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December 19, 1918

A column named "Believe It or Not," appeared for the first time, in the New York Globe, on December 19, 1918. Robert Ripley, the author, always swore his facts were checked for accuracy, even this item from a later date which typifies the appeal of his column, and I paraphrase: In Akola India, cats are held in such high regard that if a cat is accidentally killed, the person responsible must supply a replacement, a cat of solid gold, which statue is then ritually thrown into the sea.

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