In many civilized countries Cat Hospitals have been established, and for many years sustained by subscriptions from charitably disposed people. Attached to one of the Turkish mosques at Aleppo is a Cat Asylum, founded by a misanthropic old Turk, who placed a great value upon the Cat, because of the service it had been in ridding his granary of rats. In Philadelphia, Pa., there is a Cat Refuge, which was established some fifteen years ago, and during that time has cared for more than thirty thousand Cats. In the city of Paris, France, is a very extensive establishment called Hospice du Chats, whose name is an indication of its object. It has been in existence for many years, and is maintained by gifts from charitable people as well as by contributions from the Government and bequests from dead lovers of the household pet. This building, covering a very large space of land, is two stories in height and expensively built for the exclusive purpose of sheltering the Cats of France, and there they have been domiciled, nursed through sickness and cared for to extreme old age, as tenderly as ever human beings were nurtured. Rooms are assigned to the sexes and different nationalities, halls and chambers are warmed by steam, meals are served with religious regularity, and the institution is run with the same regard to decorum and preciseness in every detail as is manifested in a well-regulated hotel. Many thousands of the feline race have been born, nursed, grown to old age and died there, within the hospitable walls of this admirable hospice, while a hundred thousand more have found good homes and tender care throughout sunny France, by means of the solicitous administration of the officers of the institution. London, also, boasts of a similar charity, although the hospice in Paris is the model one of its kind, by which all the others take pattern. An institution of this kind was projected some three years ago by some charitably-disposed ladies of New York, but failed to meet the required indorsement of the authorities, and being opposed by the "Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals," which claims to have control of the stray Cats, by virtue of its charter, the embryo hospice, or Cat Hospital, as it was called, died in its inception, very much to the disgust of many wealthy ladies, whose admiration of the feline pet had induced them to subscribe large amounts for the establishment of an institution similar to that of the Paris "Hospice du Chats." Perhaps, at some future time, Mr. Bergh's successor may become so far yielding as to permit the erection of a suitable institution, upon the plan of the French hospice, where sick Cats may be nursed, tramp Cats may be cut off in their wickedness, incurably afflicted Cats may be chloroformed and healthy and restored Cats may procure good homes throughout the country, while the breed of the animal may be materially and effectually improved. Should these objects be accomplished through the instrumentality of such a worthy asylum for the sick and outcast of our household pets, the delighted ladies at the head of such an institution may be induced to add to the benefits of the hospice a thorough course of instruction in Chesterfieldian politeness and regard for the feelings of their immediate neighbors, to be observed, most particularly, during those hours which, by the usage of a well-regulated community, have been devoted exclusively to sleep. This course of "belles-lettres" would obviate the dernier resort of "belling the Cat," and bring joy to the hearthstone of many a would-be slumberer at the witching hour of midnight, when the ghosts do walk and firearms are frequently heard in the land, the song of the nightingale being supplanted by the peculiar organ of the unruly and homeless Cat.

A scientist by the name of Prof. R.L. Garnier, a native of this country, if I am rightly informed, who has devoted a lifetime to the development of his theory that monkeys have a language of their own, has recently been given great encouragement in the pursuit of his inquiries by the Government of this country. A large appropriation was awarded to him for the necessary apparatus, of a scientific nature, and for the purpose of defraying his expenses of travel through Africa, for the prosecution of his experiments, and his demonstration, as he fondly hoped, that these animals have a language of communication of ideas between themselves. Already he has discovered one word of their peculiar language, which gives promise of better results after he has been enabled to properly carry out his experiments. He departed upon his journey fully equipped with all the scientific instruments and aids which money, lavishly expended by the Government, could procure. It is expected that his experiences will be announced to the astonishment of the world and revolutionize the old and fallacious beliefs that animals cannot talk and express their feelings one to the other.

Without disparagement of the worthy object of this scientist, I desire to call attention to the fact that, like the poor, we have the Cat always with us, and I would press the consideration of their necessities as being pertinent to the question of the comfort and enjoyment of the human race. That the Government should have considered the subject of the monkey language of such importance as to warrant the expenditure of a great sum of money to Prof. Garnier for the development of this theory is evidence that the same benign Republic should award a much larger sum for the care, protection and improvement of the breed of our domestic pets and more particularly for the development of my theory of the language of the Cat, which has occupied the lonely hours of many a scientist in this country, and been my study for years past. When the proper time arrives, I shall hope for encouragement from our Government, which has been my Government for the past half century, for the further development of the theories, proofs of which I shall submit to the public. While I favor missionary work, I may be like many others who claim that "Charity begins at home," and recommend the Government to make an instant application of the doctrine, to the end that it may have a wholesome effect, intimating that the protecting Protection is that which protects our own, and particularly our household pets.