Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-02-13
Fron the New York Dispatch.
A RAT STORY.
TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION

In 1857 1 was a resident in Buenos
Ayres. and while endeayoring to avail
myself of some means of passing the
dull and excessively "heatsd term" Gas
our friend, the Sage of Brooklyn, E. NJ,
would say,) I at last pitched upon the
violin as a source of amusement, and ac-
cordingly determined to learn the science
of bringing from the catgut dulcet strains.
In this mind I purchased an instrument
and books, violin without Master,
&c.,) and set myself 10 work to learn to
play it well. Ny residence was in one
of the usual adobe houses of that coun-
try. and as a matter of course the whole
interior of the building was infested with
rats. Many a time, in coming home at
a late hour at night, when all were in bed
and asleep, I have disturbed the councils
of this sapient yermin, and heard them
running, rushing to their hiding places,
afraid of the step of their prosecutor,
man. but took no notice of them what
ever at that time. Subsequently, l had
no reason to do so, as you will see. l
had practiced about fortnight with my
violin, and had advanced far into the my
stories of song and sound, when one
night as 1 was playing, | heard most
unusual clatter just outside upon my
threshold. I went to the place, and
swinging open the door, I was startledby
hearing tramp, tramp, as if legion OF
: animals were disseminating themselves
through the whole house. The next day,
upon recurring in thought to this singu-
lar fact, 1 determined TO have them all
!, in; so purchasing small quantity of
oil rhodium, which they affect, brought
it home with me, and in the evening l
sprinkled some of it over the floor, and
leaving the door ajar, sat down, and
; taking up my violin commenced to play.
: l had scraped the bow buta few times
= over the strings, when I discovered the
: rats advancing through the door in single
: procession, keeping perfect time with the
: music, and apparently much delighted
n and entertained. They continued to ad-
vance, and I continued to play. The
head of the procession reached the mid
e die Of the room, then they fled of, one
Il to the right, the next to the left, and so OIL
s until the whole body had formed them
% selves into two rows, facing cash other
: stretching up and down the whole place
2, I still played away, much amused b.
} their performance, eagerly watchin!
their next move. Presently the tw'
1t farthest from me came out from tn
rows, and the one jumping upon tn
re others back, he or she, which ever wa
the carrier, commenced to dance mp an
e. down the center of the files, but in pei
feet time with the music. This they di
twice, going the whole length, and whe
Ut in the middle the third time down, tn
one on the back (the rider) taking tn
tail of the other (the carrier) in il
to mouth, performed a lofty somerset, sti
holding on the tail, and landed on til
K, ground just before the carrier. Th
K, carrier then throwing back his head, ais
n turned back somerset, and landed BIZ
ne hind his fellow. This was done doze
We times, and all in the most rapid succe
sion, as was playing a jig, and EVENT.
re ally each had the tail of the other in b
zee mouth, and tumbling about so fast that
er- was difficult to tell them apart. Aft.
this performance, these two retired
one side, and the next, and the next, al
ca soonto the last couple, went through Il
eI' same figure. After all had done. the
again formed II groups, and still pla
ing away, although very tired in my arr
they began to pass and repass in som
all thing the same figure Of quadrille
accurately as I have seen human being
This they continued for long tim
III when suddenly | ceased playing. I'm
CINE my surprise when, instead of
rushing out Of the room, as I expect
up they would do, they advanced, forming
d line as they came, and each and eve
'a9 one sat himself down upon his haunch
ne in the center Of the room. I was We
lof much amused, and watched them wi
zen pleasure. AT length, desiring to see he
ma much liberty thex would allow me befo
s-a--~'s74IiS IIsstItenez, sOyn stvf,
A''- ward them. Not one moved. Anoth
on step and | was close upon ths I'm. / stoc
I'M ed down. Not one moved yet. I 7
'i- my hand upon the back of one Of the
ii"' He was as large as kitten about h
aa grown. (Rats there in La Plata, al
In fact, the whole South, grow to a We
be large size.) / stroked his back.
IS turned upon me his diamond-like spal