Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-08
GBe 9aip spp: a0lutesr, GbursOag Mumg february 1872

he carried off, more enchanted than ever at the
prospect of perpetuating the breed of trumpet
rats. Some months alterward a number of
young rats made their appearance, and the
plaintiff eagerly looked out for their trumpets,
but could not find any. He cOnsOled himself
however, by thinking they would grow in due
time, like an elephants tusks. But, after ex-
aiming the noses of his rats every day for SIX
months, without seeing any sign of a trumpet
he began to feel considerably disappointed.
One day, while visiting at friends house, he
happened to make the acquaintance of an Off
Ger who had served long time in Africa.
Are You acquainted with the trumpet-ratsY
was the inquiry which he made of the man of
war, who replied:
Perfectly"
"Ahl then you can inform me-" continued
Nj. lriguel, who told him his story, at which
the officer laughed so heartily that the yirtuoso
began to think he had been duped.
On being asked TO explain the cause of his hi
larity the officer told him that the trumpet rat,
instead of being wonder of nature, was an in
vention contrived by the zouaves in their leisure
moments. They take two rats, and place one
behind the other on board, TO which their paws
are firmly tied, so that the nose of the second
rat is close to the tail of the first An incislon is
then made with a lancet or penknlie IN the nose
of the hindermost rat, and the tail of the other
is grated into it. The muzzle is then tied firm
ly to the tail, and the two rats are left in that
position for forty-eight hours. AT the end of
this time the union has taken place, the two
parts having grown together. The tail OF the
rat is then cut off at the required length, and
the creature, thus docked, is set free; but the
other is kept tied to the board, his head being
left loose, and he is provided with food. AT the
end of month or more the wound is perfectly
healed, and the most scrutinizing observer cam
not detect trace Of the grating.
''This," said the officer to the yirtuoso, ais
what the zouaves do; the rats have no trum-
pets,-you have been deceived" Q4es rats mont
pas de trompe; vOus aveZ etc trompe)
These facts having been put in evidence on
behalf OF the plaintiff, it was urged on the part
of the defendant that, though he had manufac-
tured the rats in the manner described, yet he
was not liable for deceit, inasmuch as he had
not sold them to the plaintiff as rats born with
a trumpet.
The president of the tribunal then said to the
plaintiff:
SIS this true, NJ. Triguel?"
NJ. Triguel-You understand, sir, after the eX.
pertinent that made with the prick of the pin,
which drew blood from the animal and made ii
cry, l had right to believe that the trumpet
was natural.
The Eresident-Then the defendant told you
that it was a particular kind of rat.
The Pantiff-Yes, without doubt.
The Delendant-ln lact-itiS particular kind
of rat.
The result was a verdict for the zouavc the
trumpet rat maker who seems to have possess
| ed considerable shrewdness as well as ingenuity,
and avoided committing himself in the sale OF
| his wares by what the lawyers call "activC
fraud" The case, as reported in the Gazette
DIES TribunauX, showed that while the best laid
schemes Of trumpet rat makers, as well as Of
mice and men, may "gaug aft 9ley," yet they
are sometimes successful in entrapping people
| by means ofthe cultivated tastes which would
seem TO be efficient safeguards against this kind
| OF trickery.