Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-09-09
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
RAT TALES.

Quite lately, in Paris . specimen was
! given Of the force 10 which rats can muster,
where they have gained only . provisional
footing. The Historical Hsllss, or markets,
having been rebuilt and re-arrspged on .
| more commodious plan, the 26sh Of October
last was fixed for the moving of the dealers
in four-stuffs, green vegetables, poultry and
potatoes, from the ground they have oocupi-
ed near the church of St. Eastacbe, to their
new stalls and shops in the Hslies Centrales.
After the departure Of the bumsn tenants OF
the old provisional market. the workmso pro-
ceeded to pull down the sheds. Beneath
these sbeds colony of rats had liked their
domicile for some time past. A regiment OF
boys, armed with sticks, snd backed by all
the dogs Of the quarter, nastsred u PACK,
awaiting the unsarshing Of the game from
their cover. A crowd Of spectators made the
lofty building, round re-scho With their shouts
and their bGrsss Of laughter. Several rats,
alarmed at the disturbance AID he barking
Of the dogs, climbed up the psssoos . the
lockers on, to find . refuge os their shoulders
or on their heads.
One girl, feeliog rat taking walk rsond
ber neck, was % overcome with terror that
she tainted. One thousand il the estimated
number Of rats who fell victims 70 this inhos.
pitsble reception; bot it nay bs presumed
that those who saved their bacon were iu
considerable majority. This 10 nothing 70
what occurs at Montevidso (unlsss it 10 great
" chan ged from what I wss,) whore tbs
only draw back upon the dslishtfol way in
which an evening may 10 spsnt 10 the neoes.
sity of returning bome through iorg, narrow
streets, 20 Infested with Sorscious rats ~
sometimes to make the way psrilous. There
are no sanitary regulations in the town except
those provided by the showers OF ram, whish
at intervals carry of the heaps Of filth from
long established restiug-plaoss. Around boge
n,outsins OF oarrion, vegetables and stale
fruit, here accumulated, rats muster IN ie-
gions. If you attempt 10 pass near these
formidable branditti, or TO interrupt their
orgies, they will gnssh their teeth at you
fercely, like so many wolves.
81 far are they from running OF 10 alright
to the burrows, that they will turn round, set
10 an ominous cry, and will then make
rush at your legs 10 q way 70 make your hair
stand on eud. Between them Aud the venture
some stranger many ahazsrdous s6ray occurs
and though sometimes he may fight he way
home VIGOROUSLY BY the aid Of stout stick,
on other occasions be will be forced to hy
down some narrow cross lane, les'inG the
rats undisputed masters Of the field. l!
is something to have made best French kid
gloves out the skins OF Partisan rats, sod beet
French beaver bats from their fur. A mao
of genius-s Swede, With an un2ronounoea-
BILE psme--hss done more. Lsmenting, pro-
badly, the desrtb Of dramatic tslent, be oon-
ceived the idea Of raising rats to the d'gnity OF
tragic and comic stars. His srsining succeed
ed admirably. Hamlet, followed BY popular
farce. acted by rats in q portable theatre,
which the manager could carry on bis should.
ers from place to place, obtained . colossal
SUCCESS in Sweden and Germany.