curtains, tempting to infantile 
sports, and soft divans, where she and her sleeping kittens lie so 
comfortably. 
One so careful of her toilet ought to like perfumes. The cat 
doats on essences. Yalerian puts her beside herself. Melan- 
choly music produces no less effect on these nervous, passionate, 
electrical organizations. I have seen cats, impassioned for music, 
twist themselves about with delight, swoon from pleasure at the 
melting tones of a symphony. The cat is equally sensible to the 
charms of the voice, [and perfectly distinguishes her favorite songs. 
I have known one to lose herself so completely in the passion of a 
certain song, that her young mistress grew afraid to sing it in her 
presence — she flew at her neck several different times while sing- 
ing it. — Tr.] 
By such gentle turns and refined tastes the cat has always won 
the favor of the most intellectual persons. Among one of the 
greatest people of antiquity she had temples built to her, and her 
stuflfed effigies were preserved. Fourier liked cats. Hoflmann 
has given one of the first parts to the Cat Murr in his fantastic 
dramas. 
The courtezan has also in all times been the idol of learned and 
witty peoples. She reigned in Ionia, in Italy, in Greece. The 
Mausoleum of Pythionice was once reckoned among the wonders 
of Athens. Flora had her altars at Rome. Free love has its 
worship in China, the oldest country of civilization. 
The courtezan has been the theme of song to the most brilliant ge- 
nius of the ancient and modern world — to Anacreon, Sappho, Ter- 
ence, Aristophanes, Tibullus, Horace, La Fontaine. Greece, which 
had refused to bend the knee before the omnipotence of the great 
king ; all Greece, a little afterward, knelt at the feet of the court- 
ezan Lais. 
France has vowed the names of Agnes Sorel, and of Ninon de 
de FEnclos, to the admiration of ages, as Athens that of Aspasia. 
