Show A TALE OF TAILLESS CATS how shrewd islander put a stop to theft of pets travelers have noted that in the bismarck archipelago cats without tails are very numerous the alon as ghen Is curious the natives of the islands have a superstitious belief that remnants ot food falling into the hands of an enemy enable him to cast a spell over the eaters of the meal at which the remnants were left now the natives value their cats less as pets than as a convenient course of fresh meat it follows that thefts of cats are frequent or rather were frequent until some genius evolved the happy scheme of cutting off their tails and storing them away in a safe place for said he it a thief should steal my cat and eat it an incantation muttered over its resi due will make the miscreant so sick that he will be sorry he ever tasted stolen cat s flesh it was an idea worthy of the great chancellor him self and the humble brown bis marckman marc klan in pursuing the blood and iron policy which it entailed was like him serenely indifferent to blood shed pain and caterwaul ings so long as he secured his ends or his cats ends |