New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-19
HELP. HELP! HOW NOWf RATr'
MYSTERIOUS RODENTS IN 4 THEATRE-No CURE
BUT POETRY.

MYSTERIOUS RODENTS IN 4 THEATRE-No CURE
BUT POETRY
It becoming the fashion fo- theatres to be haunted
Ghosts have been heard in lately, and seen in an
other not to mention the ghost in several Ghosts
coed In their way, picturesque and romantic, out
they getting common. To keep up the fashion, and
yet not servely TO copy previous examples Of it, the
Madison square Theatre is just now haunted by eats
1t never was 90 TIL H0yt Thomas took possession Of
IT, aud when the trouble began both the managers
were out OF town Various people about the theatre
reported that they had seen rats half yard long Or less
at times when they had to doubt that they
were in full possession Of their facutesthe people,
that IS not the rats
It was understood about the house that Charles W
Thomas had a peculiar aversion TO rats, dread and a
horror Of them. and when he returned town it was
thought that he ought u be warned about them. 80
the stage manager Gene W. Presbury. and another
benevolent atache Of the house called Mr.. Thomas
one evening in his Office to tell him about It. Mr..
ThOmas's oice IS a la &c room az the front Of the
building up two flights. The two men came In with
large clubs, like broonschs, and brought for Mr..
Thomas. They said they did not anticipate any real
annoyance, but it was Just as well to be prepared.
Mr. Thomas gpped his club apprehenslvely, and asked
IL there mutny the stage. They said il was
not that; they would not deny or evade the simple
fact: there were rats in the house
Mr.. Thomas said he sorry to>hear H. and he put
own feet vi the table and made "a few general and
discursive remarks about rats. one of them told Of
sort that he had seen ab1 cut wharf. and how two
cats fought with Of them and had been thought
LUCKY in escaping with their lives. Mr.. Themas put
BIZ, feet on the table tried give cheerful turn
to The conversation by recalling The story If Dick Whit
Uncton. whose cat had killed numberless rats and
thereby made its master thrice Lord Mayor OF London.
Mr.. Presbury said that Mr. Thomas ought not to
Gude himself By any such specious example. for ia
that case the eat had all the work and Whiting
ton had got all the glory lie then took the story
o. ne Pied Piper Of Hamen. and spoke OF how the
had suffered from effort 10 be nd of rats Mr..
Thomas pOked under his desk with his club. and asked
Il the fuepiayer OF the theatre had tiled to lead the
/ rats to him. Mr. Presbury answered that they were
not In the least attracted 10 him. but on the con
trary had seemed disposed to Keep far a. possible
| from the whole orchestra. He then casually intro
! duced the legend Of Bishop IIattO. At this Mr..
Thomas shuddered several times, and actually got up
| and sat on the table.
Soon after this Mr.. Thomas bought a Fat-tIap p.
| 1t was really remarkable trap II was 50 simple
that child could see how il must be a pleasure for
! a rat 10 get caught in it. II looked when it was
/ set like nothing at all but deep passage with a
piece OF cheese-tbe best cheese, too-ll the middle
OF IT, when a rat touched the cheese the trap would
/ close OH both sides Of him. lie would be startled.
would seek a way out and would find one: but II
| would lead him into box whence there was no
escape and IN going into it he would the trap
| Nobody could conceive more ingenious trap. AID
the only possible fault that could be found with il
WAS that IL never once caught rat The theory was
/ that the rats got all they wanted 10 cat at the
! Fifth Avenue Hotel and 10 the theatre only
| for amusement.
one day there some talk Oh the stage about
/ the coming engagement Of Sc \ Trip to Chinatown
| At the word " Chinatown" skuTrying heard in
/ the walls, and for few days the rate less
offensive. But about this time young man. who