<P> O. Henry's 1909 short story "Schools and Schools" includes a mention that suggests knowledge of the proverb had become widespread by that time: </P> <P> Curiosity can do more things than kill a cat; and if emotions, well recognized as feminine, are inimical to feline life, then jealousy would soon leave the whole world catless . </P> <P> The actual phrase appeared as the headline to a story in The Washington Post on 4 March 1916 (page 6): </P> <P> CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT . Four Departments of New York City Government Summoned to Rescue Feline . From the New York World . Curiosity, as you may recall--On the fifth floor of the apartment house at 203 West 130th street lives Miss Mable Godfrey . When she came to the house about seven months ago she brought Blackie, a cat of several years' experience of life . The cat seldom left the apartment . He was a hearth cat, not a fence cat, and did not dearly love to sing . In other respects he was normal and hence curious . Last Tuesday afternoon when Miss Godfrey was out Blackie skipped into the grate fireplace in a rear room . He had done this many times before . But he had not climbed up the flue to the chimney . This he did Tuesday . Blackie there remained, perched on the top of the screen separating the apartment flue from the main chimney, crying for assistance . Miss Godfrey, returning, tried to induce her pet to come down . If you are experienced in felinity, you know that Blackie didn't come down . On Wednesday the cat, curiosity unsatisfied, tried to climb higher--and fell to the first floor . His cries could still be heard by Miss Godfrey; who, to effect Blackie's rescue, communicated with the following departments: 1 . Police department . 2 . Fire department . 3 . Health department . 4 . Building department . 5 . Washington Heights court . Among them they lowered a rope to Blackie . But it availed neither the cat nor them anything . Thursday morning, just before noon, a plumber opened the rear wall back of the chimney . Blackie was taken out . His fall had injured his back . Ten minutes later Blackie died . </P>

Where did the term curiosity killed the cat come from