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July 10, 1886

 

On July 10, 1886 a periodical named The Spectator, published among its articles, one titled" THE BEASTS AND BIRDS OF THE LAW." The article was lengthy and the moseying among facts suggested nothing so much as a proto-web experience. With the added plus of coherence and a sophisticated prose. From this we extracted what later would be called an RFI, a request for information. In this manner:


Let us draw attention also to the fact that a special study of the position of the cat in our law is a work that calls loudly for the student. The cat, as we know him now, is little better than a sort of common third party, sought to be joined by the housemaid or lodging-house-keeper in all domestic actions concerning the breaking of china, or the loss of "coals, umbrellas, brandy," tea, or legs of mutton. In our ancient law very different was his position. "Among our elder ancestors the Antient Britons," says Blackstone (Com. II., 4) "cats were looked upon as creatures of intrinsic value, and the killing or stealing of one was a grievous crime, and subjected the offender to a fine, especially if it belonged to the king's household, ..., for which there was a peculiar forfeiture." The fortunate cat that held the office of warden of the royal barn was thus protected by the law: "It any one shall kill or bear away by theft the cat which is warden of the royal barn, it shall be hung up by the tip of its tail, its head touching the floor, and over it shall be poured out grains of wheat until the last hairs of its tail shall be covered by the grain."

This harkens to a time when grain was as valuable as gold.

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