The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-02-26

others could easily get at them. Some
OF us are old enough to remember when
an atmospheric or pneumatic railway was
constructed at Corydon the engineers
had SO many difficulties to contend
against, that the enterprise was ultimately
abandoned but one of the most provof
ing was that rats cunningly came at night
and ate the grease with which the valve
along the top of the tube was made air
| tight each new application of grease
served them for supper. Mr.. Jesse, on
the authority of o medical friend. gives a
| vivid description of desperate fight be-
tween rat and a ferret, in vault or eel
Lar which was only lighted with window
on one side the rat kept his powerful
enemy at bay for nearly two hours,
by sagaclously securing to himself
what prize-fghters call the advantage
OF the sun = that is, keeping himself al
most In darkness under the window.
and compelling the ferret to take a posi-
ton where the light would enter his ewes
and embarrass him. One rat was a little
/ too clever on one occasion. A publican.
going into his cellar, saw large rat put
his foot into the shelly house of an oys-
ter who temptingly opened his mouth !;
the oyster suddenly closed his shell, took
the rat prisoner, and both were carried
alive into the kitchen. Considering what
the Happy Family men manage to
achieve, we do not know that we are JUS
titled In disbelieving a story of q theatri-
cal company of rats, exhibited in Bel
gum few years ago dressed like men
and women, and walking on their hind
legs, they mimicked many ordinary stage
effects /; concluding their performance
with hanging cat and dancing around
it!
On the principle of giving every one
his due, however sable his complexion,
we must say word concerning the oc-
caslonal kindness and domeshcity of these
rodent creatures A Sussex clergyman,
one summer evening, saw number of
rats migrating across meadow blind
old rat was guided along by compaE-
ion, the two holding the two ends of
stick between their teeth. MIR. Pinder,
a navy surgeon, was lying awake one
evening In his berth, on board the Lam
caster, and, keeping quiet, was enabled
to observe curious scene. A rat en-
tered the cabin, looked cautiously around,
and retired he came again, Juggling
along a blind rat tenderly by the ear
and a third rat, following them, picked
up bits of biscuit to place before the poor
blind fellow. A London omnibus man
caught a rat while removing some hay.
Instead of killing it he took it home, and
I 81 bftt100 Ii us W l11dh0 II IL GULF
panion to his children. In the evening
the rat would stretch itself out at full
length on a rug before the fire and he
would creep into some warm snuggery
on cold night. In the morning, when
the man would say, ssCome along, key
the rat would jump into his greatcoat
| pocket, from whence he was transferred
to the boot of the bus. Ratty guarded
/ his masters dinner, and rushed somewhat
with it. He was proof against all tempta-
| Gons save one-it was not safe to set him
to guard over plum pudding. An old
blind rat took refuge by the kitchen fire
in the house of physician, and became
favorite, until a strange cat unfortunately
one day made his appearance, and put an
end to the harmony. NJ. De Ia Tude, in
his sad narrative Of thirty-five years i'm
prisonment In the Bastle, describes how
he gradually formed an acquaintance
with ten rats in his dungeon he gave
them distinct names, which they recogn-
lied, and he got up various kinds of
simple gambols or sports, in which they
took part.
OF what use is the rat to man9 Well,
not very much that we know of yet
few items may be mentioned. Probably
we must not attach much importance to
the alleged prophetic powers of the rat
person viii speedily die that if he sud
denly quits house, the house viii very
shortly be burned down that If he de-
serts q ship, the ship is in sinking state.
A mill at PEBBLES was suddenly deserted
by whole colony of rats about twenty
years ago ]; two hours afterward the mill
burned down. But it must be confessed
that the logic Is very weak, which proves,
from these facts, the possession of any
{ fsxyM Mr. OF iVti
his Military Dictionary, says. Rats are
sometimes used in military operations,
particularly In enterprises for the purpose
of setting fire to gunpowder. OnA these
occasions lighted match is tied to the
tail of the animal Marshal Vauban COM
mends, therefore, that the walls of powder |
magazines should be made very thick, |
and the passages for light and air SO mar
row as not to admit rats" We do not |
know whether cruel sport can be called |
a useful employment of rats but an ac
count Is given of strange proceeding at
Rome. A large number of rats were |
dipped in spirits of turpentine, set on
fire, and then made to rush down an open
fight of steps near the Vatican ; they I
reached the bottom as masses of charred
flesh, amid the shouts of the pOpulace /
Rats are werth three shillings q dozen,
to furnish supply to those brutal exhi- /
billions In which rat-hlling terriers show /
their power. The mode Of catching the
rats alive for this purpose we shall de-
scribe presently. Rats are also caught /
for the value of the skin. There is firm /
at Paris which buys the skin for this
purpose. The fur is dressed into very
good substitute for beaver while the
pelt or membrane is dressed into
leather SO fine, elastic and close
as to be used for the thumbs
of the best gloves. IF any one be-
heves that rats are not used for human
food, he must change his opinion. In
Paris the chifoniers or bone grubbers
eat them. Gypsies eat such rats ns are
caught In stacks and barns, and are less
strong in favor and odor than those that
feed omnivorously. In China, split rats
are bought as dainty. An English s11r-
geon of some note had them cooked for
his own eating. In man-of-wa where
the rats made havoc with the biscuit, the
sailors had regular battue, and brought
down numbers of them !; Jack made rat
pie, baked it, and liked it At the siege
Of Malta, the French garrison, when fam
iahed, offered as much as dollar head
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