WHY THE MIDNIGHT CAT HOWLS.

Kumara Times, Issue 510, 16 May 1878, Page 2

WHY THE MIDNIGHT CAT HOWLS.

•It is only just beginning to be understood that the electric currents of the earth haw an intimate connection with with a great quantity of things. The reason why the cats whose howls disturb our nocturnal slumbers are uniformly found on back fences running in a direction perpendicular, or nearly perpendicular, to the axis of the earth has never yet been ascertained. Sir Isaac Ne.wton attempted to explain the fact by asserting that the great majority of fences are built parallel to the equator, but this explanation is glaringly at variance with well-ascertained facts. Buff on suggested that cats are mysteriously influenced by the moon, and that hence they prefer fences which' are built in the general direction of ."the plane of the moon's orbit. This is certainly a plansable explanation, but it hns yet to be proved that moonlight is the cause, rather than a mere incident, of nocturnal cat concerts. The other explanations which hare been hazarded by lesser authorities are scarcely worth mentioning. All that we really knowis the single fact that nocturnal cats are distributed around the earth in belts parallel to the equator. Fully 93 per cent, of the cats that bring us from our midnight couches with bootjacks in our hands, and rage in our hearts, are found perched upon the east and west fences, and to the-truth of this assertion every New-Yorker will readily agree.

In examining this very interesting and. important problem, let us begin by asking why the midnight cat howls ? A cat perched on a back fence perpendicularly to the axis of the earth, and to the direction of the earth currents of electricity, howls because he—or she, as the case may.be—ig undergoing acute agony. Very possibly cats pass over fences running from north to south quite as frequently as they do over f.tnces running in the direction of the equator, but in the former case they experience no pain and hence do. not attract attention by their outcries. The moment, however, that a cat finds himself on an east and west fence he is r«ck<id by internal pains; he tries'to relieve his mind by howls and profanity, and he thereby excites the rage of his human audiences. Now, if we ascertain what produces these pains, we shall have found the true answer to the question under discussion. May it not be that electricity is really at the bottom of the whole affair ? .

The cat, be it remembered, is more addicted to electricity than any other animal, except the electrical eel, and hence is peculiarly susceptible to the influence of the earth currents. So long as the oat walks over fences running from north to south his axis is coincident with the direction of these

They pass smoothly through lis spinal column, awl beyond gently stimulating his mind and tail, they have no perceptible, effect upon him. When, however, he trips to v.';ilk nn a. fence built parallel to the equator, his jprivate axis becomes perpendicular to the earth currents. They penetrate Into his vitals and wrench him all to pieces in their efforts to force their way through him. Filled'frith anguish he stops, clings fiercely to", the fence, and lifts up hi* voice in frenzied agony. To some extent the muscles of his legs -are paralysed, and he is unable to move until the unfeeling boot-jack •comes hurtling through the air and stimulate* him irilo action. Me then springs from the fence j his puns vanish, and his voice is silent. I& not thia a eorapfata and scientific explanation of the question which has so long "defied the ablest scientific minds ? "We thas see how beautiful are the processes by which true science investigates abstruse qnestions. We also see that one of the most comfiion incidents of every-night life is =due to the electricity of the earth. Let us, then, be thankful that we live in a scientific, age, and that there are more uses for electricity than anyone -fias yet dreamed of.—Abridged from the New Fork Times.