The Incident

To-day, the day after the 150th anniversary of the birth of Anton Chekhov, I listened to one of his stories on BBC Radio7. Titled 'The Incident', it tells how two children, a boy aged 6 and a girl aged 4, wake one morning to discover their cat has had kittens. The offspring of parents wealthy enough to have their children brought up by a nurse and a governess, they are filled with an interest and curiosity not shared by the adults around them. They treat the three blind kittens like toys and as objects for experimentation. They plan a future for each of the little animals and appoint their uncle's dog as the kittens' father. I shall not divulge how the story ends.

Chekhov has a strong opinion about the beneficial effect of pets in the life of children. Animals show patience, fidelity, readiness to forgive and sincerity, he claims. Living with them can have a greater effect on children than what is imparted during formal education.