The first order of business on Misfiled History is to explain the title illustration. It is a musical instrument devised (but probably never created) by Misfiled History Patron Saint Athanasius Kircher, a 17th century Jesuit scholar. It is called a katzenklavier, or cat piano. The cats' tails are placed under the keys so when the keys are pressed the cat yowls. Naturally, the cats are placed in order of their vocal pitch to create a scale. It's a cruel device with no redeeming moral, societal, or musical value. But it was funny in the mid 1600s and it's amusing now.
Cats are not the only musical animals. Here is a video of the Thai Elephant Orchestra. While pretty good for elephants, it's not Mozart. On the plus side, no elephants are harmed in the making of this music.
Auspicious Beginnings
History has so many hidden nooks, crannies, and forgotten back alleys. Some deserve obscurity, but others have been unfairly banished to the corners - misfiled and misplaced.
The goal here is to shed light on these forgotten events, people, and things. As long as it's strange, obscure, and interesting it could get its day in the sun here. If you're curious about what the Romans ate, how the founders of Apple started as criminal entrepreneurs, or how the Monopoly board game helped WWII POWs, so am I.
Follow along and see what misfiles we can bring back to the light!
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