The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-05-24
phf of that wonderfully constructe

be a glOve-Or at least the thumb Oft
made from that despised creature S
Skin. and called by courtesy a kid.
On the head Of paterfamilias. who
ruthleSsIy pursues the fugitive inter
loper with the kitchen poker, may be
4 felt hat made from the rat s fur,
which exceeds in delicacy that Of the
beaver and which is sought after by
large corporation, expressly organized
for The purpose. III Paris. An eccen-
trio Welchman once. liz order to show
how far the rat might be utilized for
clothing. spent three years III collect
ing enough TatSklns to make himself
complete dress, hat neckerchief. coat,
waistcOat, trousers, and even shoes:
six hundred and seventy rats were i'm
molated for this purpose. and the six
hundred and seventy beautifully orga-
niZed tails were strung together TO
form q tippet.
1t is in Paris-that home Of the u
tiliZation Of every thing-that the rat
is turned TO the greatest Of uses. He
/ furnishes employment for an army Of
hunters,s who pursue him III his sewer
Businesses for the sake Of his skin.
IN the great abattoiTs Of the city rats
exist by the million. One proprietor.
on becoming nearly driven from his
premises by the rodents, threw d dead
horse in walled inclosure. and then
stopped up all means Of escape, 50 that
the rats. attracted by the bait. could
not get out. In one night 2.650 rats
were caught in the trap and killed by
I,qI.e e.t7 l..
month, $3.50 Of the animals were thus
destroyed. We note this case mainly
in connection withja curious utillza-
ton of rats wherein dead animals of
all kinds are placed where they can get
them as IN easy way Of disposing of
the refuse flesh and securing the val
liable bones. 4 regular pound sur
rounded by a massive stone wall. is
provided for this purpose by the city
authorities OF Paris. and ii is the reg
ular morning 5 work Of those in charge
to remove the beautifully polished
skeletons.
OF course, when thus pampered. the
rats multiply amazingly, and therefore
once I'm It while a grand Jdttue is nee
essary to reduce their numbers.
The way in which this is conducted is
Icurious.
Horizontal holes are bored all around
i'll and at the foot Of the inclosinq
walls. the depth and diameter being
respectively the length and thickness
Of q rat 5 body. Upon the morning
Of the b0ttUe, men armed with til
pans. kettles, drums. and other objects
for producing horrible noises. rush il
at day break. The aSt0nishcd rats pre-
cipltately rush for the nearest open
ings. which are those IN the walls
But these. while large enough to con
tain their bodies. VIII not accommodate
their tails. ana the walls are soon or
namented with 4 vista Of those anatO
mically superb members. Whisking a
bout like animated icicles Then ar
riYes the rat c0llector-a scientist il
his way-whO, with admirable dexter
ity, seizes the pendent tails jerk
forth the owner attached thereto, al,
deposits him in bag Worn over TIL
left shoulder. The privilege Of catch
ing the rats is farmed out by the al
thoritles, and a profitable business
is. The rats are sleek and fat. an'
fetch high prices for their fur, skins
] and tieSh-the latter doubtless appear
/ ing III the restaurants where one ma
have ''dimer for one franc with wine
: bread at discretion. Rat hese
, not bad eating. So say those who hay
: tried it, our knowledge in the matte
z being limited. 1t is delicate. white
tirm. tastes like chicken, and in Chin
the soup made from it is considere
to be equal TO our well known oxtai
In the Celestial Kingdom rats az
worth two dollars per dozen. In tn
West Indies the rats exist IN enormou
numbers on the sugar plantations, an
work great damage by gnawing the 81
gar cane. Each plantation has its of
, clal rat catcher. who is paid bv piec
work, that is, SO much dozen for tail
, brought in
The credit Of suggesting the mos
extensive utilization of rats is due [
Mr.. Z. /. Simmonds. who has latel
lprinted an admirable work on theS
and other undeveloped sources Of prot
. it-from which we have drawn man
of the curious facts above given. Nj
! >immonds suggests that profitabl
venture might he made from kurra
chez to Canton and Hong Kong Of sail
Ell rat. About 900 900 could be cur
ed and packed aboard a 400 ton shiT
For the sake Of curiosity we quote M
>lmmond's estimate Of profits: ,O00
600 rats at cents per dozen. S35. 200
sailing. curing. etc. 60 per cent. SCI
. 600: total cost. $4,000: and 900. 90
rats sold at S9per dozen. 81 100. 666. sc
There N0one can charge us-thank
r TO Mr.. >immonds-with not havin
: done our best To enrich our reader:
Few journals can claimthe proud lau
els which we holdynow grasp, Of ha'
ing pointed out the way for any on