THE MARKET CATS.

North Otago Times, 22 May 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE MARKET CATS.

'A PARISIAN SIGHT. There <s a sight in Paris known to comparatively few visitors, but which strangers within the city will view with interest, It is the cats' supper parly in the public markets. There are between two and three hundred cats in the Hallos which are never seen during the day-time, but which at about nine turn up and prowl around for tit-bits. Soon after midnight, when the markets begin to get busy end noisy for the morning's work, all the cats disappear again into the cellars where they mako their homes.

lint at eleven o'clock exactly they gather in their hundreds, waiting. And presently two old women, who have done this same thing for years, stagger along with heavy bags of scraps, the supper of their fricnds.lhe cats.

Host of the cats are known by curious names. There is a Fallieres, a Clemenccau, even an Edoiiard Sept, and one, „ very active cat. is known as Vrecrht. which is the best Paris pronunciation for Mr, Wilbur Wright,^ Each cat is callwl up for bis fond, T and if he snatches does not get it! And when the bags are empty. Ihroe or four privileged pussies arc allowed to sleep in thcm.-'Toris Letter,"