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could we do？ We did get away； as described； and were peacefully
brought back again without； as Terry complained； even the satisfaction of
hitting anybody。
There were no adventures because there was nothing to fight。
There were no wild beasts in the country and very few tame ones。 Of these
I might as well stop to describe the one common pet of the country。 Cats；
of course。 But such cats！
What do you suppose these Lady Burbanks had done with their
cats？ By the most prolonged and careful selection and exclusion they
had developed a race of cats that did not sing！ That's a fact。 The most
those poor dumb brutes could do was to make a kind of squeak when they
were hungry or wanted the door open； and； of course； to purr； and make
the various mother…noises to their kittens。
Moreover； they had ceased to kill birds。 They were rigorously
bred to destroy mice and moles and all such enemies of the food supply；
but the birds were numerous and safe。
While we were discussing birds； Terry asked them if they used
feathers for their hats； and they seemed amused at the idea。 He made a few
sketches of our women's hats； with plumes and quills and those various
tickling things that stick out so far； and they were eagerly interested； as at
everything about our women。
As for them； they said they only wore hats for shade when
working in the sun； and those were big light straw hats； something like
those used in China and Japan。 In cold weather they wore caps or hoods。
〃But for decorative purposesdon't you think they would be
becoming？〃 pursued Terry； making as pretty a picture as he could of a lady
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with a plumed hat。
They by no means agreed to that； asking quite simply if the men
wore the same kind。 We hastened to assure her that they did notdrew
for them our kind of headgear。
〃And do no men wear feathers in their hats？〃
〃Only Indians；〃 Jeff explained。 〃Savages； you know。〃 And
he sketched a war bonnet to show them。
〃And soldiers；〃 I added； drawing a military hat with plumes。
They never expressed horror or disapproval； nor indeed much
surprise just a keen interest。 And the notes they made！miles of them！
But to return to our pussycats。 We were a good deal impressed
by this achievement in breeding； and when they questioned usI can tell
you we were well pumped for informationwe told of what had been done
for dogs and horses and cattle； but that there was no effort applied to cats；
except for show purposes。
I wish I could represent the kind； quiet； steady； ingenious way
they questioned us。 It was not just curiositythey weren't a bit more
curious about us than we were about them； if as much。 But they were
bent on understanding our kind of civilization； and their lines of
interrogation would gradually surround us and drive us in till we found
ourselves up against some admissions we did not want to make。
〃Are all these breeds of dogs you have made useful？〃 they
asked。
〃Ohuseful！ Why； the hunting dogs and watchdogs and
sheepdogs are usefuland sleddogs of course！and ratters； I suppose； but
we don't keep dogs for their USEFULNESS。 The dog is ‘the friend of
man；' we saywe love them。〃
That they understood。 〃We love our cats that way。 They surely
are our friends； and helpers； too。 You can see how intelligent and
affectionate they are。〃
It was a fact。 I'd never seen such cats； except in a few rare
instances。 Big； handsome silky things； friendly with everyone and
devotedly attached to their special owners。
〃You must have a heartbreaking time drowning kittens；〃 we
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suggested。 But they said； 〃Oh； no！ You see we care for them as you do
for your valuable cattle。 The fathers are few compared to the mothers；
just a few very fine ones in each town； they live quite happily in walled
gardens and the houses of their friends。 But they only have a mating
season once a year。〃
〃Rather hard on Thomas； isn't it？〃 suggested Terry。
〃Oh； notruly！ You see； it is many centuries that we have been
breeding the kind of cats we wanted。 They are healthy and happy and
friendly； as you see。 How do you manage with your dogs？ Do you keep
them in pairs； or segregate the fathers； or what？〃
Then we explained thatwell； that it wasn't a question of fathers
exactly； that nobody wanted aa mother dog； that； well； that practically all
our dogs were malesthere was only a very small percentage of females
allowed to live。
Then Zava； observing Terry with her grave sweet smile； quoted
back at him： 〃Rather hard on Thomas； isn't it？ Do they enjoy itliving
without mates？ Are your dogs as uniformly healthy and sweet…tempered
as our cats？〃
Jeff laughed； eyeing Terry mischievously。 As a matter of fact
we began to feel Jeff something of a traitorhe so often flopped over and
took their side of things； also his medical knowledge gave him a different
point of view somehow。
〃I'm sorry to admit；〃 he told them； 〃that the dog； with us； is the
most diseased of any animalnext to man。 And as to temper there are
always some dogs who bite peopleespecially children。〃
That was pure malice。 You see； children were thethe
RAISON D'ETRE in this country。 All our interlocutors sat up straight at
once。 They were still gentle； still restrained； but there was a note of deep
amazement in their voices。
〃Do we understand that you keep an animalan unmated male
animal that bites children？ About how many are there of them；
please？〃
〃Thousandsin a large city；〃 said Jeff； 〃and nearly every family
has one in the country。〃
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Terry broke in at this。 〃You must not imagine they are all
dangerousit's not one in a hundred that ever bites anybody。 Why； they are
the best friends of the childrena boy doesn't have half a chance that
hasn't a dog to play with！〃
〃And the girls？〃 asked Somel。
〃Ohgirlswhy they like them too；〃 he said； but his voice
flatted a little。 They always noticed little things like that； we found later。
Little by little they wrung from us the fact that the friend of man；
in the city； was a prisoner； was taken out for his meager exercise on a
leash； was liable not only to many diseases but to the one destroying
horror of rabies； and； in many cases； for the safety of the citizens； had to
go muzzled。 Jeff maliciously added vivid instances he had known or
read of injury and death from mad dogs。
They did not scold or fuss about it。 Calm as judges； those
women were。 But they made notes； Moadine read them to us。
〃Please tell me if I have the facts correct；〃 she said。 〃In your
countryand in others too？〃
〃Yes；〃 we admitted； 〃in most civilized countries。〃
〃In most civilized countries a kind of animal is kept which is no
longer useful〃
〃They are a protection；〃 Terry insisted。 〃They bark if burglars
try to get in。〃
Then she made notes of 〃burglars〃 and went on： 〃because of the
love which people bear to this animal。〃
Zava interrupted here。 〃Is it the men or the women who love
this animal so much？〃
〃Both！〃 insisted Terry。
〃Equally？〃 she inquired。
And Jeff said； 〃Nonsense； Terryyou know men like dogs better
than women doas a whole。〃
〃Because they love it so muchespecially men