Life, 1885-12-24 · page 12 of 19
Life — December 24, 1885 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# "The China Cat Company" — A Satirical Invention This page satirizes both seafaring superstitions and the absurdity of patent-office inventions. The "China Cat Co." proposes an elaborate mechanical device to prevent rats from abandoning ships—a superstition sailors believed predicted disaster. The invention consists of iron rods extending underwater from a ship's sides, with china cats mounted on them that spring up every thirteen seconds, supposedly frightening rats into staying aboard. Detailed technical drawings show the mechanism's components: wiggling beams, eccentric cranks, and submerged cats. The satire targets two things: sailors' irrational fears about rats as omens of doom, and the Patent Office's tendency to legitimize ridiculous contraptions. By presenting this absurd device with mock-serious technical language and diagrams, *Life* mocks both maritime folklore and the era's proliferation of dubious "innovations." The humor lies in the invention's utter impracticality—underwater mechanical cats would obviously not deter rats.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
*LI ANOTHER NEW ENTERPRISE. i will be remembered that some time ago LIFE started a list of new enterprises, the simplicity yet utility of which would startle the scientific world. Among others that have sent their pros- pectus to our office is the China Cat Com- pany (Limited), which, it has seemed to us, must appeal to so large a proportion of our floating population, that its insertion here , Will not be amiss. The China Cat Co. (Ltd.) PROSPECTUS, No matter how far the world advances in enlightenment, the sailor continues to cherish the superstitions of his craft—and among the chief of his myths is the one regarding the exodus of rats. The mariner can stand storms and sailors’ boarding-houses; but when the rats begin to leave his ship he loses all hope and looks for the worst. The China Cat Co. (Ltd.) manufacture FE: an article which will counteract all trouble from this quarter, by compelling the rats to stay aboard. The invention con- sists of a series of stiff iron rods, extending from the vessel's @a, THE SHIP, 856, WATER. ce, CATS. side into the water; and upon these bars, at certain intervals, are placed china cats, These cats are under water, out of which, by an ingenious mechan- ism, each one is made to spring every thirteen seconds. Thus, as the vessel speeds along, cats are frisking all around her. Water rats may be bold, but we are prepared to give our guarantee certificate that not one will desert the ship when our machine ts tn action. A small crank, worked by the @, WIGGLING 4A, ABSCONDING RODE: 6. ECCENTRIC CRANK, ¢¢, CAT. dd, cabin boy, supplies all needed power. A working model can be seen on dumping scow REPAIRED SIDE OF VESSEL. No. 18. PROVERBIAL SKITS. NEASY lies the head ‘that wears a crown,” which illustrates the folly of going to bed with one’s clothes on. “NECESSITY is the mother of invention,” but the Patent Office is its foundling hospital. “cs “ LOVE goes out at the window when poverty enters the door,” but should poverty retire by the door it is amazing with what celerity love comes scrambling in by the window. “ TIME and tide wait for no man,” but when a woman is in the case, even time and tide must wait or go on without ' her. comicbooks.com