THE CAT IN THE ADAGE
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sin,—" Here is that which will give language to your eat."— Would it be good for us if the magic draught Shakespeare evidently had in mind when writing these lines were obtainable at the Crystal Palace Buffets during Cat Show week
Aleuka, the talking cat of Austria, who recorded for the gramophone, is proof that cats—an they so desire—can speak our language ; but would we like it if they did ? The only human beings who would be likely to face a cat's opinion of men, are the Malay tribe who believe that when men die it is cats who guide their frightened souls along the hard road to Paradise via Hell ; cats who not only show men the way, but temper the infernal heat en route by spraying water around the distressed travellers.
I told this legend to an American at the Old Vic, who after applauding kitten Cousin Ferdinand's interpretation of the cat Petruchio washes in the Taming of the Shrew, turned to me with the enquiry : " Where can I find catnip mice in England ? That lovely member of your famous Shakespeare Company must need catmint mice to play with." After deploring the inadequacy of a city that could not stock catnip mice for its Cat stars, she bemoaned the fact that. Shakespeare had never heard of those Malays. Had he done so he could not have failed to write his grandest tragedy round the entrancing theme of Cats playing the part of Travel Bureau interpreters on our Heavenly journey.
Her knowledge of Grecian cat history was astonishing, she quoted lines about the Greek lover who lost his lady because he denied her desire to possess " a little lion small and dainty sweet with sea grey eyes and softly stepping feet." She told me several things she suspected concerning the cat who ate seven hundred chickens and then went a pilgrimage to Holy Places, but most interesting of all were her views on Shakes- peare's Cat in the Adage. His dare not waited upon his would because of his infinite pity for the human race who never again would hold up their heads if they knew what cats really thought of their intelligence.
" Those that are mad if they behold a cat," Will call mad any who agree with such a preposterous sliggestidn, but cat lovers, who spent Tuesday and Wednesday at the Crystal Palace and quailed beneath the scornful glances of the Queens and more than Princes of Cats there assembled, will under. stand.—I am, Sir, &c., MOIRA MEIGII N.
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