Madame Askew and The Grand Arbiter

Originally posted to our Patreon

I am more pleased than I can express to introduce the delightful and talented Miss Smokey Le Purr. Born in the pantry of the town house of a young courtesan who was much sought after for her charms, Smokey was initially ushered into the luxury of her mistress’s life, but when the tides of favour and fashion turned, poor Smokey was left abandoned when her young mistress was turned onto the streets by a jealous beau. Shocked by the cruel turn of events, young kitten Smokey managed to endure and make her way from the cold streets of Paris into the opera house.

The opera in many ways was like her former home. Glorious, beautiful, dynamic, and filled with intrigued artists and their benefactors. However, behind the curtain lay some of the hardest and most consuming work. Smokey found herself the companion and muse of many of the young singers and dancers who frequently needed a comforting presence after a long rehearsal or at the end of difficult matinee. More she met some of the well established singers in the company who were just as happy to have a sweet friend to curl up on their laps or purr into the necks. In this way, Smokey became a favourite of some of the greatest singers of the era who were happy to sing with and too the sweet little kitty.

One such singer La Diva Strepponi , a lyric soprano of great fame for her skill with the works of Verdi, discovered quite by accident that dear Smokey was much more than a comfort but that the sweet feline had a most powerful and perfectly tuned meow. La Diva whisked Smokey away to live in her own little town home. There she learned from the greatest voices of her age to refine her purr into a thing of glory.

After her training and entree from La Diva Strepponi, Smokey traveled the world, singing in the most legendary music halls and opera houses. Her voice was lauded as a thing of wonder and whilst she never managed the fame of her mentor nor to record her singing for the gramophone, editorials, reviews and a variety of stories of her musical prowess and sweet nature linger amongst opera aficionadi to this day. 

Smokey retired to live with a house full of singers and musicians in San Francisco. Every Saturday at the start of the month, they hosted a charity concert for the musically inclined youth of the city. After one such concert, Smokey took her final bow and her last nap in the cozy music room.  

Dear Smokey has gone onto her forever haunt where her musical purr can be heard on the breeze through the house and her sweet disposition marks her predilection to cuddle with all the people of the house in turn.

Bravissima a la picolla diva, Smokey Le Purr!