The Convert
Victorian cat-lover Harrison Weir launches into his favourite subject, but finds his audience growing restive.
1871
Queen Victoria 1837-1901
Victorian cat-lover Harrison Weir launches into his favourite subject, but finds his audience growing restive.
1871
Queen Victoria 1837-1901
On the eve of the world’s first Cat Show, held in 1871 at the Crystal Palace in London, organiser Harrison Weir was frankly boring a friend with his flights of ecstasy on cats. Just when the argument seemed lost, a happy inspiration struck him.
abridged
“STOP,” said my friend, “I see you do like cats, and I do not, so let the matter drop.”
“No,” said I, “not so. That is why I instituted this Cat Show; I wish every one to see how beautiful a well-cared-for cat is, and how docile, gentle, and — may I use the term? — cossetty. Come with me, my dear old friend, and see the first Cat Show.”
Inside the Crystal Palace stood my friend and I. There lay the cats in their different pens, reclining on crimson cushions, making no sound save now and then a homely purring, as from time to time they lapped the nice new milk provided for them. Yes, there they were, big cats, very big cats, middling-sized cats, and small cats, cats of all colours and markings, and beautiful pure white Persian cats; and as we passed down the front of the cages I saw that my friend became interested.