Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-10-20
Rats and their ENtermtnassou.


The human intellect has rarely appeared at
so great disadvantage a it does when de-
Nising remedies for rats, except when plac-
ing faith In these remedies. There is Ger
tain class OF publications in which rat rem
edles appear from week TO week with the
regularity and Ingenuity OF perpetual and
hlehiy imaginative serial tale. In one ISSUE
the reader will be told To apply caustic
potash with brush 10 the sides OF rat holes.
snd is assured that when a rat burns himself
LhereWlth be VIII promptly remark 70 his
fellow beasts that the house is real \ kept in
a most disgusting state, and that self respect
compels them 10 abandon IL. The connding
housekeeper proceeds To buy caustic potas.
but on finding that 10 is I'm the form OF hard
cfystals, does not see her way clear 20 put
ing IL on with a brush and after having
burned her dress and her children 20 an mn
pleasant extent throws IL away aud waits
Tor the next infallitle remedy. II comes in
due time, in the shape OF a recom-
H!nenuatloh 10 pace some arsenic with
In The reach OF her great tormentors.
The druggist affects 10 be convinced "a al she
does not intend 10 poison her husband, and
thereupon sells her the poison aud secretly
measures ont an antidote 10 ne Eant Ia resI
mess, in case the husband suddenly sends
Tor IL. III Is part OF the rats consistent ma
which he finds spread for him. and there A.
no doubt that while so doing ne chackles as
he thinks what an eligible place 20 die in the
dining room walls present At all events
he dies I'm that precise locali,y' and for m.
next month IL IL deserted by the family
while the remaining rats pretend TO squeak
LoA ihoit aI>ruiN Will u kdIiFlcdl meaning
that cannot be understood. Next week the
trusting housekeeper is told TO nail tin across
The lat-holes, and IL is pointed out that
either the rat mrst wear out his teeth on the
TN, and thus become no longer an effective
beast, or he must abandon his holes as inn
passaole. The tin IL procured, and the holes
nailed mp. The only result is that the rat re-
marks. 1T seems that they feel the want OF
new rat-holes In this house," and thereupon
proceeds 10 supply that want by perforating
The partitions In a dozen new places.
NO res sonable man can doubt that the per-
sons who thus make the publ ication OF reme-
dies for rats the business OF their lives ara
either moDoman'acs, or else are fully aware
mat they are trifiing with the most sacred
leellngs OF our common nature by thus pub
fishing remedies that are utterly valueless.
III IL hard 10 believe that they are wanton
lmpostors, and IL is better 20 look upon them
as self deceived philanthropists, who imag-
me IL 10 be their miss On 10 save house
Keepers from despair. IL would be a cruel
ACT 10 say 10 the housekeeper boldly aud
without the least Qualification. "lou can
never get rid o. rats such a terrible aad
crushing blow no man with humane inn
pulses could iict. Doubtless il is much
more kind To feed her with hope from week
toweek, until she has kept her last house
clearing fast, AMI dies cAeered ami sustained
by the true rat remedy. which she believes
she has found at last, aud which she urges
her children TO try.