The morning call., 1891-09-03

Hatto IL they mad lived IN the days OF tnal
wicked ecclesiastic and been on hand at the
time. The butchers answer to the query
was monosyllablic and characteristic. He
merely said " Rats!"
TO INTIMIDATE THE RATS.
1t suggested itself that the cats had been
allowed to increase and multiply in this
awful way to keep down the plague OF rats.
The butcher intmated that this was about
the size of il. After little coaKing he
thawed out and explained.
"Ifs hollow under that floor" he said.
There's q great big packlng-houSe down
there, and the cellar would just swarm with
rats if it wasn't for the cats. I've given up
counting the cats long ago. l know there's
six generations of thsm down there now,
and the ever-so-great grandfathers and
grandmothers 20 on having kittens as regu-
larly as their great-grandchildren. Its Q
wise child that knows its own father, but
when it comes TO kittens, why you have to
give it up Lots of them are their own
grandfathers. and you've only to look at the
colors and patterns to see how they marry
within the family, just like the f. +. VS. or
the Pennsylvania Dutch. There's more
than hundred cats in ths cellar. besides
what's up here, and every butcher around
Clay-street Market for three blocks has
half dozen cats besides"
TT must be pleasant Of moonlight
nightP
CHEAP CIRCUS.
"You bet it is. Why, my bullterrler
nearly chewed his cellar off and strangled
himself trying to get at them when l first
brought him here. Such mewfng and
wauling, and splitting and swearing, for
all the world like the overture to one of
Wagner's operas. It's the cheapest circus
you ever saw, though, if you're fond OF
fun"
''How So"
Just wait, and you'll see."
In few minutes the old cats, the middle
aged cats. the newly married cats, the court
ing cats and the little cats assembled on the
neutral ground between the counters. 1t
was true feline m icroc0Sm; pocket edl-
ton of humanity. The old cats looked
solemn; the mddle-aged cats dignified; the
newly married cats struggled for social
recognition and precedence; the kittens ir-
reverentiy assaled their seniors tails and
rolled over and over with impish glee.
Meanwhile from unseen holes above the
rats crept forth and with inimitable grace
slid down the poles and supports head first
ON to the counters, They were very careful
not to get to the floor. 1t would have been
short shrift for them If they had.
CRAFTY RATS.
"Rats are the craftiest things alive" said
the butcher. They always select the best
parts OF the meat, never touching the neck,
the scrag OF any inferior cuts. Cats, as a
rule, do not interfere with rats unless
they've got kittens of their own around !;
then tney il XIII tne rats directly. Iney
never eat them, though. I've often seen the
kittens try to play with the rats. By the
way, did you ever try TO catch q rat in q
trap? It's the hardest thing out. Just
touch any part of the trap with your finger
even and the artful creatures will recognize
the smell and never go near it. You must
bait the trap with gloves on If you want to
catch rats"
UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER.
you say the cats and the rats are on
good terms2"
"No, not exantly-not much; but there
seems to be sort of understanding. ]
can't explain it, but it's like an Indian res
eryation The cats scare the rats to a GER
tain extent. They keep them within limits.
Rats are useful in their way. They act as
scavengers and clean up all the refuse.
When they try to get beyond that, the cats
get in their fine work directly. Without
the cats we would have all the rats for a
hundred blocks .swarming in here. and
avery carcass On the hooks would be picked
10 the bone by tomorrow morning."