Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-03-18
TIE CRY COCKRoACH.
\ Study of the Enterprising Insect b
a Hotel Night Clerk.

\ Study of the Enterprising Insect by
Hotel Night Clerk.
The hotel cOckroach is . creature of
quiet. methOdical habits, and although
of decidedly gregari0us tastes so far as
his own race is concerned, shows a
marked repulSlance for the society Of
such Of his fellow-b borders as possess a
fewer number OF legs than have been
given to him. 1t is for this reason that
he is never seen in company with be-
peds, tripods, quadrupeds or any other
animals that he is positive do not be-
long TO his own family.
The hotel cOckrOaCh in its highest
development is q duOdecipede and as
proud OF the number of his legs as an
Austrian nobleman is Of the quarter
ings of his escUtcheon. In fact. the
duodecipedes form a distinct cock
roach aristocracy and are big bugs
i'm the full sense of that familiar term.
Although he occasionally seen cross
ing q hotel lobby or skulking behind a
BIG pile of trunks. the roach is pos
sesSed of certain tastes and prejudices
which lead him TO shun general sOci-
etv in the daytime and remain in elc-
giant secWsiOn among the water pipes
until late at night. when the crowds
have departed and a sleepy night clerk
and two hall boys are the only occu-
pants of the lobby
Ii is then that the bugs of every de-
gree emerge from their hiding places
and indulge in their innocent revels
and athletic sports from which they
4 Il ELL al
ment that il is possible TO conceive OF.
Col ROomkey. who has been night
clerk in various Broadway hotels for
the past quarter of a century, and is
generally regarded as the highest aU-
thOrity on hotel cOckrOaches having
made q thorough study of their habits
and peculiarities during his long hours
of duty, has contributed 10 the new
edition of the encyclopedia an exhaust
i've treatise on these remarkable and
interesting domestic animals.
According TO the Colonel. they are
very expert in all matters pertaining TO
sport. and display much skill and dar-
ing in the pursuit and killing of mice
and other vermin. for which reason he
has always deemed it eXpedient 10 al
low the ierCesJ and strongest of them
To- have the free run OF the hotel dur
ing the quiet hours of the early morn
ing The course of physical training
watch they undergo is remarkably
thorough and effective one. and he has
frequently seen them playing follow
yOur-le3dcr. bounding from valise to
cuspiCor. sealing almost inaccessible
heaps of baggage and swimming
across Washbasins. The Colonel has
frequently feisned sleep i'm order TO
watch them crawl softly across the
marble counter on which his feet rest
ed. stand upon their mind legs by the
/ inkstandand drink the ink, after which
/ they invariably wiped their beaks and
forefeet on the blotting paper.
once thoroughly hoUse-broken,
SAYS Col. ROomkey. "Chey make better
household pets than either cats OF
spiders. and are really excellent COM
pany for a lonely hotel clerk, who is
behind the desk all night Ions.
The natural foe OF the hotel cock
roach. and the most dreaded as we'll
is the cOlOred survivor. VINO wages a re-
lentlesS and cruel war Of determination
against this worthy insect. referring 10
him as "aunudder O. dem gunboats,
and pursuing him on every possible oc-
casion with all the ma!evoencc OF q
brutal nature. 1t sometimes happens
that in the watches of the night noise
like the sudden explosion of an in
dated paper bag is heard by some
wakeful guest tells Of the passing OF
another duodecipede over to The great
majority Brandon Rucksaw.