Morning journal and courier., 1892-02-09
SHE YELLED "RATs.n
A Wtld Feminine Cry of Alarm That
 Produces Panic in Theater.

 From the Philadelphia Press A big brewery rat, lean, hungry, ana with business in his eye, came unan nounced into the Grand Opera house tn. other night during the first act of th. Gladiator" For the space of about ter minutes the men in the large audience hsi more fun than some people have hay, and the women struggled between mysteries and a desire to climb to high elevation The episode bore a resemblance to the play itself, inasmuch as there was a vigorous beginning, a short reign of excitement, ana bloody tragedy at the end.
 The rat, which was evidently of tn, brewery species, because it had whisksrl curled into shapes resembling handles tc beer mugs, up to that time had beer boarding in the malt bins attached to { near by brewery. It hasn't been a very good winter for malt, however, and ths rat started to skirmish for food on thu outside. With this end in view he wan dered into the theater just as the crue Empress had ordered Nero to kill the lovely Neodamis, the heroine in the trag edy.
 In the front seat, close to the big fiddle were seated Joseph Bailey, a we'll known young man about town, and Con Cooney . ssressInau, who intended to go to his wori after the theater, and as a result bad we'll filled dinner basket between his feet There was mince pie in the basket, and like all epicures, Mir. Cooney hsd cheese there as we'll. That chunk of cheese drew the rat to his death. He came close to the basket, sniffed couple of times, and in snifing moved Cooney's hat so that it fell of the basket.
 Just at that moment a pretty little blonde seated in the box looked down and saw the thieving rodent With a silvery yell of "rsts" she threw decorum to the winds and jumped upon her chair, at the same time giving an impromptu skirt dance. The cry Of alarm and the actions of the startled blonde were greeted with be- wildering astonishment by the men, but was understood at once by the women. In twinkling the air was filled with smoth- cred screams and the swishing and rustling of silken skirts. The women jumped on the seats, and one excited woman started to climb up the box nearest to her.
 The rat, realizing that he had made the mistake of his life, scampered up the main aisle as if an army of cats were on his trail So far as the rat was concerned, it might just as we'll have been an army of cats, for NIT. Cooney and MT. Bailey had organized themselves into band of avengers, and were laundering up the aisle in close pursuit. Arouud the or chestra circle the rat led by a short strap, and Joe and Con redoubled their efforts amid the yells from the gallery, applause from the men in the pit, and sighs of grst- itude from the women. Down the side aisle sped the trio, and up the center again. Just at the entrance of the orches- trs circle MT. Bailey made a tremendous kick at the flying rat, and the toe of his boot came in contact with the funny bone of Mir. Cooney's shin. It didn't hurt the boot bit, but Cooney gave up the chase at once The rat darted down the stage, and one excited individual; who happened to get passing glimpse, yelled:
 ''Oh, it's going up on the stage"
 All this time the actors had kept on with the play, but the announcement that the stage was likely to be visited by & rat the fact that her life was in danger from the jealousy of the empress, she jumped nimbly to a divan, and the swishing and close hauling of the Roman gown showed plainly that rats and actresses also clash naturally.
 By this time the rat had grown weary, but Joe. the avenger, was just warming up to the event The chase led close up to the spot where MT. Cooney's lunch basket was, and when directly opposite Joe made flying leap. One foot demol- ished both Cooney's hat and lunch basket, but the other foot went straight to the mark and the despairing squeal that fol- lowed indicated sudden death in ratland.
 When the excitement had subsided and MT. Cooney had gathered up the fragments of his basket and hat, the generous audi ence rendered round of applause to Mir. Bailey and MT. Cooney that made the chandeliers tremble. Then Neodamis climbed down from her perch and the per formance proceeded.