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

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be glove-or at least the thumb of it
made from that despised creature
skin, and called by courtesy a kid
On the head OF paterfanilias. who
ruthlessly pursues the fugitive inter-
loper with the kitchen poker, may be
a felt hat made from the rats fur,
which exceeds in delicacy that Of the
beaver and which is sought after by
large corporation, expressly Organiz ed
for the purpose. in Paris. An eccen-
trio Welchman once, in order to show
how far the rat might be utilized for
clothing, spent three years in collect
| ing enough ratSkins 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 tippet.
1t is in Paris-that home of the u
tiliZation of everything-that the rat
is turned to the greatest Of uses. He
| furnishes employment for an army Of
hymters,s who pursue him III his sewer
| Businesses for the sake of his skin.
In the great abattoirs Of the city rats
exist by the million. One proprietor.
on becoming nearly driven from his
premises by the rodents, threw dead
horse in walled inclOSure. and then
stopped up all means Of escape, SO 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
men armed with clubs; in a single
month, 5000 of the animals were thus
destroyed. We note this case mainly
in connection withia curious utillza-
ton of rats, wherein dead animals of
all kinds are placed where they can get
them as an easy way Of disposing of
the refuse flesh and securing the val
liable bones. A regular pound. sur
rounded by massive stone wall. is
provided for this purpose by the city
authorities OF Paris, and it is the reg
ular morning S work Of those in charge
to remove the beautifully polished
skeletons.
OF course, when thus pampered. the
rats multiply amazingly, and therefore
once In q while grand 6dttue is nee
essary to reduce their numbers
The way in which this is conducted is
curious.
Horizontal holes are bored all around
, in and at the foot of the inclosine
walls, the depth and diameter being
, respectively the length and thickness
of q rats body. Upon the morning
! Of the b0ttue, men armed with til
pans. kettles, drums. and other object.
for producing horrible noises. rush il
at daybreak. The astonishcd rats pre-
: cipitately rush for the nearest open
ings, which are those in the walls
} But these, while large enough to con
| tain their bodies. viii not accomodat,
: their tails. and the walls are soon or
! namented with q vista of those anato
+ mically superb members, whisking a
| bout like animated icicles. Then ar
1 rives the rat collector scientist il
| his way-WhO, with admirable dexter
e ity, seizes the pendent tails, jerk
t forth the owner attached thereto, am
e deposits him IN a bag Worn over tn
] left shoulder. The privilege Of catch
4 ing the rats is farmed out by the al
4 thorities, and a profitable business
: Is. The rats are sleek and fat. an
t fetch high prices for their fur, skins
t and fleSh--the latter doubtless appear
y ing III the restaurants where one ma
Y have sdinner for one franc with wine
/ bread at discretion" Rat hese
5 not bad eating. So say those who hay
/ tried it, our knowledge in the matte
G being limited. 1t is delicate. white
e firm, tastes like chicken, and in Chin
the soup made from it is considere
n no -, al -,
In the Celestial Kingdom rats al
8 worth two dollars per dozen. In til
!, West Indies the rats exist in enormou
!. numbers on the sugar plantations, an
: work great damage 10y gnawing the 81
!. gar cane. Each plantation has its of
! cial rat catcher. who is paid by piec
. work. that is. SO much dozen for tail
. brought in.
= The credit OF suggesting the mos
? extensive utilization of rats is due t
Mr.. Z. l.. Simmonds. who has latel
! tprlnted an admirable work on theS
y and other undeveloped sources of pro
y it-from which we have drawn man
= of the curious facts above given. Nj
q Simmonds suggests that a prohtabl
; venture might be made from kurr;
:. chez to Canton and Hong Kong OF sal
;, ed rat. About 900 900 could be cul
!. ed and packed aboard 400 ton shil
, For the sake of curiosity we quote Nj
!. Simmond's estimate of profits: .00t
!, 600 rats at 8 cents per dozen. s35 .0o(
: sailing. curing. etc, 90 per cent, So
!. coo: total cost. $4,000: and / zoo. 0C
;. rats sold at S2per dozen. 81 ,l66 .666. 81
!. There! Noone can charge us-thanb
= To Mr.. Simmonds-with not havin
- done our best to enrich our reader
! Few journals can claimthe proud lau
!. els which we boldly now grasp, of ha
: ing pointed out the way for any OF
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