Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-06-08
A QUESTION OF RATS.
The Littlo Rodent Is Not n Particularly
Popular Fellow.

The Little Rodent In Not n Particularly
Popular Fellow.
A curious friend asks us curious
question, "How many rats are there
in Newark" We really don't know,
and we don't know anybody who
does know, but wo should say that
upon moderate estimate there are
Mt least 500, ,000
Wherever tho human is there tho
rat is, and he is in some places where
the human isn't. 1t is said that for
merly in some of the islands of the
Pacific he was the only inhabitant.
But speaking generally tho rat asso-
ciates himself with human civiliza-
ton. He travels from country to
country in ships, and it is not un-
likely that he takes occasional trips
on the railways. Some of the old
romancers say that he ia a great
swimmer, and that multitudes of
them have been known to cross riv-
ers to find fresh pastures upon which
to deprcdate.
There are black rats and brown
rats. The brown rat is said to be
native of the East Indies or of Per
sia, and ut least one naturalist is of
opinion that the black rat is q native
of North America. But there is D
difference Of opinion on the subject,
and it has even been alleged that he
is II native everywhere. Mr.. Water
ton says that he belongs to Great
Britain; at any rate, that he was q
familiar citizen there before the ad-
vent of the brown rat which, he
informs US, came into the islands
from Germany along with the house
of Hanover. He Immediately made
war upon the black rat with tre-
mendous effect, although black rats
are still found in some British local
tiles.
st. Pierre says that the dog is o
friend and the cat a courtier; that
the dog is attached to the person
and tho cat to the house of his mas
ter. But the rat is neither friend
nor courtier. He is for himself first,
last and all the time. He cares moth
ing either for the master or his
bouse except as they furnish him
with food and shelter. He tolls not,
neither does he spin. Everything he
gets from the man whose house or
grounds he occupies he steals, and
yet he manages to live we'll. He is
always fat and sleek and usually has
a large family.
/ The rat is not very particular as
to his food, it is true, and if he is
very hungry he will fill himself with
iron filings if he can get nothing
else, and when he is dry and can get
no water will drink beer or whisky
and will get as drunk as lord.
More than once to our certain lmowl-
edge he has depleted our ink well.
They are great scavengers. They
keep us from good deal of vermin
that might otherwise battle us, and
occasionally they eat each other. It
is said that they once ate bishop.
Doubtless this was bad bishop and
a mean man, and it is fair to the
rats to say that his reputation was
of that description.
Occasionally rat is domesticated
and in faot is O handsome animal.
1t is said by one we'll acquainted
with him that close acquaintance
dispels our antipathy. This gentle
man says that their sharp and
handsome heads, their bright eyes,
their intelligent looks, their sleek
skins are the very reverse of repul-
sive," and that there is positive
attraction in the beautiful manner
i'll which they sit licking their paws
and washing their faces, an occupa-
ton in which they pass considera-
Bile part of their time"
This may all be very true and prob
ably is, but our Office cat is q very
useful animal all the same. Newark
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