The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-14
RAT-BA1TING IN A PARLoR.
A Vulgar Sport Claims the Attention and APP
prevail of Fast Young Men.

prevail of Fast Young Men.
New York Mail and Express.
The latest fashionable paror amusements rat
batting. Large, fat ard ferocious rats can be
had at ten cents apiece, professional ratcatchers
supplying the rodents. Every swell clubman
owns either a bull pup or fox terrier. The
plan is to meet at the house of one of the swells
The rats are Struggled into a room, the doors
wears dress Then the rats are turned loose
and the fun begins. Above the laughter of
the men is heard the furious squealing of
the rats and the scratching of the dogs
sharp claws upon the floor. One night last week
a party of ten gentlemen, all graduates of Yale
and Harvard, gathered al the house of wealthy
business man on West Forty-eighth street, who
IS the father of five or six interesting The
eldest, who is grinding out law. wears face as
solemn as that of a revivalist On this occasion
he was master of ceremonies. The young men
adjourned to the billiard-room upstairs. The
sofa was planted on the green cloth of the bill
lard table and the chairs all removed. The
chimney was stopped up. the doors locked and
bolted, and everything made secure against pos
sible intrusion.
The smooth and costly inlaid hard wood floor
was the scene of the encounters The fox ter
rier, when it came his turn to kill a rat, sezed
the rodent by the neck, gave several wicked
shakes of his shapely head, and then dropped a
dead rat on the floor. The bull pup, just turned
six months did not have things down so fine
He clumsily sunk his teeth into long cared rat
in the region Of the stomach. His ratshp ut
tered series of heart-rending shrieks which
penetrated into every nook and corner of the
mansion, and caused CONSERVATION in the hearts
of the three susceptible young ladies who were
holding levee in the parlor. One shrieked
and yelled murder; another suggested that the
police he sent for while the third made the
practical suggestion that they investigate the
affair. No amount of pounding or pleading
could secure their entrance into the billiard ROOM
where the distres sing noise plainly came from.
rat had turned on his tormentor and secured a
good grip on the bull pups under lip. The pups
agony was fearful. and he so far forgot his ma
ture as TO let 60. AS the rat, weak, and sore,
and bleeding. crawled away into a corner, it was
met by the fox terrier. who during the melee
had quietly sat on his launches and watched the
fight with evident disgust. The rat tried to get
away, but the fox tarrier was too smart. and the
next instant rattle lay dead on the blood-stained
floor.
After twenty inelooking rats had been sent to
ratdom the siege was raised and the doors were
opened. The beautiful floor was marred by
patches of blood and unsightly scratches. The
young ladies looked in, saw the gore, exclaimed
Dreadful" and scampered away. The father
of tho boys bounced into the ROOM his blood at
ing young men, and characterized the sport as
low, vulgar and disgusting When his temper
had cooled, he asked for particulars. In his day
he was one of the boys himself AS the plot
was unfolded he betrayed signs of great interest
Suddenly he broke out with: tits glorious and
exhilarating sport. Let us arrange for another
fight" The boys will accommodate the old man,
and another rat baiting seance is looked for
some night next week.