LORD ROBERTS AND THE CAT.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 42, 15 October 1892, Page 1028

LORD ROBERTS AND THE CAT.

Everyone in India knows that the only living thing able to inspire the present illustrious head of the Indian Army with terror is the tame or domestic cat. Lord Roberts is unable to be in the same room with a cat without undergoing severe physical discomfort. I remember an A. D.C. telling me a curious instance of this. The Commander-in-Chief was on tour, and was putting up with the General officer commanding a division for a day or two. The General had a cat, and the chief’s A.D.C. impressed upon the General’s A.D.C. the imperative necessity of having this cat removed or carefully secured during the chief’s stay. ‘All right,’ said the General’s A.D.C., * I live in a detached bungalow in the compound, and the beast shall be tied up io my room until our visitors have gone.’ So said, so done, and all went well until the night before the Commander in-Chief’s departure. But at dinner on that night, as the two A.D.C.’s were sitting at the end of the table together, he of the Headquarter Staff said suddenly, * By Jove, that cat of yours hasn’t got loose, has it ?’ * No,’said the other, * it's tied up safe enough, but why ?’ * l'in sure there’s a cat in the room,’ said the first, * look at the chief. He’s got quite pale. For goodness sake see if that cat is not somewhere about.’ So the General's A.D.C. looked about, and sure enough found the house cat had got loose, and having stolen into the dining-room, had curled itself up under his chair. He made a grab at it, and conveyed it away as quietly and swiftly as possible. As soon as the animal was out of the room, the chief recovered his usual serenity, and was able to go on with his dinner. Everybody knows, or has heard of, cases of this sort, but who is able to explain them ?