Napoleon and a Cat.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1635, 15 May 1875, Page 5 (Supplement)

Napoleon and a Cat.

Napoleon's courage was undoubted £ His crossing of the bridge -at Lpdi and his coolness in many battles, where/ th& balls fell thickly about him, proved" his mastery over his fears no , less i than his strategy against an enemy. But the bravest of men may have their superstitions, or; hysterical terrors, which neither reason nor courage can control; and the great Napoleon had a mortal terror of cats. *, . so >o ; :: •• ■:

Soon after the terrible battla of Wa^ram, when he occupied the imperial palace of Schonbrunn, an aide-de-camp in his suite was passing his tent one night when he heard a singular noise, and loud calls for help from the Emperor. Supposing that some one was trying 'to assassinate him, the aide rusted into tKe room, aud could . hardly suppress his laughter when he saw the Emperor, half undressed, with protruding -eyes, Land forehead, beaded with perspiration making frequent' lunges witt "■. a . sword at;,.the tapestry round the room,. He was quivering from head to foot"'with eicitemeit and terror. On inquiring about;; ttie secret enemy, the aide was infbrmea* by the Emperor that a cat was behind the tapestry, and that he could not abide cats from his infancy.. If a great salflier can be frightened ; by cats, there !»r~fpine excuse for ladies.who are startled by.jfais or.snake^. ./ ; • <n zi