FELIX THE CAT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1927, Page 4

FELIX THE CAT

POP P L All FI LA P CAHTOOX. AUCKLAND, Dec. o. Xot so lung ago, .Mr Pat Sullivan, whose birthplace is Sydney, walked the streets of London penniless. At nights lie slept on the Thames Embankment, cold, miserable, tired of liie, and starving. He had plenty of ideas, hut he had no work. At length he got a job doing posters, hut he was still hard op and knew all the hardships ot poverty.

One night he and his wife were sitting huddled in front of a not very large tire in their little sitting room. Idle door was ajar, and a. black eat walked in with a knowing air. Something about the feline struck Mrs Sullivan’s fancy, and she said: “Pat, can’t you do something with that cat ; ’ That night. Felix, the drollest cat in catdom was born. Air Sullivan went to America, taking Felix with him. Months passed and Fefix began to scamper across numerous publications. The people liked his funny ways and in a very short while he jumped from popularity into absolute fame. To-day the cut is six years old. and lias earned more money lor his creator than any other cartoon character in the world. Felix has made the whole world laugh.

Mr Sullivan Js aboard the Aorangi. hound for Sydney to see his father, who is blind. Standing on the deck of the mail steamer, Air Sullivan, a quiet. grey-haired, short, middle-aged man. told a reporter a few of his experiences. Fortune was slow in coming hut. Felix was the turning point, and ever since, that memorable day tie.' dollars have been ruling in. Xot the least popular appearances of Felix have been on the screen. In each lilm there are something like (iOkO drawings, and to cope with the work. Mr Sullivan employs a staff of ten men. who draw thousands of Felixes and also over two thousand dollars a woelc.